Chidera Godwin Mudashiru Obasa has engineered what may go down in history as one of the most remarkable political comebacks in Lagos’ political landscape.
On Monday, 3 March, he was reinstated as Speaker, 49 days after 36 lawmakers removed him from office.
Mr Obasa was nominated by a lawmaker, Noheem Adams, representing Eti-Osa I, after the former Speaker, Mojisola Meranda, resigned from her position.
Ms Meranda was voted into office following Mr Obasa’s removal on 13 January. The lawmakers accused Mr Obasa of high-handedness, poor leadership, financial misappropriation, among other allegaHis removal had sparked widespread controversy and upheaval among members of the assembly and the party ranks.
Mr Obasa claimed that his removal as speaker was illegal, as it occurred while he was abroad and the assembly was on recess. However, lawmakers loyal to Ms Meranda insisted that his removal by over two-thirds majority was constitutional.
Before Monday’s plenary, Mr Obasa, Ms Meranda, and other lawmakers held a meeting outside the chambers. The state Attorney General and Commissioner for Judtice, Lawal Pedro, and the leaders of the state chapter of the All Progressives Congress, APC, were also at the meeting, the Punch newspaper reported.
Obasa thanks APC, Meranda
After he was sworn in as Speaker, Mr Obasa thanked APC leaders and the lawmakers for their support.
He also thanked Ms Meranda for her support and appreciated her for being “very very very supportive and loyal as deputy speaker.”tions.
