The impeached speaker of the Lagos state house of assembly, Mudashiru Obasa, has criticised the procedure that led to his removal from office.
Speaking during a welcome rally at his residence in GRA, Ikeja on Saturday, January 25, the former speaker described the corruption allegations against him as “fictitious and unsubstantiated”.
He maintained that he was not afraid of being impeached but emphasised that due process was not followed.
The former speaker alleged that his removal was orchestrated while he was away, and accused the state commissioner of police of aiding the process.
According to him, “There’s no impeachment in national assembly. You can’t impeach the speaker. I believe in removal and 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 Tejuosho 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 (GAC) and Governor Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu of the state, he is my brother and he always calls me his younger brother.”
Obasa was impeached on January 13 by more than two-thirds of the 40-member legislative house over alleged misconduct and sundry offences.
His Deputy, Mojisola Meranda, was immediately elected the new speaker, becoming the first female to take charge of the legislative body in the South-West state.