You’re A Joker – Lagos Assembly Lashes Ex-Speaker Obasa

• Says impeachment stands, warns him against causing tension in Lagos
• Obasa faults process, insists on retaining office

The Lagos State House of Assembly (LSHA) says there is no going back on its decision to sack Mudashiru Obasa as the Speaker, insisting that he must be a joker to claim members did not follow the so-called “due process” in the impeachment saga.

According to the House, it is unfortunate that Obasa should be involved in making “unparliamentary” comments faulting his removal from office.

In a statement reacting to the immediate past Speaker’s comments, the Assembly said; “The position of the House remains the same and nothing has changed. The Speaker remains removed.”

The statement, signed by the lawmaker representing Oshodi-Isolo constituency I, Hon Ogundipe Olukayode, on behalf of the House, further said; “The majority of members elected Rt. Hon Mudashiru Obasa as Speaker for the 10th Assembly and we also at the said Plenary took a majority decision to remove him and stand by the new Speaker so, nothing has changed.”

Debunking Obasa’s claims that the lawmakers did not adhere to “constitutional processes”, the Assembly also cautioned the former Speaker against actions and remarks capable of causing tension in the state.

The Assembly, which maintained that over two-thirds of its members supported the decision to impeach him and elect Meranda, said; “The position of the House remains the same and nothing has changed. The position being canvassed by the former Speaker is uncalled for and unparliamentary.

“All members were elected from their various constituencies across the state and we all have the inalienable rights under the necessary statutory orders to remove their principal officers, including the speaker.

“I, therefore, appeal to the former speaker to toe the line of peace and harmony as being followed by others, as the current intransigent posture will heat up the polity and not augur well.

“Any attempt to heat up the polity will be resisted by the majority of distinguished members who unanimously elected Rt. Hon. Meranda.”

The Lagos Lawmakers declared their position on Saturday just hours after the immediate past Speaker faulted the process that led to his removal from office.

Speaking for the first time on Saturday since his sudden sack by colleagues, Obasa insisted that it was important for the lawmakers to follow the constitutional procedure in removing him from office.

This is as he also denied the allegations of corruption levelled against him by fellow legislators who removed him by majority votes on January 13 over allegations of official misconduct and financial misappropriation.

The embattled lawmaker, who travelled to the United States of America at the time he was removed, was subsequently replaced by a former deputy speaker, Mojisola Meranda.

The embattled lawmaker, who was in the United States of America at the time of his impeachment, spoke to a huge crowd of supporters at the Speaker’s Lodge, 47, GRA Ikeja, Lagos, saying; “I thank you for your support and dedication. I will take this advantage to debunk the allegations that were circulated and raised about me.

“Is it possible to construct an ordinary gate with N16bn? It is not the wall of Jericho or the wall that demarcated the United States of America and Mexico.

“How can they say we bought one Hilux bus for N1bn each and that we bought 40 pieces for N40bn?

“I am not disturbed or perturbed and I am not afraid. I will debunk all the allegations levelled against me by the House.

“I have not done anything wrong. I have been a lawmaker for over two decades and I am the longest-serving lawmaker in the House.”

“I believe in removal. There is no impeachment in the Assembly. Probably, there is a mistake from them; you can only remove the speaker. And before you remove, you must ensure you follow the rules of the constitution. I’m not afraid to be removed, what else am I looking for?”

He accused the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Isola Olawale, of leading policemen to invade the Assembly on the day of the removal.

Obasa further alleged that over 200 policemen invaded his residence in the Agege area of the state, blocking the gate, which prevented members of his family from going out of the house.

Meanwhile, the State Police Commissioner, CP Ishola Olanrewaju Olawale, has refused to join issues with the former Speaker on the allegation of abuse of power levelled against him by Obasa.

However, he was quoted as saying; “Listen to that message (Obasa’s address) all over and now go to town as an investigative journalist and make up your mind.”