The removal of Mudashiru Obasa as Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly on Monday received the approval of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who is also the political godfather of the state.
According to sources, Obasa’s fate was sealed during President Tinubu’s visit to Lagos for the festive season. It is said that the first sign of trouble for the Speaker emerged when observers noticed a shift in the President’s attitude towards him.
The influential Governor’s Advisory Council (GAC) had visited the President at his Lagos residence to report Obasa’s actions. Tinubu, in addition to being the national leader of the ruling party, is widely regarded as the godfather of Lagos politics.
The GAC Chairman, Tajudeen Olusi, reportedly opened the discussion by reminding the President of the respect once afforded to the governor’s office during Tinubu’s tenure as governor between 1999 and 2007.
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Olusi then informed the President that the disrespect Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu had been subjected to by the Speaker could no longer be tolerated. Sources say Olusi went on to list instances where Obasa had shown disregard for the governor, including an incident where elders had to intervene and reprimand the Speaker.
A source present at the meeting revealed that the President was visibly displeased by the feedback from the GAC leadership and proceeded to criticise Obasa. Tinubu reportedly reprimanded Obasa not only for disrespecting the governor and his office but also for poorly co-managing the state’s politics.
The President allegedly referenced a bill proposed by the Assembly that sought to enable them to dismiss the Chairman of the Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission.
A source at the meeting claimed that the President mocked the idea, describing it as a “huge joke” presided over by the Speaker. Amused by the notion, Tinubu allegedly questioned, “Which governor would sign such a bill into law, anyway?”
After the meeting concluded and everyone began to leave, Obasa was said to have followed the President into an inner room, likely attempting to present his side of the story and pacify the visibly angry Tinubu.
However, sensing Obasa’s intentions, several other GAC members allegedly joined the second meeting, where the issues were further discussed, and the Speaker was still condemned by the majority.
Political analysts suggest that Obasa’s troubles escalated after his comments during Governor Sanwo-Olu’s presentation of the state’s 2025 budget on 21st November 2024. During the presentation, Obasa deviated from the budget discussion and made a long statement about his purported ambition to succeed Sanwo-Olu.
He arrogantly asserted that, despite the rumours, he had not seriously considered running for governor, stressing that his priority was strengthening the party in the state.
Observers note that Obasa’s comments, which some Lagos powerbrokers deemed pompous, were the final straw.
The former Speaker declared, “Becoming a governor is secondary; it is something that I have not given serious consideration. Nevertheless, that does not mean I am too young or lack experience to run; whereas, those who have been before me are not better off.”
He further stated, “In addition, it is also important to correct the impression from some naysayers who have been insinuating that I made payment to seek blood relations in Ojo to validate my candidacy to run as governor. Of course, I have never denied the fact that I am Obasa. Rather, I have never claimed to be related to Onikoyi, Oniru, or any of the other popular Lagos families as the case may be. I can indeed never run (away) from the fact that I am related to my Obasa family in Ojo. But I do not need local validity to contest or run any election. If eventually, I am contesting, I will do so from Agege.”
Although reports of Obasa’s ambitions for the governorship were dismissed as mere rumour in some circles, the message became clearer after the Archbishop of the Methodist Church Nigeria (Lagos), Most Rev. Isaac Ayo Olawuyi, indirectly expressed support for the three-term Speaker during the Lagos House of Assembly’s 22nd Annual Thanksgiving Service.
“I also want to add that we have consideration for religious inclination in Lagos State. It would be 12 years in 2027 that we have been in the system together and we have been having Christians as governors. Now, it’s time to give our Muslim brothers a chance to govern us in Lagos State. We want to pray that when it’s time for the election, it would be a time for us to elect who will govern us in Lagos State effectively,” the Archbishop said.
He went on to praise Obasa for his leadership and collaboration with other arms of government, stating, “You have been a true and sensitive leader with a big heart. You have proved yourself worthy. We pray that God will continue to use you to make us smile in Lagos and also grant you your heart’s desires.”
Following this event, the campaign for Obasa gained momentum, and the former Speaker carried on with increased confidence.
An APC chieftain, Fouad Oki, justified Obasa’s impeachment, asserting that the ex-Speaker had begun to see himself as an emperor. Reacting to Obasa’s removal, Oki stated that the impeachment of the six-term APC lawmaker representing Agege Constituency I was not surprising to anyone familiar with Lagos politics.
Oki remarked, “He saw himself as an emperor. It became very obvious that there was a need for a change in the leadership of the parliament in Lagos. If you cast your mind back, you must have seen this coming in the last 18 months.”
He continued, “Recall the events on the day when the governor presented the 2025 appropriation bill and the leadership of the party was invited to the convention. Not only was the governor kept waiting for over four hours, but the leadership of the party and all invited dignitaries were also kept waiting with no apology given. And when he came into the chambers, courtesies, too, were not extended to anyone. Rather, it was a situation or an event of letting people know that ‘I am the emperor here.’ One of the ways to check such an irresponsible attitude is by stopping his excesses.”
The grassroots politician emphasised that the impeachment was in Tinubu’s best interest to ensure that Lagos continued to maintain its pivotal role in his political leadership.
He added, “Before the President came home, this issue had been lingering. In the wisdom of members of the Governor’s Advisory Council, the President’s attention was called. The President, as father and leader, called a meeting wherein he tried to make sense out of the observations raised by elders of the party. Unfortunately, the President saw the (former) speaker as recalcitrant. I think that is what broke the camel’s back.”
A former Speaker of the Lagos Assembly, Adeyemi Ikuforiji, stated that there was more to the impeachment than the speculations that were circulating at the time.
When asked about the influence of the GAC and other political interests, Ikuforiji commented, “Yes, there are bigger interests but I don’t think anybody in the Governor’s Advisory Council will be annoyed with a Speaker wanting to run for the office of the governor.”
He continued, “I got into the House together with Obasa in 2003 and I left almost 10 years ago, and he is still there. So, what next? It’s an acceptable ambition. Though you may ask yourself, the time is still so far, why getting the whole polity heated up over the issue of 2027? I don’t think it’s right.”
Speakers of the Lagos State House of Assembly since 1999
1. Adeleke Mamora (1999-2003)
2. Waheed Jokotola Pelumi (2003 – 2005)
3. Sabit Adeyemi Ikuforiji (2005 – 2015)
4. Mudashiru Obasa (2015 – 2025)
5. Mojisola Meranda (2025 – till date) [First Female Speaker]
