The recent impeachment of Mudashiru Obasa as Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly has been hailed as a decision that was long overdue, according to prominent All Progressives Congress chieftain Fouad Oki.
Oki attributes the impeachment to both President Bola Tinubu’s intervention and Obasa’s refusal to relent, despite efforts to resolve the crisis.
Speaking on a Channels TV programme, Oki explained that President Tinubu attempted to mediate the conflict within the Assembly after concerns were raised by members of the APC’s Governor’s Advisory Council. However, Obasa’s unyielding stance ultimately led to his removal.
Oki revealed that the GAC had raised issues regarding Obasa’s leadership, prompting President Tinubu to intervene. “Before the president came home, this issue had been lingering. In the wisdom of members of the GAC, the president’s attention was called,” Oki said. “The president, as father and leader, called a meeting wherein he tried to make sense of the observations raised by elders of the party. Unfortunately, the president saw by himself a recalcitrant Obasa. I think that is what broke the camel’s back.”
Obasa was impeached on Monday after months of mounting allegations of financial misconduct. His removal followed accusations of corruption and abuse of office, with the former Speaker being replaced by Mojisola Meranda, who made history as the first female Speaker of the Lagos State Assembly.
Oki stressed that the decision to impeach Obasa was not made lightly. It came after a prolonged period of unresolved tensions and Obasa’s failure to heed advice from party elders. “It was a culmination of unresolved issues,” Oki said, highlighting Obasa’s resistance to compromise.
In December 2024, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission was petitioned to investigate Obasa for alleged financial misconduct, breach of public trust, and abuse of office. The Progressive Youth Movement of Ikeja, Lagos State, accused Obasa of embezzling funds through proxy companies and violating procurement regulations.
One of the allegations involves the improper management of N17 billion allocated for constructing a gate at the Lagos State House of Assembly, with the Lagos State Anti-Corruption Coalition calling for an investigation. The petition also points to contracts allegedly awarded without due process, including a N469 million contract for the construction of the Ikeja Local Government Secretariat.
Obasa has denied the accusations, describing them as “nonsensical and political” when contacted by SaharaReporters.