Over 24 hours after his impeachment, former Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Mudashiru Obasa has remained silent, and none of his loyalists have openly defended him.
Naijaonpoint recalls that Obasa was removed as Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly on Monday, with lawmakers immediately appointing Deputy Speaker Mojisola Meranda as his successor. Reports suggest that Obasa is currently out of the country, vacationing in the United States.
Assembly sources revealed to The PUNCH that Obasa’s removal was carried out in his absence, with 90% of the lawmakers supporting the motion. Conversations with some of his loyalists in his Agege constituency indicated a reluctance to defend him publicly due to their personal political ambitions.
Attempts to get reactions from prominent members of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in Agege also yielded no results, as party leaders refused to comment. According to some party loyalists, the fear of political repercussions influenced their decision to remain silent.
“This is a difficult time for us,” an anonymous APC member stated. “His removal came as a rude shock, but we cannot openly oppose it due to the involvement of influential figures, especially at the Presidency. Many of us have political aspirations and are unwilling to jeopardize them by defending him.”
A visit to Agege on Tuesday revealed the presence of two political camps in the constituency—those loyal to Obasa and others opposing his prolonged tenure in the Assembly.
“There is a division in the party here,” a party chieftain noted. “Those celebrating his removal are from the opposing camp, while his loyalists condemned the arrest of his supporters outside the Assembly on Monday.”
Following his impeachment, a group of youths who gathered at the Assembly complex in Alausa were detained by the police and transported in a Black Maria.
Despite Obasa’s removal, normalcy has returned to Agege. His campaign office on Oyewole Road was found deserted and locked on Tuesday.
Some areas considered his strongholds, including Capitol Road, Tabontabon, and Oniwaya, experienced initial tension but were later stabilized with increased security presence.
Residents acknowledged Obasa’s contributions to the community, particularly in road construction projects, but expressed indifference to his impeachment.
“We appreciate his efforts in road construction and linking neighborhoods,” said Taofik Ilesanmi, a resident. “But his removal hasn’t affected our lives. As you can see, everything is back to normal.”
Another resident, Kunle Salau, added, “Only those who directly benefitted from him seem concerned. For the rest of us, life goes on.”