Obasa, ex-Lagos Speaker, breaks silence on impeachment

Mudashiru Obasa, the ousted Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, has maintained that having ambition to be governor is not a sin, as he is qualified and experienced to lead the state.

Hon. Obasa was removed by 35 out of the 40 members of the Assembly on January 13, over allegations of misconduct and mismanagement of funds.

The lawmakers replaced him with his former Deputy, Mojisola Lasbat-Meranda.

‘I’m still Speaker’

Obasa spoke on Saturday amid cheers from members of Mandate Movement, and politicians from some local governments in the state, at the official residence of the Lagos Speaker in GRA, Ikeja.

The ex-Speaker stressed that the allegations made against him by the lawmakers could not be substantiated and that he is the most experienced lawmaker in the Assembly, having been elected six times since 2003.

His words: “Having (an) ambition to become a governor is not a sin.

“However, I said on the floor of the House, when the budget was presented, that I had no thoughts of governorship. But that does not mean I am not qualified or that I lack experience; I still maintain that.

“I’m still the Speaker until the right thing has been done.”

Meanwhile, members of the Lagos State House of Assembly have declared unalloyed support for the leadership of the newly sworn-in Speaker, Mojisola Lasbat Meranda.

A statement by the House noted that: “The majority of members elected Rt. Hon Mudashiru Obasa as Speaker for the 10th Assembly.

“And we also, at the said plenary, took the majority decision to remove him and stand by the new Speaker.

“So, nothing has changed.”