Dramatic return of Obasa as speaker raises concerns

The mild drama over controversial return of the impeached Speaker of Lagos State House of Assemby, Mudashiru Obasa on Thursday with restoration of his security aides has continued to raise serious concerns about the motives behind it.

Penpushing reports that Obasa on return boasted that he remained the Speaker, as he presided with four members of the assembly, while his colleagues who impeached him and elected Mojisola Meranda as new speaker watched the scene with amazement.

The security aides of Meranda earlier withdrawn by the police, were later restored as confirmed by the Commissioner of Police Moshood Jimoh as at the time of filing this report, explaining that earlier withdrawal of the aides was due to an ongoing audit of police personnel and firearms.

Penpushing further reports that Obasa while addressing journalists at the assembly complex argued that he was never removed as Speaker, hence, he had returned to the assembly to take charge.

The ousted Speaker who filed a suit in court to challenge his removal stated that his security details had been restored and that he was back to his position as speaker, but majority of the lawmakers boycotted the assembly complex and refused to meet with him.

‘I have resumed and I still remain the Speaker of the Assembly; I was never removed. Impeachment or removal is democratic and constitutional, but in doing that, you must follow the due process. I am not against my removal. I am a democrat but If the process had been fair, then I would not have gone against it’, he said

Penpushing also reports that Obasa when asked why he was returning to the assembly when he had filed a suit challenging his removal in court, declared that there was no such suit in court, adding that he was back at the assembly not to take revenge or victimise any lawmaker.

The embattled Obasa it is recalled was impeached on January 13, 2025 by a two-thirds majority of the members while he was on holiday in the United States of America (USA), ending his decade-long hold on the office.

Penpushing reports that his colleagues in the assembly cited alleged high-handedness and financial misappropriation for his removal and promptly elected Mojisola Meranda as their new Speaker.

The assemblymen at last sitting on February 13, 2025, passed a vote of confidence in the new Speaker, who was under pressure from some party leaders to resign and adjourned their sitting indefinitely.

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