The Lagos State Governor’s Advisory Council (GAC) appears to be divided over the impeachment of the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Mudashiru Obasa, as the comment of Chief Anthony Adefuye, a member, expressing support for Obasa had drawn the ire of a fellow member, Sen. Musiliu Obanikoro.
Obanikoro, a former ambassador and former State Commissioner under the then Gov. Bola Tinubu, stridently criticized Adefuye for making press statements or personal statements on such issues as unbecoming.
GAC is the highest decision-making body in the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos State and was formed and headed by President Bola Tinubu.
It consists of ex-governors, deputy governors and major stakeholders of the party.
It takes major decisions such as mode of primaries, candidates of the party in elections and even the executive members of the party.
Persecondnews had reported that Obasa (APC-Agege 1) was removed by 32 of the 40-member legislature on January 13 over alleged misconduct and fraud.
The Deputy Speaker, Mrs. Mojisola Meranda, was elected as replacement and first female speaker of the House.
Obasa, while speaking publicly for the first time about his impeachment on Saturday, January 25, insisted that he was still the speaker and that due procedure was not followed in removing him.
Addressing his supporters at the Speaker’s lodge in Ikeja GRA, Obasa said would soon resume his legislative duties while also denying the corruption allegations against him.
Adefuye, while agreeing with Obasa’s stance that his removal was illegal in a recent press interview, said:“What he is saying is that he was illegally removed and the procedure was faulty and I agree with him.”
Reacting to Adefuye’s remarks, Obanikoro, also a former minister, described the statement as reckless.
He said: “The statement of Senator Adefuye on the removal of the former Speaker, Mudashiru Obasa, is very unfortunate, childish and inconsequential.”
Obanikoro, who criticized the timing and nature of Adefuye’s comments, said:“Senator Adefuye’s comment shouldn’t have come up. As leaders, if there are serious issues of this magnitude, rushing to make press statements or personal statements on such issues is unbecoming.
“Since GAC as a unit has not made any pronouncement on the subject matter, it is irresponsible of any member of that privileged body to go public and make comments on an issue that is as sensitive as that.”
Stressing the importance of respecting organizational hierarchy in the party, Obanikoro said: “Moreover, our leader, the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, waded into the matter; so I believe nobody should come out individually to express an opinion based on privileged status.”
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