Chief Bode George, the former Deputy National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has sharply criticized the decision to reinstate Mudashiru Obasa as the Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly. George described the development as a “mockery” of President Bola Tinubu’s administration and a source of international embarrassment for Nigeria.
Obasa, who was previously impeached by a majority of lawmakers in the House of Assembly on January 13, 2025, was re-elected as Speaker on Monday, following an intervention from the Governor’s Advisory Council (GAC) of Lagos State. The GAC is the highest decision-making body of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state and played a key role in reversing the impeachment, which had stemmed from allegations of misconduct.
While the re-election of Obasa may have brought relief to some within the political establishment, it has sparked outrage among others, particularly members of the opposition, who view the move as a symptom of deeper political dysfunction in Lagos and Nigeria at large.
In an open letter addressed to President Bola Tinubu, titled “From Osun to Lagos and Rivers: Darkness Looms,” Bode George expressed his disbelief at Obasa’s reinstatement, labelling it as both a “shocking” and “international embarrassment.” George, who has long been a vocal critic of the ruling APC and its influence over state politics, made it clear that he viewed the entire process as a blatant disregard for democracy.
“Look at what is happening in the Lagos State House of Assembly. It is absolute lunacy,” George wrote. “Thirty-six out of forty members impeached Mudashiru Obasa and since then, we have witnessed this embarrassing show of shame.”
The initial impeachment of Obasa in January, when 36 of the 40 members voted to remove him, was based on allegations of misconduct, though the specific nature of these allegations was not fully disclosed. His removal sent shockwaves through Lagos state politics and raised questions about the integrity of the legislative process. But in what many saw as an unexpected move, Obasa’s return was orchestrated by the influential GAC, signalling the powerful role of party interests in shaping the direction of the state.
“To say the return of Obasa as Speaker on Monday is shocking is an understatement,” George continued. “It is an international embarrassment, and the joke is on the presidency.”
George did not hold back in his criticism of the state of democracy in Nigeria. In his letter, he questioned why elected lawmakers were not free to choose their leaders without outside interference. He argued that the reinstatement of Obasa undermined the very principles of democratic governance.
“Obasa was impeached on January 13, and since then, agents of darkness turned the Assembly into a theatre of war. What sort of democracy is this? Lawmakers have the powers to choose their leaders, but since they took that decision, it has been one crisis after the other, fuelled by extraneous forces,” George wrote.
He lamented that the political drama surrounding Obasa’s impeachment and reinstatement was yet another example of how Nigeria’s political system was failing its citizens. For George, the spectacle in Lagos was more than just an internal political matter; it was a reflection of a larger problem of mismanagement and the erosion of democratic norms in Nigeria.
“Why should Nigeria and Nigerians be embarrassed like this globally?” George asked. “What is our offence?”
Bode George went on to criticise what he sees as a growing trend of illogical political decisions that are damaging Nigeria’s reputation both at home and abroad. He cited the political crises in Rivers State and Osun State as additional examples of how Nigeria’s governance was failing its people.
In Rivers State, a long-standing political crisis has continued to affect the state’s governance, with a lack of federal allocation, delayed salaries, and inadequate infrastructure contributing to the misery of ordinary citizens. According to George, this crisis reflects a deeper, systemic failure within Nigerian politics that is causing widespread suffering for the people.
“Look at Rivers, the economic lifewire of this country. The whole thing is a total mess. What sort of judgement will subject people to misery, extreme pain, wretchedness, distress and unhappiness of no federal allocation, no salary, no infrastructure, no food, and other essentials of life?” George lamented.
For George, these issues reflect the broader mismanagement that is plaguing Nigeria, especially under the current political leadership.
George also expressed his frustration with the lack of accountability within Nigerian political systems. While the legal and political processes in Lagos, Rivers, and Osun may appear to be functioning on the surface, the deep divisions and conflicts that persist in these states show a system in crisis.
“I am not a lawyer, but I see the verdict as disheartening. This can cause problems for the country,” George said, commenting on the political decisions affecting Rivers State. He further described the situation in Osun, where a council crisis led to violence and deaths, as another example of how poor political decisions could escalate into serious consequences.
The reinstatement of Mudashiru Obasa as Speaker has raised questions about the influence of the APC and the Governor’s Advisory Council (GAC) in shaping political outcomes in Lagos. The GAC, an unelected body, played a central role in reversing the impeachment of Obasa, which critics argue undermines the democratic process and the rule of law.
