THE impeached Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Mudashiru Obasa, has faulted his removal by colleagues, insisting he remains the Speaker until the constitutionally laid down procedures for such removal are followed
Obasa was removed on 13 January 2025, by 32 out of the 40 lawmakers of the House, a move described as a coup by President Bola Tinubu. He was away in the United States of America when he was removed.
Obasa, who spoke on Saturday for the first time on his removal after returning from the United States of America, said it was important for the lawmakers to “follow constitutional procedure” to remove him as Speaker.
The former Speaker also debunked the allegations of corruption brought against him by the lawmakers during his removal, describing the alleged financial misappropriations as “impossible.”
“I am not disturbed, I am not afraid,” Obasa said of the “Developments that happened at the Assembly.”
Obasa spoke to a huge crowd of supporters at the Speaker’s Lodge, 47, GRA Ikeja Lagos.
The lawmaker representing Agege Constituency 1 was welcomed by members and supporters of the All Progressives Congress (APC) including ward and local government executives members and other stakeholders in Lagos politics.
Addressing journalists during the reception, the ousted Speaker said his removal was unconstitutional and remain so until the process was followed constitutionally.
He declared that he was not afraid to be removed and that due process must be followed.
He said, “In the entire Lagos State, let any leader come out that I approached him or her that I wanted to be a governor. To impeach a Speaker, the Constitution must be followed. I’m not bothered but with that man who alleged that I took part in the removal of former Speaker Jokotade Pelumi, Deputy Speaker, Funmi Tejuosho and suspended lawmakers due process was followed.
“Pelumi was on the floor when he was removed. Likewise, Tejuosho and those who were suspended were in the House and there was no involvement of the Police.
“But in my case, how can a multitude of Police officers led by the commissioner of police invade the House and another team evade my residence, lock up my children outside the gate of the residence while my wife was inside.
“I was Speaker for 10 years, if I’m no longer wanted, from Allah we come and to him, we shall return but you cannot impeach a Speaker with a fake mace”, he added.
Eighteen-Eleven Media