Gboyega Akosile, spokesperson for Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has denied allegations that the governor was involved in the impeachment of Mudashiru Obasa as Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly.
Obasa, who had served as Speaker since 2015, was removed from office on January 13 over accusations of gross misconduct and abuse of office. The lawmaker, representing Agege Constituency I, was serving his third term as Speaker.
Speculations about a rift between Obasa and Sanwo-Olu had surfaced after the House of Assembly rejected 17 out of the governor’s 39 commissioner nominees in October 2023. Though both parties publicly denied any friction, a reconciliation meeting facilitated by the Governor’s Advisory Council (GAC), the highest decision-making body of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos, was held.
Addressing claims of Sanwo-Olu’s involvement in the impeachment, Akosile emphasized the governor’s commitment to democratic principles and the separation of powers.
“The Governor is a democrat, a complete gentleman who doesn’t meddle in people’s affairs. I can’t remember him talking about any of the incidents that you mentioned. Nothing of such bothers him,” Akosile told journalists.
“Mr. Sanwo-Olu’s interest and focus is how to develop the state further than he met it. This has been his major preoccupation since he assumed office as the governor of Lagos state and not to get himself involved in unproductive political skirmishes.
“Governor Sanwo-Olu believes strongly in the separation of powers. The action of the House was purely a legislative matter,” Akosile added.
