Some advocay groups in Lagos – Society Against Illegal Demolition and Forced Eviction, and United Action for Democracy – have alleged that Speaker of the State House of Assembly Speaker, Rt. Hon. Midashiru Obasa, is being shielded against fresh allegations of corruption, calling for his investigation
At a press conference in Ikeja, the groups alleged that Obasa had used N15 billion to rebuild a gate “that is not worth more than N15 million”, describing the action as “unambiguously unacceptable, given the mass poverty that is in Nigeria as a country today, and one that has shamelessly put Lagos top of the chart of cities with the largest poverty and insecurity.
“While other cities are competing for the best, Lagos is going far backwards with all sorts of anti-developmental bad strides,” they further alleged.
On behalf of the groups, the Secretary of the Society Against Illegal Demolition and Forced Eviction, Mr. Opeyemi Ogunlami expressed sadness that, with several allegations against the Speaker, “he is still the head of parliament in Lagos”.
Ogunlami said: “What a house of impunity, led by the exemplars of office abuses, heavy misappropriations and the over ambitious undermining of landslide growth for Lagos; a very promising and popular city globally.
“We can refer to many documents of petitions written to the EFCC (Economic and Financial Crimes Commission) already over the several corruptive tendencies and acts of Speaker Obasa and his cohorts.
“We are also aware of the allegation that the EFCC Chair is not helping matters to bring the public officer to scrutiny.”
The groups, therefore, demanded that Obasa should step aside pending the outcome of the investigation.
They said: “His previous relationship with EFCC must not obstruct objectivity and justice. EFCC Chair, Olukoyede should never be seen protecting or defending any public official away from public scrutiny.
“All the previous allegations must also be investigated and the outcome made public.
“We call on the governors, and all other State officials both in Lagos and nationwide to start serious respect for the independence of the local government as this is the road of collective growth from below, and the closest attempts to bringing governance nearer to the people,” they added.