WITH the dust triggered by the decision by members of the Lagos State House of Assembly to sack their speaker, Mudashiru Obasa still in the air, Subair Mohammed digs into behind-the-scheme activities that culminated in the abrupt end of the near 10-year reign of the politician from Agege 1 State Constituency.
Monday, January 13, 2025, will remain historic in the annals of the Lagos State House of Assembly leadership not only because it marked the beginning of the tenure of the first female speaker of the house but it also signalled the end of the reign of the erstwhile Speaker, Honourable Mudashiru Ajayi Obasa. His critics claimed Obasa ‘sinned’ and was forgiven, but still became consumed by Lagos politics. During the plenary, more than 90 percent of the lawmakers ended the almost 10 years’ reign of Obasa reeling out a list of “sins” purportedly committed by the speaker of the 10th Assembly. According to some members of Lagos politics, he appears to have been the architect of his predicament. He reportedly stepped on some ‘big’ toes through his actions, inactions and utterances. He is also believed to owe his meteoric rise in politics to certain influential individuals and power brokers. But, a frosty relationship between him and those powerful forces within and outside the corridors of power at different levels over the years threw spanner into the work. Therefore, the belief in most quarters was that he could lose out in the high-wired politics and intrigues characteristic of the politics of Lagos, the Centre of Excellence. However, not many of those people that constitute the inner cycle of Lagos politics could predict when the forces would eventually strike to deliver the decisive blow and straw that broke the camel’s back on Monday.
Emergence as speaker
Call him one of the highly favoured politicians in Lagos, you won’t be far from the truth. The political trajectory of politician from Agege axis of the state was birthed out of favour. He was indeed an apple of God’s eye until he fell out of favour. He wielded an awesome influence and aura around himself as speaker.
Obasa was first elected speaker of the 8th Assembly on June 8, 2015 after the expiration of 10 years reign of Honourable Adeyemi Kuforiji. He was re-elected as 9th and 10th Speaker between 2019 and 2023. In June 2023, during the build-up to the 10th speakership race, at a meeting of the Governance Advisory Council (GAC), Obasa was singlehandedly chosen by Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, now the President of the country, through a phone call placed to the chairman of the council, Pa Tajudeen Olusi during the meeting. With that, the 52-year-old lawmaker, who represents Agege state constituency 1, became the speaker of the House for the third consecutive time.
It should be recalled that Obasa began his political journey in 1999, when he contested for the councillorship seat in Agege Local Government under the platform of the Alliance for Democracy (AD). He won and served between 1999 and 2002. He was elected into the Lagos Assembly in 2003 to represent Agege constituency 1 and got re-elected in 2011, 2015, 2019 and 2023. So, on Monday, his reign was cut short as he was unanimously impeached by the lawmakers through voice votes. Obasa was immediately replaced by the lawmaker representing Apapa constituency 1, Honourable Mojisola Meranda Lasbat, as the new Speaker.
Landmines
In the course of his impeachment, the lawmakers, during an emergency plenary, alleged that various breaches necessitated the removal of the Speaker. According to the lawmaker representing Kosofe 1, Honourable Femi Saheed, the alleged infractions included a lack of transparency in the management of the Assembly. Citing other reasons, the lawmaker, who moved the motion for impeachment under the Matter of Urgent Public Importance, accused Obasa of poor leadership style, perpetual lateness to legislative sections and plenary, high-handedness and disregard for colleague lawmakers and the executive, especially the governor, abuse of office and privileges, intimidation and oppression of members, among other accusations. Saheed further accused Obasa of authoritarian tendencies and of being averse to a democratic leadership style in discharging his duties, thus the lawmaker moved the motion for impeachment, which was adopted by 32 members through a voice vote.
But beyond these, observers held that Obasa’s perceived sins before the power brokers in the state transcended the plethora of allegations levelled against him by his colleagues. According to them, his greatest undoing was ego and uncanny leadership style. They held that his fall from the Olympian height was his strained relationship and perceived lack of respect for the governor, on one hand, and his speculated 2027 governorship ambition, on the other. Others claimed that Obasa found himself in troubled waters when he began to build structures across 20 local government areas and 37 Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) with his Obasa Support Group as the fulcrum. The creation of the group drew the ire of the Establishment and the political platform that has given the opportunity to rise to the pinnacle of the legislative arm of government. Many stakeholders in the All progressives Congress (APC) viewed his action as an affront for creating a parallel structure with far-reaching implications for the party and membership cohesion.
Role of Tinubu, GAC
Worried by the disturbing trend in Lagos politics, particularly the strained relationship between the state governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu the and former speaker, President Bola Tinubu and the leadership of the Governor’s Advisory Council (GAC), during a closed-door meeting at the Lagos House, reportedly chided Obasa over the sundry allegations. He was expected to do the needful after the encounter with Mr President. But the presidential intervention failed to douse the brewing tension, as Obasa was accused of engaging in unguided utterances against Governor Sanwo-Olu. For instance, in a viral video, which also caught the attention of APC leaders in the state, Obasa, while addressing lawmakers during plenary, addressed the governor as his colleague, rather than his leader. It took the intervention of the chairman of the GAC, Pa Tajudeen Olusi, to get the former speaker to retract the statement. He did but without an apology to the governor.
