Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, skipped the weekly executive council meeting on Monday, opting to stay at Lagos House, Marina, as the news of Speaker Mudashiru Obasa’s impeachment spread like wildfire across the state.
The development was met with wild jubilation among staff of the Lagos State House of Assembly, the governor’s office, and state workers, who had grown weary of Obasa’s leadership style. The impeachment, which was unanimously backed by 39 members of the house, cited financial misappropriations and misconduct as reasons for Obasa’s removal.
Breaking: Lagos State House Of Assembly Speaker, Obasa Impeached
In anticipation of potential unrest, armed security personnel were deployed to the Lagos House, Alausa, Ikeja, and the Lagos State House of Assembly Complex. The security presence paid off as some hoodlums attempted to invade the House of Assembly Complex but were swiftly intercepted by the Rapid Response Squad (RRS) and Lagos State Task Force, resulting in the arrest of several individuals.
While Governor Sanwo-Olu is yet to make an official statement on the development, sources close to the governor revealed that he welcomed the news with optimism, hoping for a better working relationship with the new speaker and principal officers. In fact, executive members were said to have echoed “good riddance to bad rubbish” during the brief EXCO meeting, which was chaired by Deputy Governor Dr. Obafemi Hamzat.
The impeachment marks a significant turning point in the state’s politics, particularly given Obasa’s strained relationship with Governor Sanwo-Olu and the Governance Advisory Council (GAC). President Bola Tinubu had previously intervened to broker peace between the parties during the Yuletide break in Lagos, but it seems those efforts were short-lived.
As the dust settles, Governor Sanwo-Olu is expected to meet with the new speaker and principal officers soon, paving the way for a new chapter in the state’s governance.
