Confusion as Lagos APC, GAC members, Assembly hold different grounds over Obasa’s address

By KEMI KASUMU, Lagos

“The position of the House remains the same and nothing has changed. The position being canvassed by the former speaker is uncalled for and unparliamentary.”

The impeachment of Mr. Mudashiru Ajaiyi Obasa as Speaker of Lagos State House of Assembly became a stalemate that many stakeholders now drag over, like glass cup of wine, following the embattled lawmaker’s successful return to the country without expected pick up by Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to answer for his alleged corruption allegations.

Obasa not only returned to the country from his Atlanta, United States of America trip, where he was when his ouster – described by President Bola Tinubu as a coup albeit approved – was staged but he also addressed his supporters at the Ikeja GRA Speaker’s Lodge, on Saturday January 25, 2025, sparking the controversies.

As an ousted speaker, Obasa’s use of the speaker’s lodge to address his supporters was viewed by many as show of capacity even as he stood his ground to claim that he remained the legitimate Speaker of the state House of Assembly and dismissed all allegations of corruption being woven around justification for his impeachment.

Reacting to the ex-Speaker’s address, authorities of the Assembly warned him to steer clear of utterances and actions that could be capable of causing tension in Nigeria’s most economically viable state.

The Assembly, which described the action of the former speaker addressing supporters from the GRA official lodge as capable of causing tension in the land, said in a statement signed by a lawmaker, Ogundipe Olukayode, that over two-thirds of its members supported the decision to impeach him and elect a new speaker in the person of Rt. Hon. Mojisola Lasbat Meranda.

Meranda, our investigations showed, is first female and second Lagos State indigene to lead the House in many years of the ongoing Fourth Republic.

The statement read in part, “The position of the House remains the same and nothing has changed. The position being canvassed by the former speaker is uncalled for and unparliamentary.

“All members were elected from their various constituencies across the state and we all have the inalienable rights under the necessary statutory orders to remove their principal officers, including the speaker.

“I, therefore, appeal to the former speaker to toe the line of peace and harmony as being followed by others, as the current intransigent posture will heat up the polity and not augur well.

“Any attempt to heat up the polity will be resisted by the majority of distinguished members who unanimously elected Rt. Hon. Meranda.”

The Lagos State Commissioner of Police, CP Ishola Olanrewaju Olawale who first reportedly declined reacting to the allegation of abuse of power levelled against him by Obasa, later decided to say something as the Journalist’s way of doing his own thing came to play.

He reportedly said, “Listen to that message (Obasa’s address) all over and now go to town as an investigative journalist and make up your mind.”

According to a media report, a political analyst, Professor Emmanuel Ojo, of the Department of Political Science, University of Ilorin, warned that Obasa might suffer “political death” because of his reaction.

He advised the lawmaker to challenge his removal in court rather than engaging in verbal attacks.

Ojo, a former Secretary to the Oyo State Government, argued that in modern democracy, unseen political forces often influence leadership decisions, and the former speaker might have outlived his usefulness to the “powers that be.”

He said, “Majority of the members of the assembly have impeached him (Obasa), whether rightly or wrongly, the best for him is to go to court to prove that he was illegally impeached. A competent court of law may reinstate him; it has nothing to do with talking to the press and whipping up unnecessary sentiment.

“If care is not taken, the man (Obasa) may suffer political death, so it is in his best interest to cool down or go to court, and allow the court to adjudicate rather than talking carelessly, abusing, or insulting everybody.”

Another political analyst, Prof. Hassan Saliu, said the future of the former speaker depends “on the politics on the ground”.

He said, “The man who believes he has not been removed will talk the way he (Obasa) is talking. He cannot install himself back to the seat. It depends on the powerful elements in Lagos politics. The President is the number one person there. There must be something making him have the confidence to come back.”

He further described the removal of speakers in Nigeria as a political manoeuvre.

“The issue is like a coup. The procedures for removing speakers seem too loose and should be revisited,” he added.

Similarly, a legal expert, Malachy Ugwummadu, weighed in on the constitutional aspect of the removal.

“If there is a political intervention in the state House of Assembly resulting in the removal of the speaker, the presumption is that there was regularity in the removal,” Ugwummadu said.

According to him, this does not prevent the former speaker from challenging the decision legally.

Confusion over the matter peaked when, in his reaction to the Obasa’s claims, a member of the Lagos State Governance Advisory Council (GAC), Senator Anthony Adefuye, expressed support for the impeached speaker.

Adefuye, who made the reaction via a media telephone interview, reportedly said, “What he’s saying is that he was illegally removed and the procedure was faulty and I agree with him.”

But the GAC Chairman, Prince Tajudeen Olusi, who allegedly has never seen wisdom in his fellow Lagos State indigenes occupying political power of own constitutionally bestowed state, declined responding to the Obasa’s claims backed by a notable member of his Council.

He, however, reportedly pointed out, while declining reaction, that it was his obligation to ensure the party functioned effectively in the state.

He reportedly said that, “I think we should address issues squarely. Obasa said his removal was illegal. If that statement is correct, I don’t think you have to come to me. Illegality has to do with the law. I’m not a lawyer. It doesn’t clearly concern me.

“The man quoted should be asked what aspect of the law it is. I’m an elderly citizen of this country and particularly Lagos State. My responsibility is to ensure peace, harmony and cooperation of my party.”

The Publicity Secretary of the APC in the state, Seye Oladejo, emphasised that the party had no intention of interfering with the internal affairs of the House.

“The election of the leadership of the House remains strictly an internal affair. The party is not part of it, and we have no intention to (interfere),” Oladejo stated.