Yinka Olaito
Lagos state Assembly lawmakers on Monday 13th January, 2025 unanimously impeached its long term Rt.Hon. Obasa from being its leader as speaker. The law makers claimed there were multiple statutory and financial infractions by the ousted leader.
Rt.Hon. Obasa, ousted Lagos house Speaker
To affirm its decision, the lawmakers replaced Obasa immediately with former deputy Speaker Hon Lasbat Meranda who was equally elected from Apapa constituency the same legislative session Obasa became the speaker in 2015. Obasa was elected as a member of Lagos House of Assembly in 2007 from.Agege constituency., Obasa if not impeached could have joined Aeyemi Ikuforiji as one of the longest serving Speakers of Lagos Assembly that occupied the post for ten years in about six months from now
Members of the house making the public announcement after the impeachment (Video credit: Joe igbokwe)
According to our sources, about 80% (32 out 0f 40) of the house lawmakers supported this move. From the news we monitored ‘The legislators confirmed that all principal positions and standing committees in the assembly have been dissolved.’ One of the members who wants to be anonymous said “There was nothing special about this action, change is the only thing constant in life. The Assembly duties will continue”.
Mudashiru Obasa’s many woes
A chieftain of APC, Joe Igbokwe on his Facebook page while commending the brave act of the members said “The deed is done in LAHA. Power is transient” a statement many believed was laden with deeper meaning suggesting abuse of power by Hon Obasa.
Rt. Hon Obasa according to sources had been seen to wield power without recourse to party leadership and in many instances Governorship Advisory Council of the party had to intervene when he led an Assembly which stood against a large number of Governor Sanwo-olu’s nominated Commissioners during his re-election among many other issues
Also ,Adeyemi Ikuforiji, an ex-speaker of the house, hinted ‘”Obasa has become too comfortable on the seat so.much that he began to take his colleagues for granted and the whole events culminated in his removal. I am sad though”
Other sources also alleged, Mudashiru Obasa had stepped on powerful toes within the party when he recently made an unguarded statement with regards to his purported alleged ambition to run for the state’s number one seat, Governorship position.
Other also believed that his waterloo could have been traced to his alleged acquisition of a large parcel of land within Agege area through a third party. This has not been confirmed though.
Also, in a recent pronouncement by Obasa, he was alleged to have said Lagos former local government structure of 20 will be maintained as all the established LCDAs by Tinubu administration will be cancelled. The state party Chairman was said to have put a rejoinder that would never happened.
Beyond all the above, other legislators had raised quite a huge allegation of huge financial mismanagement or his inability to follow statutory process in some of his financial dealings as leader of the house.. Obasa in many instances had refuted allegations of financial misconduct. In his opponent’s claim that he spent N17billion Naira on a recent gate constructed within the State house in Ikeja premises, A source credited to him had said “How much is the allocation of the Assembly in a whole year for anyone to claim we spent N17bn on a gate”.
How the impeachment was hatched?
Some sources claimed his undoing could have reached a crescendo when he was invited by President Tinubu and was advised to stop his adversarial position against the present Governor- Babajide Sanwo-Olu.
Days before his removal, close sources also claimed Obasa had travelled to Atlanta, USA for reasons the source did not know and so the process became easy through his absence. Though even if he had been around, the deed could also had been done. On few legislators who voted against Obasa’s impeachment,, they were known to be Obasa’s die-hard supporters in the house. Though sources also indicated they may suffer persecution for standing against popular /party wishes.
On whether the house will go ahead to press charges against Obasa in court, Governor Sanwo-Olu, who had denied any involvement in the impeachment through his Aide, Akosile, had said “It is the House that accused him and they will determine the next step.”
We can only wait and see how the events unfolds in the coming days
Meranda, the new Lagos house Speaker sworn-in today
Meranda, what we know about her
The new Speaker, a 44-year old lady holds a Bachelor and Master’s degree in Public Administration from Lagos State university and University of Lagos respectively and had been elected into the house since 2007 when she was first elected into the house of Assembly. Meranda until her new position was the deputy Speaker of the house.. Meranda had several positions within the house since her election in 2007. Some of these positions include being a former chief whip of the house.
