Lagos Assembly alleges infractions against Obasa, elects first female Speaker

• Detained Obasa supporters sing, beg for food
Lagos State House of Assembly has laid bare the reasons behind the dramatic impeachment of its Speaker, Mudashiru Obasa, in a move that sent shockwaves through the state’s political landscape.

Obasa’s removal, executed while he was away in the United States, was met with widespread jubilation among Assembly staff and observers, yesterday.

While that unravelled, some suspected supporters of Obasa arrested by the police reportedly sang “On your mandate…” while begging food and water from inside the police van.

The Speaker was removed alongside the Clerk of the Assembly, Olalekan Onafeko, and replaced with Abubakar Ottun in an acting capacity.

Addressing the media shortly after the impeachment, Abiodun Tobun, flanked by other lawmakers, described the decision as a necessary step to protect the integrity of the legislative body.

“Change is inevitable,” Tobun began solemnly. “The members of this House, in exercising our constitutional right to regulate our proceedings, unanimously decided that we had endured enough under the leadership of the Speaker. Today, we have resolved to replace him to safeguard the sanctity and reputation of this Assembly.”

The Assembly immediately appointed former Deputy Speaker, Mojisola Meranda, as the new Speaker and Mojeed Adebola as new Deputy Speaker.

According to Tobun, all principal positions and standing committees were dissolved, signalling a fresh start for the legislative arm.

“This action was not taken lightly,” Tobun continued. “We owe Lagosians a duty to ensure that this House remains a beacon of integrity and progress. By removing the former Speaker, we have demonstrated our commitment to our constituents and the state at large.”

The decision, he added, was made to unify the Assembly and move it to “the next level” of efficiency and accountability.

The Guardian gathered that more than two-thirds of the Assembly members were at the legislative chamber to effect the change in leadership.

In removing the speaker, the lawmakers alleged multiple financial and statutory violations against Obasa, who is the longest-serving Speaker of the Assembly.

Meranda, who was once the Assembly’s Chief Whip, recently served as the Deputy Speaker.

The impeachment of Obasa was described as a breath of fresh air by some workers within the Assembly complex. A number of the staff told The Guardian they were happy with the development.

They invited our correspondent to see how excited the workers were and the positive and new atmosphere within the complex following the news that Obasa had been impeached.

Many of them complained of Obasa’s highhandedness in dealing with the Assembly workers, including their welfare.

The 52-year-old Obasa, who represents Agege State Constituency I, became Speaker of Lagos Assembly in 2015.

Following Obasa’s impeachment, a group of men reportedly loitering around the Assembly premises were arrested by the police.

In a viral video, the men, locked in a police van, claimed they came to the Complex to visit Obasa when they were arrested.

One of the detained men, who spoke to journalists through the window shutters of the van, claimed they were members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) from Agege.

“A tangible reason has not been given for apprehending us here. We are about 20 here and we are from Orile Agege. We are APC youths,” one of the men said.

Some of them begged passers-by to get them food and water.

At some point, the men, who were about 20 in number, started singing ‘On Your Mandate’ tune, a song specifically dedicated to President Bola Tinubu by his supporters.