Obasa and the media
The cat-and-mouse relationship between Obasa and other critical stakeholders in his immediate constituency was equally pronounced. The media had its uncomplimentary share in the cold war. His unfavourable disposition towards the media manifested in his disbandment of the Assembly media arm. For two years, he literally kept the activities of the Lagos State House of Assembly Correspondents’ Association otherwise known as LAHACA, in abeyance.
He defied all pleas and overtures for rapprochement and amity. He did not only restrict all members of LAHACA from Assembly’s event, he ensured he blocked all privileges accruing to the pressmen attached to the Assembly. The issuer became the subject matter of an open letter to the erstwhile speaker. It was dated Feb 5, 2023. Consequently, the Clerk of the House, Mr Lekan Onafekan held a meeting with executive members of LAHACA in June 2023, where he officially announced the disbandment of LAHACA without any reason for his decision. According to him, the disbandment was the sole decision of the speaker, Honourable Obasa. Consequently, Onafeko withheld the payment of logistics and other benefits the pressmen hitherto enjoyed as privileges. He also caused the de-accreditation of LAHACA members. Trouble reportedly began for LAHACA members during the 2023 valedictory service when a member was alleged to have embarrassed a lawmaker during an interview session at the Assembly chamber in June. A source alleged that following the interview, two top functionaries met and reportedly decided to disband the Correspondents’ association.
Last straw
The last straw that broke the camel’s back was said to be Obasa’s countenance during the 2025 budget presentation by Governor Sanwo-Olu. The former speaker, in his speech, made remarks, which most observers and stakeholders in the ruling party perceived totally unacceptable and objectionable. His remarks elicited flak and condemnation by a broad spectrum of the society. He said: “This house has always been in support of Mr Governor. However, this must always be independent. No one will violate any temple and want his offerings accepted. This institution remains resolute. We will never be disgraced, abused or ridiculed. Let me also emphasise that those who live in glass house must not throw stones.” Obasa took on his perceived detractors over his governorship aspiration. He declared: “My political sensitization move has been misconstrued by some political detractors as being selfish aspiration on the ground for me to be the governor of the state. Let me state unequivocally that our intention is to promote our party on the platform of mandate. Also becoming a governor is secondary. I have not thought about it for once. Nevertheless, that does not mean I am too young or lacks experience to run, whereas those who have been before are not better off.”
Unwritten rule
In the build-up to the commencement of the Second Term of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Obasa stirred the House to directly challenge the governor leading to the rejection of some of his commissioner-nominees. It took a direct instruction from higher quarters for reason to prevail over the governor’s choice as commissioner-nominees. The Olusi-led GAC reported Obasa to President Tinubu during his visit to Lagos. The elders and leaders of thought making up the council accused Obasa of disrespecting the person and office of the governor, as well as destabilising some organs of the APC.
Mixed reactions
However, the Executive Secretary, CCHR, Toyin Raheem, says Obasa should have been given the chance to defend himself over the allegations against him. Raheem, in a statement, claimed that the law presumes a man accused of doing wrong innocent until it is proven otherwise. He stated: ”The law presumed anyone accused of an offence is innocent until it is proven otherwise. To prove otherwise is achievable only through fair hearing. Rt. Hon. Obasa has not been interrogated by any committee to investigate any form of misconduct levelled against him. He is entitled to fair hearing in accordance with 1999 Constitution of Federal Republic of Nigeria as altered. Those accusing the speaker can’t be the judge in their own case,’ Raheem stated. He claimed that due process was not followed in removing the speaker from office, adding: “Offences and reasons to commence impeachment proceedings ought to have been formally communicated to the speaker and made public. An unbiased committee also ought to have been put in place to investigate the authenticity or otherwise of the allegations and report given to the house.”
Meanwhile, the spokesman of the House, Honourable Ogundipe Stephen Olukayode believes that the change in the leadership of the House is a normal legislative activity, so there are no cracks in the fold. He said;, “There was a change of leadership in the Lagos State House of Assembly, as the speaker, Hononourable Mudashiru Ajayi Obasa was removed and his deputy, Rt Honourable Mojisola Lasbat Miranda has been elected as speaker. This development is a normal legislative activity, most especially when some members are agitated or there are obvious infringements. There is no division in the house as all members have pledged allegiance to the new speaker, Rt Honourable Mojisola Lasbat Meranda. She has since settled down. She has assured members of harmonious working relationship and that all hands must be on deck to ensure continuous development in the state. The new speaker has appealed to all members to rally round the leadership in continuation of the provision of dividends of democracy to their constituents. She used the opportunity to assure the governor of the cooperation and support of the Assembly at all times.”
The removal of Obasa makes him the second victim of the ‘banana peel’ in the Lagos Assembly leadership since 1999 when civil rule was restored in the country. The major fallout from the Obasa era as speaker in the Lagos, state of aquatic splendour, remains in the belly of time. Will his speculated plan to run for governorship remain intact? Or will he toe the path of his predecessors, who elected to maintain a low profile, save for Dr Olorunnimbe Mamoora, who was made the minister of state for health by the Buhari administration?
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