Lagos Speaker: Another GAC Member faults Obasa’s removal

A member of Governance Advisory Council of the All Progressives Congress, Lagos State chapter, Chief M.A Taiwo has faulted the process leading to the removal of Hon. Mudashiru Ajayi Obasa as Speaker of the State House of Assembly.

Recall that Obasa was on January 13 removed from the exalted position by 33 out of the 40 lawmakers that make up the House on grounds of alleged gross misconduct and abuse of office.

The lawmaker, representing Agege Constituency 1 was away in United States at that time, with Hon. Mojisola Lasbat Meranda of Apapa Constituency 1, hitherto Deputy Speaker elected in his place.

On return, the displaced lawmaker faulted the manner of his removal, claiming fake mace was used at the sitting where the action took place.

He also alleged other improprieties and undemocratic actions including alleged deployment of police officers led by Commissioner of Police in the state to the Assembly for the purpose of his removal.

“But why did they have to break the chamber and use a fake mace to carry out the removal?

“If they say they don’t want me anymore, it is fine, but let them follow due procedure.

“My status in the House is that I strongly believe I remain the Speaker of the Assembly until the right procedure for my removal is followed,” he told his supporters at Speaker’s Lodge on Saturday.

A GAC member, Senator Anthony Adefuye seconded Obasa’s stance, saying in an interview: “What he is saying is that he was illegally removed and the procedure was faulty and I agree with him.”

The support to the embattled lawmaker drew Senator Adefuye opprobrium from his colleague in the highest decision-making body of the APC, Senator Musiliu Obanikoro.

“The statement of Sen. Adefuye on the removal of the former speaker Mudashiru Obasa is very unfortunate, childish and inconsequential.

“Senator Adefuye’s comment shouldn’t have come up, as leaders, if there are serious issues of this magnitude, rushing to make press statement or personal statement on such issues is unbecoming of a statesman,” the former Minister of state for defence and former Nigerian ambassador to Ghana, censured Adefuye.

Corroborating Adefuye and Obasa, Chief Taiwo in a terse WhatsApp message sent to our correspondent entitled: MY TAKE ON THE ONGOING IMBROGLIO AT THE LAGOS STATE HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY, said Obasa’s removal is illegal, and a disrepct to the party leadership.

He noted that the situation has polarised GAC, adding that President Bola Tinubu has the final say on the matter.

“The act of the lawmakers is illegal. It shows total disregard and clear disrespect for Leadership.

“The GAC Leadership is split over the matter but we will all defer to our de facto leader, the President of Nigeria,Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu to resolve the crisis,” the message reads.

Meanwhile unconfirmed report said at a meeting held at the State Governor’s House in Marina, GAC Chairman, Prince Tajudeen Olusi echoed Obasa, Adefuye, and Chief Taiwo’s sentiments concerning the alleged illegality of the removal.

“Baba Olusi mentioned at that meeting that the impeachment was illegal. He also said that the decision whether the removal would stand or not lies with President Tinubu,” an APC chieftain told our correspondent this on condition of anonymity.

Furthermore a political group in the party, APC Youth Vanguard has condemned Obanikoro’s vitriolic attack on Senator Adefuye.

The group by a statement its Secretary-General, Femi Ayoola signed, said the former minister’s vitriol was undignifying.

“Obanikoro describing distinguished Senator Anthony Adefuye’s remark on the Speakership crisis as ‘childish’ does not dignify him nor the GAC itself.

“If anything, it indicates that Obanikoro, a former Peoples Democratic Party chieftain has a lot of catch-ups to do in the progressives’ circle,” the statement read.