Ayodele Olalere
They called him the ‘Speaking Speaker.’ He was the most powerful Speaker of a State House of Assembly in Nigeria. For the first time in Lagos, he became the only speaker to occupy the position for a third time.
House of Assembly members, both new and old revered him, they feared him. Serving a third time in office, he became powerful, a ‘king’, turned himself to a ‘Lord’ in Lagos politics.
However, on the morning of Monday January 13, 2025, the unexpected happened. The powerful Speaker fell, he fell ‘yakata'( in Yoruba language). The sound of his fall was heard far and wide across the length and breath of Lagos and beyond.
On the fateful day, Mudashiru Obasa, the 52-year old arrogant Speaker of the Lagos House of Assembly, the ‘Speaking Speaker’ stopped speaking. He was impeached bringing to an end his reign and grip on the Lagos House of Assembly.
That his rise as a watch repairer in Oshodi, one of the most popular dense areas of Lagos was meteoric would be an understatement.
He began his political career as a councillor from where he joined the Lagos House of Assembly as a lawmaker at the age of 46. He rose swiftly through the ranks in the hollow chamber and became the Speaker of the House on June 8, 2015 and gradually became a powerful force in Lagos politics..
However, intoxicated with power as a speaker, Obasa began to step on toes, allegedly involved in financial misconduct which later consumed him.
His impeachment came amid allegations of financial mismanagement and statutory breaches.
Obasa’s three terms as speaker was marred by repeated allegations of corruption. He was alleged to have diverted state funds to his personal businesses and bank accounts, buying choice property across the state.
At a point, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) invited him for questioning but later left off the hook with no charges against him.
The more he became powerful,the more he began to dare the party leaders in the state. Having wielded so much influence on the lawmakers with none of them dared to confront him, he began to challenge the authority of the governor. He made himself an antagonist of the executive arm.
In his constant confrontation with Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Obasa alongside all the lawmakers rejected several of the governor’s commissioner nominees when he was voted for a second term, especially those he perceived as the governor’s favourites. It took the intervention of some political bigwigs in the state before they were finally cleared.
His ambition to become the next governor of the state in 2027 was rumored to have made him increasingly over ambitious and having perceived he was not going to get the support of the incumbent governor, he resulted in a political fight with the governor.
His troubles were confounded when one of the lawmakers presented a bill proposing the amendment of Local Council Development Authority (LCDA) and turning them into administrative councils. Obasa was fingered as the brain behind the bill. The bill was sent to Governor Sanwo-Olu for his assent but the governor refused to sign it having read the motive behind it.
The bill was to pave the way for Obasa to appoint his loyalists as administrators in each of the councils who in turn would work for him when he eventually declares his intention to run for the governorship of the state.
Obasa was also not media friendly. The former speaker’s relationship with the media was hostile when he disbanded journalists covering the assembly.
His disrespect for the governor was clearly evident as he was always missing from crucial state’s functions and whenever he attended would come late when the function was about to end and went around greeting his supporters not minding the governor, his deputy and other party leaders seated.
Obasa was emboldened by the party leaders reluctant to act swiftly and call him to order.
However signs that his fall was imminent came to the fore when President Bola Tinubu, the former governor of the state and generalissimo of Lagos politics came into town in December 2024 for the yuletide holiday.
Members of the Governor’s Advisory Council GAC reportedly held a meeting with the President with Obasa and the governor present and reported many of his sins to the President.
The livid President reportedly blasted Obasa for his disrespect to the governor and polarising the party. He then told those at the meeting he (President) knew what to do and would act at the appropriate time.
Some of Obasa’s once loyal lawmakers, frustrated by his leadership style, also began to turn on him. With allegations of financial mismanagement especially the N17billion spent to construct a new entrance and gate to the assembly complex, the lawmakers numbering 32 voted to impeach him in a move that shocked the political establishment.
They described his era as a ‘bad era’ stating they could no longer tolerate his leadership.
Abiodun Tobun, representing Epe Constituency 1, disclosed that the impeachment was a unanimous decision by the lawmakers. Tobun emphasized that the action was necessary to protect the integrity of the legislature and the state.
“The lawmakers agreed to take this step to safeguard our image and Lagos State. Change is inevitable, and we felt it was time for a new direction,” said
Abiodun Tobun, representing Epe Constituency 1,
His impeachment elicited Jubilation among staff of the House of Assembly who said they were happy with the development. Many of the staff complained about the highhandedness of Obasa in dealing with the assembly workers including their welfare.