A former Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Hon. Adeyemi Ikuforiji, has said the removal of Hon. Mudasiru Obasa from office as Speaker was in order and constitutional.
Ikuforiji was Speaker of Lagos Assembly from 2005 to 2015.
He said the 1999 Constitution does not expect lawmakers to give any reason or cite any allegation for the removal of their presiding officers.
Speaking on Saturday night on Arise Television, the former Speaker said Obasa was just first among equals who can remove him at will.
“The assemblymen do not need to give any reason for removing the Speaker. Even if the Speaker puts a powder on his face and the lawmakers feel he is not supposed to put the powder, he can be removed just because of that,” he said.
Ikuforiji who was Speaker of the House when Obasa was elected as a member in 2003 said Nigerians need to familiarize themselves with the constitution.
“It’s only the impeachment of Executives like President and Govenors that requires cumbersome processes and two-third majority. For the Legislature presiding officers, it’s just a simple majority and they don’t have to give any reason.”
32 of the 40-member Lagos assembly had removed Obasa as Speaker on January 13, citing alleged fraudulent activities and his high-handedness.
Obasa was then in Atlanta, United States of America, when he was removed.
Returning to Lagos on Saturday, he told a crowd of supporters that gathered to welcome him in his residence in Ikeja GRA that his removal did not follow due process.
He said he remains the Speaker of the House.
