By Bilesanmi Abayomi
The impeachment of former Lagos State House of Assembly Speaker, Hon. Mudashiru Ajayi Obasa, on Monday has triggered widespread reactions, particularly among supporters of the late Senator Adebayo Osinowo, also known as “Pepper.”
The 39 members of the 40-man Assembly unanimously voted to remove Obasa amid allegations of corruption and financial mismanagement during his tenure. His removal reportedly occurred while he was on a trip to Atlanta, Georgia, presenting an opportunity for his opponents to act.
Supporters of the late Senator Osinowo have taken to social media to celebrate the development, viewing Obasa’s impeachment as poetic justice for what they allege was his betrayal of the senator before his death. Osinowo’s loyalists have long suspected that his and Hon. Tunde Braimoh’s deaths, which occurred weeks apart, were surrounded by questionable circumstances.
Abideen Ilelaboye, a supporter from Kosofe, described the impeachment as a triumph for justice. Posting on Facebook, he wrote:
“He who betrays will not go unpunished. OBASA! End of a political era… May Allah grant my political/spiritual leader Aljanat Fridaus.”
Similarly, Dotun Ogunneye hailed the development, saying:
“He who betrays his master will not go unpunished. Judgment day has come… Rest in peace, Distinguished Senator Adebayo Osinowo. Truth has come out.”
Princess Samiat Bada, Executive Chairman of Ikosi-Isheri Local Council Development Area, expressed gratitude, saying:
“All praise belongs to God, Lord of all that exists. Alhamdulillah.”
Not everyone celebrated the impeachment. Comrade AbdulWaheed Omotayo Odunuga criticized the move, calling it a clash of personal interests rather than a decision made for the benefit of Lagosians.
“It is dog-eat-dog. Unfortunately, his removal is not for the sake of Lagosians; it is for personal interest,” he remarked.
Political commentator Omoba Rasheed Awofeso highlighted the role of internal party dynamics, stating:
“The day Alhaji Tajudeen Olusi, a GAC member, rebuked him during PBAT’s last visit, I knew something unpleasant would happen. Political scheming and a new dawn are in progress. More surprises are on the way towards the next election.”
The removal of Obasa has been described as the end of an era and the beginning of a political reshuffle in Lagos State. For many, it signals a shift in the state’s political landscape, with implications for the upcoming elections.