Obasa Proclaims Readiness for Leadership: ‘I Am Qualified to Be Lagos Governor’

Mudashiru Obasa, the Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, stated on Thursday that he has the expertise necessary to run for the state’s governorship, but he also stated that he had not given being the next governor “as was already being speculated” any real consideration.

Obasa claimed that his main goal had been to fortify the party in the state, which is why he kept encouraging more people to back the party constantly. He claimed that this behaviour had been interpreted incorrectly by “political critics” as indicating that he was pursuing a governorship.

The Speaker made this statement soon after Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu unveiled the state’s N3,005,935,198,401 2025 budget.

He said, “I have made it a personal task to mobilise people on the platform of Mandate, which has been misconstrued by some political detractors as being a selfish aspiration on the ground for me to become governor of the state. There is the need, however, to correct this wrong impression. My concern is about building our party, and whatever we do is mainly for this cause.

“To the blackmailers who have embarked on the mission to distort and redefine our mission, let me state it unequivocally here, our intention is to promote our party on the platform of Mandate.

“Also, becoming governor is secondary; it is something that I have not given serious consideration. Nevertheless, that does not mean I am too young or lack experience to run; whereas, those who have been before me are not better off.”

The Speaker further added “In addition, it is also important to correct the impression from some naysayers who have been insinuating that I made payment to seek for blood relation in Ojo to validate my candidacy to run as governor. Of course, I have never denied the fact that I am Obasa. But rather, I have never claimed to be related to Onikoyi, Oniru, or any of the other popular Lagos families as the case may be. I can indeed never run from the fact that I am related to my Obasa family in Ojo. But I do not need local validity to contest or run. If eventually I am contesting, I will do so from Agege.”

The “Budget of Sustainability,” which consists of N1.239 trillion in recurring expenses (41%) and N1.766 trillion in capital expenditures (59%), must also come from N1,970,897,000,000 in total revenue and N626,137,000,000 in total federal transfers.

Speaker Obasa responded by pointing out that Nigerians were complaining about the economy at the time the budget was presented.

However, as the administration of President Bola Tinubu strives to secure the country’s economic recovery, he urged Nigerians to maintain their optimism.