The impeached Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Mudashiru Obasa, has faulted his removal by lawmakers.
Obasa, who spoke on his removal for the first time on Saturday, said it was important for the lawmakers to “follow constitutional procedure” to remove him as speaker.
During a welcome rally at his 47 Joel Ogunnaike GRA official residence, Ikeja, he described the allegations against him as “fictitious and unsubstantiated.”
The former speaker also debunked the allegations of corruption brought against him by the lawmakers during his removal, describing the alleged financial misappropriations as “impossible.”
Obasa 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.
The ex-Lagos speaker also dismissed allegations of misappropriation. He described the corruption allegations against him as “fictitious and unsubstantiated”.
He mocked claims that a gate construction had cost N16 billion, saying, “Is it the wall of Jericho?”
He said “I am not disturbed; I am not afraid of the developments that happened at the assembly.
“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.
”I believe in removal; there’s no impeachment in the assembly. You cannot impeach (the) speaker. Probably, there’s a mistake from them. You can only remove the speaker.
“And if you must remove (the speaker), you must ensure you follow the rules of the game. I am not afraid to be removed; what else am I looking for if I’ve served as speaker, and member of the house of assembly since 2003 up till date? So, what is the problem?”
Obasa’s removal came a few weeks after he was accused of spending N17 billion on a gate to the Assembly complex.
At the plenary on January 13, the lawmakers unanimously removed Obasa who had been in the saddle since 2015 as the Speaker.
In his stead, the legislators elected Mojisola Meranda, representing Apapa constituency I, making her the first female speaker of the House.
The impeachment motion was moved by Femi Saheed (Kosofe Constituency II) and seconded by the member representing Ikorodu Constituency II, Aro Moshood Abiodun.
The newly elected speaker, Meranda has since taken full charge of the Assembly business and named new principal officers.
Obasa, who has kept sealed lips over the removal, returned to his residence on Saturday.
Some of his supporters gathered at the residence as early as 9am for a welcome party organised for the ousted speaker.
The loyalists brandishing placards with different inscriptions, turned his premises into a carnival of some of sort amid dancing and singing to political songs.
Some of the inscriptions read “Obasa Our loyalty is 100,” “Obasa The Undisputable,” “President Bola Tinubu, the Father, Obasa The son”, “Obasa… Ogo Agege, Ogo Eko,” among others.
