A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Fouad Oki, has explained and justified the impeachment of former Lagos State House of Assembly Speaker, Mudashiru Obasa, accusing him of running the Assembly as if he were an “emperor.”
Speaking during an interview on a Channels Television program on Monday, Oki detailed the reasons behind Obasa’s removal, emphasizing that it was not an unexpected decision. He attributed it to the former Speaker’s alleged inappropriate behavior and leadership style, which he described as unsuitable for a legislative leader.
Obasa, a six-term lawmaker representing Agege Constituency I, was impeached on Monday following allegations of financial misconduct and other violations. His tenure was reportedly marked by accusations of highhandedness, inciting divisions among lawmakers, and the mismanagement of Assembly funds. The impeachment decision, according to reports, followed months of internal discontent and tension among members of the Assembly.
In his reaction, Oki stated, “He saw himself as an emperor. It became very obvious that there was a need for a change in the leadership of the parliament in Lagos. If you cast your mind back, you must have seen this coming in the last 18 months.”
He went on to highlight a specific event that he said illustrated Obasa’s leadership shortcomings. “Recall the events on the day when the governor presented the 2025 appropriation bill and the leadership of the party was invited to the convention. Not only was the governor kept waiting for over four hours, but the leadership of the party and all invited dignitaries were also kept waiting with no apology given. And when he came into the chambers, courtesies, too, were not extended to anyone. Rather, it was a situation or an event of letting people know that ‘I am the emperor here.’ One of the ways to check such an irresponsible attitude is by stopping his excesses.”
Oki also argued that the impeachment was in the best interest of the APC, particularly in securing Lagos State’s pivotal role in President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s political strategy. He noted that the issue of Obasa’s leadership had been a concern for party elders and members of the Governor’s Advisory Council (GAC) for some time.
“Before the President came home, this issue had been lingering. In the wisdom of members of the Governor’s Advisory Council, the President’s attention was called. The President, as father and leader, called a meeting wherein he tried to make sense out of the observations raised by elders of the party. Unfortunately, the President saw the (former) Speaker as recalcitrant. I think that is what broke the camel’s back,” Oki said.
The grassroots politician concluded by emphasizing that the decision to impeach Obasa was a necessary step to restore order and integrity to the Lagos State House of Assembly and to ensure the smooth functioning of governance in the state.
