Politics
Major Reason Obasa Remains In Shock Over Removal As Speaker
still finds his removal as Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly surreal.
A week and two days later, insiders say Mudashiru Obasa still finds his removal as Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly surreal.
He was impeached on Monday, January 13, 2025, while on vacation in the United States of America.
The lawmakers not only impeached Obasa but also removed the Clerk of the Assembly, Olalekan Onafeko, who was considered extraordinarily close to the former Speaker.
This dual action deepened the impact of the power shift within the Assembly.
Among the many surprises, sources revealed that Obasa is particularly shaken by the role of Femi Saheed, one of his close allies, in the impeachment.
Saheed, a second-term lawmaker representing Kosofe, moved the motion for Obasa’s removal.
The development hit Obasa hard. Saheed, who chairs the House Committee on Finance—a sought-after position he obtained through Obasa’s influence—played a central role in the plot.
His involvement reportedly emboldened other lawmakers who might have been hesitant to challenge the former Speaker.
“Obasa still finds Saheed’s involvement confounding; he is yet to get over it,” insiders disclosed.
For Obasa, the shock goes beyond Saheed’s participation. It stems from a sense of disbelief that a staunch ally, who had consistently accepted his leadership unquestioningly, could spearhead such a move. “Though they are allies, Obasa was the clear leader whose doings were accepted as the norm. And Saheed was not in the bracket of those who questioned his actions,” sources explained.
The consequences of Obasa’s removal were swift and symbolic. His successor, Mojisola Lasbat Meranda, represents a sharp departure from his era of dominance.
Until her elevation, Meranda was “the unheard-of” Deputy Speaker, operating quietly under Obasa’s reign.
Her appointment as the first female Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly underscores the dramatic shift in power and direction.
With these developments, insiders suggest Obasa remains dazed, grappling not just with his removal but with the broader implications of losing control over a once-loyal Assembly.
