Former Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Mudashiru Obasa, has spoken out following his removal from office, saying that is not the end of the world.
Obasa made this declaration on Saturday in Ikeja GRA during a welcome event organized in his honor by supporters from Agege, Alimosho, and Kosofe local government areas.
Recall that on January 13, Obasa was removed from office by his colleagues in the House over allegations of gross misconduct and financial mismanagement.
While his deputy, Mojisola Meranda, was immediately sworn in as the new Speaker, becoming the first female to take charge of the legislative body in the South-West state.
Obasa, from Agege Constituency 1, was first elected into the House in 2007. He has been in the chamber since then and emerged speaker in June 2015.
In his speech at the welcome rally, Obasa maintained that he was not afraid of being impeached but emphasised that due process must be followed.
The former Speaker alleged that his removal was orchestrated while he was away and accused the State Commissioner of Police of aiding the process. He claimed security agents, led by the Police Commissioner, invaded the Assembly complex and his homes in Agege and Ikeja, locking his family indoors with over 200 officers present.
“If I am not speaker, that’s not the end of the world. If you want to claim that I am corrupt, please prove it,” Obasa stated.
He dismissed allegations of misappropriation, mocking claims that a gate construction cost N16 billion, saying, “Is it the wall of Jericho?”
He added, “I am not afraid of being removed, after all it is not my father’s chieftaincy title. I am representing my people and they have returned me six times. If you want to do anything, do it well.
“They did the removal all because I was out of the country. Lagos is a special place, we cannot denigrate the state.
“When former speaker, Rt. Hon Jokotola Pelumi was removed, he was in the assembly and we did not invite policemen. When my sister, former deputy speaker of the House, Hon. Adefunmilayo Tejuosho was removed, we did not invite the police.
“They should not discredit an innocent person, they should prove their allegations against me. The Lagos State House of Assembly is above common standard of excellence.
“I believe in the image of our institution, we must not destroy it and I will never partake in its destruction.
“I appreciate members of the Governance Advisory Council (GAC) and Governor Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu of the state, he is my brother and he always calls me his younger brother.”
