Former Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Hon. Mudashiru Obasa, has faulted his removal by his fellow lawmakers.
Obasa, who spoke on his removal for the first time on Saturday, said it was important for the lawmakers to follow the constitutional procedure to remove him as speaker.
On 13 January, the Assembly unanimously removed Obasa as Speaker, citing corruption allegations. He was replaced by his deputy, Hon. Mojisola Lasbat Meranda, who represents Apapa I state constituency.
The 44-year-old is the first female Speaker of the House.
He also denied the allegations of corruption brought against him by the lawmakers during his removal, describing the alleged financial misappropriations as “impossible”.
Responding to questions from newsmen shortly after he addressed his supporters, Obasa insisted that he remained the Speaker.
“My status in the house? I believe strongly I am still the speaker until the right thing has been done. If you want to remove me, remove me the proper way and I will not contest it.
“I’m a Muslim and I believe in fate. But let’s do it the way it should be done”, he said.
When asked if a legal battle is in the offing, Obasa responded: “You will know. It’s a matter of time”.
Obasa spoke to a huge crowd of supporters at the Speaker’s Lodge, 47, Joel Ogunnaike Street, GRA Ikeja, Lagos.
He said: “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 N16 billion? 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 N1 billion each and that we bought 40 pieces for N40 billion? 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”.
According to him, the state Commissioner of Police led police officers to invade the Assembly on the day of the removal, adding that over 200 policemen also invaded his private residence in Agege and blocked the gate, while they prevented members of his family from going out of the house.
“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.
“When former Speaker, Rt. Hon Jokotola Pelumi was removed, he was in the Assembly and we did not invite policemen. When my sister, former Deputy Speaker of the House, Hon. Adefunmilayo Tejuoso, was removed, we did not invite the police.
“They should not discredit an innocent person, they should prove their allegations against me. The Lagos State House of Assembly is above the common standard of excellence. I believe in the image of our institution, we must not destroy it and I will never partake in its destruction.
“I appreciate the members of the Governance Advisory Council and Governor Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu of the state. He is my brother and he always calls me his younger brother”.
