Speaker Obasa: How are the mighty fallen!
By Ibrahim Yusuf
For the immediate past Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Ajayi Obasa, Monday, January 13th, 2025, will go down as the ides of March because it was that day he fell from his throne of grace as the Almighty Man in the hallowed chamber to become an ordinary floor member of the House!
And wait for this: his fall was, indeed, inevitable, and I saw it coming!
Please don’t get me wrong. I’m not one of those seers who claim to possess clairvoyant powers to see the unseen. Never. I’m an ordinary citizen who just wants to make common sense Allah Walahi! (apologies to Mr. Ben Murray-Bruce, Mr. Common Sense himself!)
Just yesterday, while I was returning from Agege, where I had gone to attend a PTA meeting, I saw a billboard embossed with the inscription “Jigi Obasa” accompanied with a jumbo size image of the lawmaker and the thought that crossed my mind instantly was that here was a fellow who in his desperation for power was not only aping Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu by replicating some of the programmes and interventions like the free eye medicare for indigent citizens christened ‘Jigi Bola’ eons ago but was also busy making surreptitious moves aimed at dismantling the legacies of his main benefactor in the process.
I’m not a politician by vocation, but as I brooded over the Obasa persona, in my mind, I concluded that this chap was politically naive in every material particular based on some of his actions and inactions, and if care is not taken, would meet his Waterloo someday.
I was, therefore, taken aback when news filtered in by midday that Obasa had been impeached.
A brother and colleague, Zika Bobby, first dropped the hint about the impeachment saga, but I didn’t give it much meaning until I saw other updates from different news Whatsapp platforms on the inevitable. I was like, wow, so quick. I wasn’t expecting that things would go awry for him just yet! Power is indeed transient.
The man Obasa had indeed stepped on many toes, even among the lawmakers and Assembly staff.
Obasa’s cup was said to have filled up following the abysmal political report sheet presented by the Governing Advisory Committee (GAC) to President Tinubu when the latter returned to his Lagos home for the yuletide break last December.
As another senior colleague puts it, “Obasa’s like the case of Pharaoh where God said He hardened his heart and goaded him to destroy himself. Obasa’s heart was hardened by whatever he was serving or worshipping to goad him to his Waterloo. How are the mighty fallen amid the battle.”
Things, however, came to a head when members of the Lagos State House of Assembly reportedly impeached Obasa over alleged multiple statutory and financial infractions and subsequently replaced by his deputy, Mrs. Mojisola Lasbat Meranda, who represents Apapa Constituency 1.
The impeachment plot was perfected at a time when Obasa himself was in Atlanta, USA.
Obasa’s removal came days after it was reported that he oversaw the withdrawal of N43.5 billion for backup vehicles for lawmakers, as well as other controversial activities.
Mr Obasa, 52, was first elected Speaker on June 8, 2015, resuming office alongside former one-term governor Akinwunmi Ambode.
His reign had been dogged with repeated charges of fraud, high-handedness, and political thuggery.
For instance, in 2020, a series of investigations detailing how Mr Obasa diverted Lagos funds to his personal firms and bank accounts was made public just as Sahara Reporters at the time also uncovered his assets across Lagos.
He was subsequently invited to be questioned by the EFCC after the anti-graft office became overwhelmed by media reports of Mr Obasa’s mismanagement but he denied all allegations, and no charges were filed after he met with the anti-graft agency.
With him out of the way as Speaker, there is no stopping the newly constituted leadership from calling for Obasa’s probe to defend himself against the series of allegations leveled against him.
As they say, he who laughs last laughs best. Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu is the winner, as chroniclers of history will remember how the former was made the butt of derisive jokes and ripostes by the former speaker at every slightest opportunity.
Of course, I’m not celebrating the downfall of a fellowman here but just trying to share life lessons with the Obasa saga. Let those who have ears listen; power is indeed transient, so use it wisely!
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