The Lagos State House of Assembly came alive once again on Tuesday, 26 November 2025, when Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu presented the 2026 budget. As usual, the Chamber was filled with dignitaries from all walks of life. However, unlike last year—when the atmosphere was tense and the Speaker and the majority of members hid their faces behind goggles—the mood this year was genial.
The Speaker’s Idiosyncrasy
Since COVID-19, whenever the Speaker enters the Chamber, he rubs his hands with sanitiser and wipes down his table. But on this particular Tuesday, the hand-rubbing and the rearrangement of his table took so long that it sparked laughter among members, including the Speaker himself
The Speaker’s Unique Welcome Address
Before the arrival of Governor Sanwo-Olu, the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Ajayi Obasa, took his time to welcome all the guests. In doing so, he delivered one or two playful jibes at some of them.
He told his immediate predecessor, Rt. Hon. Sabitun Adeyemi Ikuforiji—jokingly, of course—that he had surpassed his tenure of “9 years, 5 months, and 6 days” to become the longest-serving Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly.
Obasa also took a swipe at another predecessor, Senator Adeleke Olorunnimbe Mamora, saying he did not know whether to refer to him as “Rt. Hon.”, “Senator”, or “Minister”.
Many observers are still wondering what the issues are between the Deputy Governor, Dr Obafemi Hamzat, and the Speaker. Not many have forgotten how he embarrassed him during last year’s presentation when he told him to “approach the table” (a parliamentary term meaning to come forward). This year, he called him twice without adding any prefix to his name—even though his doctorate is not honorary.
Mr Sam Egube also did not escape the Speaker’s jibes. Obasa acknowledged that despite the House of Assembly’s initial opposition to his appointment as Commissioner, he still became a member of the cabinet when Governor Sanwo-Olu appointed him Deputy Chief of Staff.
The Speaker’s bragging rights: He did not forget to remind everyone—particularly those who may not know—that he is the longest-serving member of the Lagos State House of Assembly (he is currently serving his sixth term). He mentioned this more than twice during his written and unwritten remarks. His ten years as Speaker were also repeatedly emphasised.
He also did not fail to remind the audience that his son, Alhaji Vinod Ganiyu Obasa, is the Chairman of Agege Local Government. His comment that he was unsure whether to call him “Chairman” or “Acting Chairman” was, perhaps, by the way.
Did anyone notice the exchange of encomiums between the Governor and the Speaker? The Governor referred to Obasa as “the Speaker of the most vibrant legislative house in Nigeria, Rt. Hon. Dr Mudashiru Ajayi Obasa…”, while the Speaker described the Governor as “our able, pragmatic, action-oriented, hardworking Governor”.
