The Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Mudashiru Obasa, has stated that he possesses the necessary experience to contest the governorship position in Lagos State.
However, he clarified that he has not seriously considered running for the office despite ongoing speculations.
Obasa made this statement on Thursday after Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu presented the state’s 2025 budget, totaling N3,005,935,198,401.
The Speaker emphasized that his primary focus has been on strengthening the party and mobilizing support, an effort he said had been misinterpreted by political detractors as a sign of gubernatorial ambition.
He said, “I have made it a personal task to mobilize people through the Mandate platform, which some political detractors have misconstrued as a selfish aspiration to become governor.
This is a misconception that needs to be corrected. My efforts are geared toward building our party, and everything we do is for this cause.
“To those spreading blackmail and distorting our mission, let me be clear: our focus is to promote the party through the Mandate platform. Becoming governor is secondary and not something I have given serious thought to.
However, this does not mean I lack the experience or am too young to contest. Those who came before me are not necessarily more qualified.”
Obasa also dismissed rumors suggesting he sought validation from certain prominent Lagos families to legitimize his candidacy. “I have never denied my roots as an Obasa from Ojo, but I have never claimed ties to families like Onikoyi or Oniru. I do not require local validation to run for office. If I decide to contest, I will do so from Agege,” he added.
Earlier in the session, the lawmakers present at the plenary passed a vote of confidence in the Speaker.
During his budget presentation, Governor Sanwo-Olu outlined the “Budget of Sustainability,” which includes a total revenue projection of N2,597,034,000,000 and a deficit financing of N408,902,000,000. The budget comprises 41% recurrent expenditure (N1.239 trillion) and 59% capital expenditure (N1.766 trillion), with revenue sources including N1,970,897,000,000 in internally generated funds and N626,137,000,000 in federal transfers.
In response, Obasa acknowledged the economic challenges Nigerians face and urged citizens to remain hopeful as President Bola Tinubu’s administration works to stabilize and revive the economy.
