Chief Bode George says embattled former Speaker of the Lagos state House of Assembly, Mudasiru Obasa disrespected the governor of the state, Babajide Sanwo-olu by making him to wait for three hours during the presentation of the 2025 Budget.
George, a former Deputy national Chairman South of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, made the remark on Tuesday during a press conference in Lagos.
The PDP chieftain’s remark is the latest in the Obasa’s impeachment saga.
The magazine reported that the former Speaker was removed by his colleagues two weeks ago, after they accused him of a slew of allegations including highhandedness and corruption.
But those deep in knowledge of the state politics said his impeachment may not be unconnected with the power tussle between him and the state helmsman.
Speaking George condemned the former Speaker for dishonoring the governor, who had come to present the 2025 Budget to the Assembly, saying the action was the highest point of disregard for the state chief executive.
According to him, there can only be one captain in the ship, there is no need for unnecessary brinkmanship among the three arms of government, he said, noting that the former speaker should have threaded softly.
For instance, the former Military Administrator of Ondo state said Obasa would not have been happy if he was so treated, he urged him to put himself in Governor Sanwo-olu shoes.
George said “Could he (Obasa) accept to go and read the budget and be delayed for three hours? Who is the leader?”
He said the action did not portray Obasa as a gentleman, even though his past encounter with the former Speaker was very pleasant wondering why he acted in such a manner with Governor Sanwo-Olu.
George: “The young man, former Speaker Obasa—I met him once at the airport. He came to me, greeted me with full respect, and behaved like an Omoluabi.
“I asked for his name, and he said, ‘Obasa.’ I exclaimed, ‘Ah! Speaker of the State Assembly!’ I called him Omoluabi, and he thanked me for honoring him. That’s Yoruba culture.”
He however rebuffed the governor for denying being part of the former Speaker’s predicament, saying he knwe about his impeachment.
He added, “The governor of the state is the leader of the party because they both belong to the same party. Could he accept to go and read the budget and be delayed for three hours? Who is the leader? No matter that we have three arms of government, who is the boss?
“Why is he afraid to say it? Could Obasa accept that attitude from anyone if he were the governor? If it were a different party, that would be a different matter entirely.”
On January 13, the majority members of the Assembly removed Obasa as Speaker and appointed his Deputy, Mojisola Meranda in his position.
The Impeachment, sources say, was not without the imprimatur of the state governor and President bola Ahmed Tinubu who were said to have become fed up with Obasa’s excesses.
Obasa however insist that he remains the Speaker, saying his removal did not follow due process.
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