Ahead of the 2027 gubernatorial race, the Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Mudasiru Obasa, has sought to ease tensions regarding the race to succeed Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, stating that it is something “that I have not given serious consideration.”
Obasa clarified that all his recent political actions were not focused on the gubernatorial race but aimed at strengthening his party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), and expanding its influence beyond the opposition parties in the country.
He explained that The Mandate Movement (TMM) was created to help the APC engage more effectively with the grassroots and promote the party’s ideology.
The Speaker made these remarks on Thursday after the state governor presented the 2025 budget, which is set at N3,005,935,198,401.
However, he urged Nigerians to remain hopeful as President Bola Tinubu’s administration works toward economic recovery.
“Let me also emphasise that those who live in glass houses must not throw stones,” he said, referencing a popular saying. “This also brings to my mind, according to our people: ‘eni ba yara logun ngbe.’ Meaning, the god of iron recognises the swift ones. In other words, those who are facilitating or planning to interfere in this House or destroy the cohesion of this institution should also be prepared for the same fate.”
He continued, “May I use this medium to sensitise us more on the need to build and sustain our party, the All Progressives Congress (APC) regarding our focus for 2027. We need to continue to mobilise people just as I do frequently. 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.”
He also addressed rumors about his ties to certain influential Lagos families, stating, “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.”
In response to concerns about the state’s economic situation, Speaker Obasa reiterated his support for the ongoing efforts by the federal government to stabilize the economy, urging Nigerians to remain patient and hopeful.
