Mudashiru Obasa’s Impeachment: A Shocking Political Shake-Up in Lagos

Alright, let’s talk about Mudashiru Obasa, the man who once ruled the Lagos State House of Assembly with a grip. If you’ve been keeping up with Nigerian politics, you’d know that this dude just got the boot on January 13, 2025.

And no, it wasn’t a small, insignificant shift. It was a full-on impeachment. Talk about a political earthquake. What’s the story behind this drama? Well, buckle up, because we’re diving into it.

So, Mudashiru Obasa, born in Agege, Lagos, November 11, 1972, was one of those names you just couldn’t avoid if you followed Lagos politics. He started his career as a councilor and slowly worked his way up.

In 2007, he got a seat in the Lagos State House of Assembly. But it was in 2015 when things took a major turn, and he became the Speaker of the House. Imagine holding that kind of power for almost a decade!

Sounds like a dream, right? Well, it’s safe to say that the dream just turned into a nightmare for him.

Here’s the thing—Obasa, like many politicians, made some enemies along the way. And what better way to bring someone down than hitting them where it hurts the most: their pockets.

So, what were the charges against Obasa that led to his dramatic exit? First up: financial mismanagement.

Yeah, the old “misappropriating funds” accusation. Turns out Obasa’s House spent billions (and we’re talking billions here) on official cars and utility buses, but none of them showed up.

This wasn’t just a few million; we’re talking over ₦44 billion allocated between 2023 and 2024. Now, you can imagine the outrage when people saw no new cars rolling around and no buses being put to use.

But wait, it gets better. There were also claims that the House spent ₦17 billion to build a gate—yes, you read that right—a gate!

A freaking gate! For ₦17 billion! The people weren’t having it, and neither were the lawmakers.

Then there was the thanksgiving service, which allegedly cost ₦200 million. A service. ₦200 million.

I don’t care what kind of service it was, that’s a lot of money for a “thank you.” The public was understandably upset.

And then came the icing on the cake: Obasa was accused of authoritarian leadership. He was allegedly using intimidation tactics, playing divide-and-rule with the lawmakers, and creating a toxic work environment.

Basically, it was a “my way or the highway” situation, and no one was happy about it. The final nail in the coffin? Lack of accountability.

The Finance Management Committee hadn’t even met officially since the 10th Assembly was inaugurated. That’s when you know something’s off—if the committee isn’t doing its job, it means someone’s getting away with murder (figuratively, of course).

So, it wasn’t a surprise when the motion for Obasa’s impeachment was raised on January 13, 2025, by Femi Saheed. And guess what? It passed with flying colors.

Thirty-two lawmakers agreed that it was time for Obasa to pack his bags and leave. And, in a swift political move, Mojisola Lasbat Meranda became the new Speaker, making her the first female Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly.

Talk about breaking glass ceilings! Now, before we get into the aftermath, let’s take a moment to talk about Obasa’s reaction.

The man himself dismissed all the allegations as politically motivated. Of course, he wasn’t going down without a fight.

He pointed fingers at the 2027 elections, claiming that the whole thing was a political plot to weaken his influence. He also questioned the insane spending on a gate and the thanksgiving service.

But by the time the votes were counted, the damage was done. After the impeachment, things didn’t exactly calm down.

The Lagos Assembly was on high alert, and security forces were deployed like it was a military operation. Some of Obasa’s loyalists reportedly tried to storm the Assembly complex, but security was tight.

The impeachment was a big deal, not just for Obasa, but for Lagos politics as a whole. As the lawmakers said, this was all about safeguarding the integrity of the House and the interests of Lagos State residents.

And you know what? They were right. It wasn’t just about one man; it was about restoring trust in the system. But here’s the catch—there’s more to this story than meets the eye.

Shehu Sani, a former Senator, weighed in on the drama. He suggested that the impeachment might have had more to do with Obasa’s ambitions than anything else.

After all, when you’re a major player like Obasa, you can’t just sit around and wait for the 2027 elections to roll by. He was allegedly eyeing a governorship position, which might have made some people in Lagos nervous.

It’s not just about money or mismanagement; it’s about who’s positioning themselves for power in the years to come. Now, let’s talk about the aftermath.

Meranda is now the first female Speaker of the Lagos House of Assembly, and with that comes a heavy responsibility. The Assembly’s members are emphasizing that they want to work together to improve the performance of the House and serve the people of Lagos better.

The message? They’re looking to clean up the mess and make sure nothing like this happens again. And the drama didn’t stop there.

Shortly after the impeachment, someone was spotted removing Obasa’s portrait from the Assembly complex. That was a clear sign that the old regime was well and truly over.

But here’s the kicker: was Obasa replaced immediately with Meranda’s portrait? Nope. That would have been too smooth.

Instead, it was a moment that showed the true depth of the shift in power. In the world of Nigerian politics, it’s not just about what happens; it’s about how things feel when they happen.

So, what’s the takeaway from this? Well, Nigeria is always full of surprises, and Lagos politics just gave us one of the biggest ones in recent memory.

Obasa’s impeachment is more than just a scandal; it’s a reflection of the state of Nigerian politics. It’s about accountability, trust, and making sure that the people in power are held to the highest standards.

The lawmakers in Lagos might have just set a precedent for how other states should approach leadership in the future. And one last thing—let’s talk about your thoughts.

What do you think about the whole situation? Was it just about the money, or was there more to it? Hit me up in the comments below, and don’t forget to share this with your friends.

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