3 hours ago
1 ARTICLE AD
Some loyalists of embattled Lagos lawmaker, Mudashiru Obasa, have rejected allegations of misconduct and fraud levelled against him.
The loyalists, who are mostly from Obasa’s Agege Constituency 1, noted that the allegations were politically motivated.
Obasa was removed last Monday by the majority of House members.
While the removal was based on allegations of fraud and misconduct, political analysts suggested that his reported disregard for Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, including his purported interest in running for the office of the governor in 2027, was his undoing
Following his impeachment, the lawmakers elected former Deputy Speaker Mojisola Meranda of Apapa Constituency 1, as the new Speaker of the Assembly.
As of the time of filing this report, Obasa had yet to react to his impeachment.
Sunday PUNCH gathered that he was still in Atlanta, United States, where he was vacationing before his removal.
However, at his constituency office in Agege, where people gathered on Friday to deliberate on the next course of action, his allies dismissed the allegations against him.
The Chairman of the Community Development Committee for Agege Local Government Area, Mr Omodele Morufu, said there was no evidence to support them.
“The allegations against Obasa are nothing more than hearsay. Is it a crime for someone to express interest in a position? If Obasa says he wants to become the governor and God supports him, it is a source of pride for us in Agege. Those spreading unfounded claims are not God.
“We elected him to represent us at the House, and he has served us excellently. When he aspired to become speaker, didn’t he inform the House of his intention? He did, and they elected him — not once. Now, if he expresses interest in becoming the next governor, is that a crime?” Morufu added.
He explained that the meeting was to dispel misconceptions surrounding Obasa’s impeachment.
“We gathered here today to inform the people about what is truly happening so they can have the facts. We are here to strategise on the way forward and to counter any false narratives that may emerge from this development,” Morufu stated.
According to him, the meeting was attended by key stakeholders, including traditional rulers, the Executive Chairman of Agege Local Government Area, Chief Ganiyu Egunjobi, Muslim clerics, representatives of the Christian Association of Nigeria in the council, women leaders, and youth representatives.
In his remarks at the meeting, Egunjobi reiterated Obasa’s importance to Agege politics.
“Whether or not he was treated fairly by the Lagos Assembly, I can only say that Obasa is a good man, upright, and has done a lot for the people of Agege. That is why you see everyone rallying around him today. Obasa remains the leader of Agege politics,” he stated.
Similarly, the Alaige of Orile Agege Kingdom, Oba Egbeyemi Lateef Oladimeji, described Obasa as a pillar of support for the community.
“Obasa has been very good to me and the community. He played a key role in my enthronement, which had been delayed since 2016. He stood for justice. What happened to him is simply politics among politicians, and as traditional rulers, we do not interfere in such matters,” the king said.
The CDC Secretary, Babatunde Hassan, described Obasa’s impeachment as a significant loss to the Agege community, citing the many benefits his leadership brought to the constituency.
“The allegations against him remain unproven; they are mere hearsay. If there’s genuine evidence, it should be presented clearly for everyone to see. As it stands, the claims exist only among members of the House and may be driven by internal grudges,” Hassan stated.
The CAN chairman for the local government, Teddy Afeni, also insisted that the allegations were political.
“There’s no politician without allegations. To allege is common. Even if President Bola Tinubu steps down today, someone will indict him. Once you are in office, accusations are inevitable. It’s all part of the political game. But we pray that the Lord will restore Obasa’s lost glory,” Afeni said.
