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Mudashiru Obasa’s ‘triumphal entry’ into Lagos shows he’s well-prepared for 2027 politics

MUDASHIRU Obasa did not ride on a horse into Jerusalem on January 25 and he was nowhere close to Jesus Christ who made a triumphal entry into Jerusalem. But he sent a message to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and even President Bola Tinubu on his return to Lagos.

The message was clear for all to see: He is prepared for the 2027 politics. Obasa was impeached on January 13 as speaker of the Lagos House of Assembly for alleged corruption and high-handedness. He was replaced with his deputy, Ms Mojisola Meranda, who is now the first female speaker of Nigeria’s richest state. 

According to the lawmaker representing Epe Constituency 1 in the Lagos House of Assembly, Mr Tobun Abiodun, Mr Obasa was removed to protect the legislative house and Lagos State.

READ ALSO: Corruption: Tinubu’s son, Seyi, linked with company handling $13bn Lagos-Calabar Highway

Mudashiru Obasa

“The members of the house felt they have had enough of the leadership of Rt. Honourable Mudashiru Obasa,” he said. “We owe the constituents a duty of ensuring that the sanity of the house and integrity of the house is restored. We have unanimously agreed to carry out this action to save our image, and save the state,” he added.

Obasa dismisses allegations

But Mr Obasa dismissed these claims on January 25, noting that the speaker of a legislative house cannot be impeached but can only be removed. In his triumphal speech, Mr Obasa said, “There’s no impeachment in the assembly. You cannot impeach (the) speaker. Probably, there’s a mistake from them. You can only remove the speaker.”

He continued, “If you must remove (the speaker), you must ensure you follow the rules of the game. I am not afraid to be removed; what else am I looking for if I have served as speaker, and member of the house of assembly since 2003 up till date?”

While claiming that his Agege and Ikeja residences were invaded by more than 200 policemen who locked his family indoors, Mr Obasa said before his supporters at Joel Ogunnaike Street, Ikeja GRA, on Saturday morning, that his corruption allegation was baseless.

READ ALSO: Tinubu’s Lagos magic spreads hunger, dollar hits N1825

Obasa said, “Let me ask you, early in the morning of that day, policemen invaded the House of Assembly, led by the commissioner of police. What was he doing in the House of Assembly? What was his business in the House of Assembly?

“If I am not speaker, that’s not the end of the world. If you want to claim that I am corrupt, please prove it. Is it possible to construct a gate, ordinary gate with N16 billion? When it’s not Jericho wall. I am not disturbed, I am not afraid, of the development that happened at the Assembly.”

He further claimed that his impeachment was carried out using a fake mace.

Obasa and 2027

Mr Obasa’s bold statements are a precursor of his readiness for the battle ahead in 2027, according to political watchers, who also claimed he was also sending a message to the powers that be in Lagos.

Mr Obasa wants to be Lagos governor, even though he has not admitted this publicly. And he wants to become Lagos State’s chief eexecutive officer without the support of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu.

But he is courting some Governor’s Advisory Council (GAC), the highest decision-making body of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos, which determines who becomes governor. And some are secretly giving him a listening ear, according to Economy Post‘s findings. However, the fact that Tinubu’s son, Seyi, might be interested in 2027 is a major obstacle to Mr Obasa.

“These members of the GAC would rather want Obasa to reconcile with Governor Sanwo-Olu before pushing his gubernatorial ambition. They have given 0basa encouragement and wants him to push, but they also do not want him to create crisis in the APC or President Bola Tinubu’s camp. But he has two problems. One, Seyi Tinubu, the president’s son, is being pushed to contest. Two, Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, is also in the picture. These two are closer to President Tinubu than Obasa,” a senior member of the APC in Lagos State told Economy Post.

READ ALSO: How Tinubu allocated N2bn to Citizenship and Leadership Centre which is offering little value

Mr Tinubu and the GAC had jointly determined who became Lagos governor since 2011.

A political scientist and lecturer, Dr Olusegun Adeola, said Obasa’s February 25 triumphal entry sent a signal of what was to come in 2027.

“It shows Obasa is not backing down. He is ready to fight and get something from it. He tries to avoid offending President Bola Tinubu, but sees Governor Sanwo-Olu as his obstacle to the ambition. I do not know how far he can go, but at least he knows Governor Sanwo-Olu cannot determine who succeeds him in 2027,” he said.

A member of the APC, who is close to the GAC, said Obasa could throw a surprise party in 2027 despite all the negative press he had got since his impeachment.

“Anything can happen in politics. Never underrate anyone in this game,” he quipped.

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