Tinubu knows about Obasa’s removal as Lagos speaker – APC chieftain

A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Fouad Oki, has revealed that President Bola Tinubu was aware of the impeachment of Mudashiru Obasa, the former Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly.

Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today, Oki said Tinubu was involved in efforts to mediate the lingering crisis in the Assembly but observed Obasa’s unwillingness to cooperate.

According to Oki, the president’s intervention came after the Governor’s Advisory Council (GAC) raised concerns about Obasa’s leadership.

“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,” Oki explained.

“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 by the Assembly over allegations of fraud and abuse of office. Mojisola Meranda, the deputy speaker, was elected to lead the house.

READ ALSO:Lagos Assembly alleges infractions against Obasa, elects first female Speaker

The lawmakers accused him of multiple financial infractions, including spending ₦17 billion on constructing the Assembly’s building gate and ₦200 million on a recent thanksgiving service.

The impeachment, which Oki described as “long overdue,” paved the way for the election of Hon. Mojisola Miranda as the first female Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly.

With Tinubu’s involvement and the Assembly’s unanimous decision, Oki emphasised that removing Obasa was a necessary step for accountability and a more transparent legislative process in Lagos State.

“Recalcitrance and leadership do not mix,” Oki said. “The president recognised that, and the Assembly has acted accordingly.”