Sources at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport confirmed to our correspondent that Obasa arrived under the cover of darkness, without the usual entourage of aides or security detail that once accompanied him during his tenure as the third most powerful figure in Lagos politics.
Obasa's arrival in the nation’s capital comes on the heels of a failed attempt to meet with President Bola Tinubu in the United Arab Emirates. The ex-Speaker, who was impeached on January 13 after a majority of lawmakers voted to remove him, was reportedly hoping for an audience with the President to salvage his political future.
The former Speaker’s recent travels have taken him to multiple international destinations. On January 8, he flew to Atlanta, Georgia, with a group of loyal lawmakers and the ousted Clerk of the House, Olalekan Onafeko, alongside a woman known as “Madam Speaker.” However, sources reveal that Obasa left his supporters stranded in various locations around the globe as he sought to save his own skin, further alienating those who once stood by him.
Obasa’s impeachment, which saw more than two-thirds of the House vote for his removal, marked a significant shift in the Lagos Assembly. His successor, Rt Hon Mojisola Meranda of Apapa 1, was swiftly elected by 32 members, signaling the successful overthrow of Obasa’s political reign.
Obasa, the former strongman of Agege and Lagos politics is facing a plethora of challenges post-impeachment. He is reportedly seeking a reprieve from EFCC and ICPC investigations and hoping for a political compromise. His legal consultant has advised that his impeachment is constitutionally valid, urging him to accept the House’s decision and issue a public statement acknowledging the development.
Efforts to rally constituents and party members in Agege for a protest were futile as Obasa was accused of gross misconduct and abuse of office, leading to his impeachment by ninety percent of the Lagos lawmakers. He was subsequently replaced by his deputy, Mojisola Meranda.
Political watchers say Obasa’s problems began when he started building structures across 20 local government areas and 37 local council development areas (LCDAs), known as the Obasa’s Support Group. His proposal to empower the Assembly to remove the Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission (LASIEC) chairman and pressure Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to sign the bill further escalated tensions. His alleged disrespect for the governor caught the attention of the Governor Advisory Council (GAC), who reported him to President Bola Tinubu.
Obasa, who represents Agege Constituency 1, was first elected in 2007 and has been re-elected four times. However, in recent years, he has not enjoyed a cordial working relationship with Governor Sanwo-Olu. Reports indicate that Obasa ignored warnings from President Tinubu and the GAC to refrain from using his position to advance personal interests.
His recent instruction to lawmakers to purchase festive gifts for his political movement, viewed as a direct defiance of party directives, raised concerns within party ranks, underscoring his alleged disregard for the party’s leadership and internal rules.
As for Obasa’s plans in Abuja, it remains uncertain whether he will get the meeting he so desperately seeks at Aso Rock. His failed attempts to engage the President in Abu Dhabi last week only add to the mystery surrounding his next move.
