By Lukman Olabiyi
Mudashiru Obasa’s political journey in Lagos State has been both meteoric and controversial, culminating in his recent impeachment as Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly.
The 52-year-old politician, who had held the position since June 8, 2015, was ousted on Monday, January 13, amid allegations of financial mismanagement and statutory breaches, marking the dramatic end of a career that had been defined by both ambition and scandal.
Obasa’s rise to power was swift. Elected speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly at the age of 46, his tenure coincided with the administration of former Governor Akinwunmi Ambode where the ousted speaker was seen as a formidable figure, wielding considerable influence within the Assembly and across the state’s political landscape.
His leadership was initially marked by promises of reforms and progress, but it was not long before his reign became synonymous with controversy. Throughout his time in office, Obasa faced repeated allegations of corruption. In 2020, there were many allegations of diversion of state funds to his personal businesses and bank accounts, vast portfolio of properties were allegedly also linked to him across Lagos. He however firmly denied all the allegations.
These allegations however drew the attention of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), which subsequently invited him for questioning. However, despite the gravity of the allegations, no formal charges were filed following his interactions with the EFCC.
While presiding over the House, he was constantly at loggerheads with the executive arm. One of the issues was the drama surrounding the clearance and rejection of executive nominees by Sanwo-Olu at the beginning of his second term, another indication of Obasa’s contentious relationship with the governor. His ambition to become the next governor of the state in 2027 was rumored to have made him increasingly over ambitious.
Obasa was also alleged to have ran into trouble with way and manners, he conducted the amendment of Local Council Development Authority (LCDA). The former speaker relationship with media, was also hostile. He declared journalists covering the assembly persona non-grata.
Again, the idea of Obasa being missing from crucial state’s functions made it glaring that the executive arm and the legislative arm were at loggerheads. But his ability to navigate through these scandals was partly due to his deft manipulation of political alliances within the Lagos Assembly and the party leadership kept for long to continue to call the shots.
But as the years went by, his influence began to erode. Fellow lawmakers, frustrated by his leadership style increasingly turned against him. His downfall came swiftly, as members of the House, armed with allegations of financial mismanagement voted to impeach him in a move that shocked the political establishment. Following his impeachment, his fellow lawmakers held that their decision was an attempt to end a bad era, stating they could no longer tolerate his leadership.
Speaking to journalists, 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,” Tobun said. He explained that the Constitution empowers the Assembly to regulate its proceedings, and members reached a consensus to end Obasa’s tenure. The lawmakers assured the public of their commitment to the progress and stability of Lagos State under the new leadership.
Also, the impeachment of Obasa has also been described as a breath of fresh air by workers within the assembly complex. Several staff who spoke with media, 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.