A veteran grassroots campaigner for the All Progressives Congress in Lagos, Fouad Oki, believes the impeachment of Mudashiru Obasa as Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly on Monday was due to his authoritarian approach to politics.
Mr. Oki made the comments during an appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today.
The veteran political campaigner suggested that Obasa was a political pretender for the governorship seat up for grabs in 2027.
“As for Obasa, let’s not assign motives that may not exist,” Oki said. “If ambition was truly his driving force, he would’ve been more strategic and less authoritarian in his approach.”
Mr. Oki said various efforts had been made to appease Obasa before his removal. However, these efforts, which included President Bola Ahmed Tinubu reaching out, were apparently met with disrespect.
Read excerpts from Mr. Oki’s interview below. The excerpts have been edited for clarity.
On whether Obasa’s removal was anticipated?
For anyone familiar with Lagos politics, recent events clearly indicated this was inevitable. Over the last three months, especially in the past few weeks, it became evident that a change in leadership was necessary for the Assembly and the state’s progress. If you reflect on the past year and a half, you’d notice signs pointing to this outcome. For instance, during the presentation of the 2025 budget, the governor and party leadership were kept waiting for over four hours, which is unheard of. This disrespect extended to other dignitaries, with no apologies or explanations offered.
When Speaker Obasa finally arrived, the atmosphere was one of arrogance, as if to assert his supremacy. His actions sent a clear message: I’m the emperor here. This attitude alienated not just the governor and party leadership but also his fellow legislators.
Even their symbolic attire that day conveyed a message of defiance and control. It was a display of dominance, a challenge to the leadership of the party, and a declaration of authority over the Assembly.
Given all this, Obasa’s removal wasn’t surprising. It was only a matter of time before his leadership came to an end. While it may seem late, it’s still a timely and necessary decision.
On whether Obasa’s removal was orchestrated by ‘higher authorities’?
Let me begin by saying that we’re in a democracy, and our style differs from the parliamentary system of the First Republic. We’ve adopted the American presidential system, which offers significant parliamentary independence. Members represent diverse constituencies and are guided by their local and state leaders.
In situations like this, party leaders must engage their representatives to ensure accountability. The Lagos State House of Assembly, dominated by one party, is expected to regulate its affairs. If a representative acts like an emperor, checks and balances are essential. Discussions among party members often address such behavior, aiming to prioritize the party, constituents, and the state’s interests.
On whether President Tinubu had a say in Obasa’s removal?
The president, being from Lagos, has a vested interest in the state’s leadership. Before his recent return, the GAC attempted to address this issue multiple times. Meetings were held involving the speaker, the governor, and GAC members to resolve the matter. However, the speaker’s refusal to change led to further intervention when the president returned.
The president convened a meeting to address concerns raised by party elders. Unfortunately, the speaker’s unyielding stance led to the fallout. His inability to accept corrections ultimately broke the camel’s back.
On whether Obasa’s governorship ambitions played a role in his impeachment?
Seun, you know Lagos politics as well as I do. We’ve been on this journey for over two decades, and I must say, in this field, I don’t have many peers. I understand what works and what doesn’t. About 12 years ago, in your morning program, I mentioned that we often have wannabes political pretenders. Today, we’re seeing the same: a long list of pretenders. By mid-year, during the local government elections, we’ll start identifying the contenders. Eventually, the real contestants will emerge, and one of them will become the candidate.
As for Obasa, let’s not assign motives that may not exist. If ambition was truly his driving force, he would’ve been more strategic and less authoritarian in his approach. Let’s allow the political pretenders to reveal themselves.