‘I Believe Strongly I Am Still The Speaker’ – Obasa

Embattled lawmaker Mudashiru Obasa has declared that he remains the Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly despite his impeachment by members of the Assembly on January 13.

Speaking to newsmen at his Joel Ogunnaike GRA residence in Ikeja on Saturday, Obasa maintained that his removal was not in line with due process.

Obasa, who served as Speaker since 2015, was impeached over alleged gross misconduct and abuse of office. His removal also followed accusations of spending a staggering ₦17 billion on a gate to the Assembly complex.

At the January 13 plenary, lawmakers unanimously voted to remove Obasa, citing several allegations of financial impropriety.

Naija News reports that Obasa’s return to Lagos was marked by a warm reception from his supporters, who gathered at his Ikeja residence to express solidarity.

Addressing the crowd, the embattled lawmaker expressed confidence in his position, while urging for constitutional adherence in resolving the crisis.

He said, “My status in the house? I believe strongly I am still the speaker until the right thing has been done. If you want to remove me, remove me the proper way and I will not contest it.

“I’m a Muslim and I believe in fate. But let’s do it the way it should be done.

When asked if a legal battle is in the offing, Obasa responded “You will know . It’s a matter of time. Thank you and God bless you.”

Obasa further stated, “I am not afraid of being removed, after all it is not my father’s chieftaincy title. I am representing my people and they have returned me six times. If you want to do anything, do it well.

“They did the removal all because I was out of the country. Lagos is a special place, we cannot denigrate the state.

“When former speaker, Rt. Hon Jokotola Pelumi was removed, he was in the assembly and we did not invite policemen. When my sister, former deputy speaker of the House, Hon. Adefunmilayo Tejuosho was removed, we did not invite the police.

“They should not discredit an innocent person, they should prove their allegations against me. The Lagos State House of Assembly is above common standard of excellence.

“I believe in the image of our institution, we must not destroy it and I will never partake in it’s destruction.

“I appreciate the members of the Governance Advisory Council (GAC) and Governor Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu of the state, he is my brother and he always calls me his younger brother,” he stated.

Obasa also thanked President Bola Tinubu and his wife, Remi, who he said would always be his father.

He recalled being with President Tinubu during his days in the Social Democratic Party (SDP), adding that he never expected to be Speaker in 2015 but that Tinubu supported him even when everyone was against him.