“Let Them Breathe”: Obasa Slams Ex-Council Chiefs Over Interference

Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa, has fired a stern warning at former Local Government (LG) and Local Council Development Area (LCDA) Chairmen accused of meddling in the affairs of their successors, bluntly urging them to “let the new chairmen breathe.”
Obasa, speaking at a meeting with the newly elected Council Bosses at the Lateef Jakande Auditorium in Alausa, Ikeja, expressed concern over reports that some ex-chairmen have been colluding with Council Treasurers to continue signing cheques and influencing financial decisions months after leaving office.
He described the practice as a dangerous form of interference that stifles grassroots governance.
“Let the new chairmen breathe. Let the public see there are new sheriffs in town. Don’t take their shine. Remove your grip from their necks,” Obasa declared.
The Speaker admonished the new Chairmen to assert their independence and courageously scrutinize all inherited debts or loans.
He warned against blindly assuming liabilities created by their predecessors without questioning the circumstances, advising them to renegotiate or restructure questionable loans in order to protect the interests of their councils.
“If there are loans, renegotiate or restructure the terms. Don’t just accept liability because someone else signed off on it,” he cautioned.
Acknowledging that the new Council Bosses have only been in office for four months, Obasa nevertheless reminded them that residents expect visible signs of progress in critical areas such as Sanitation, Infrastructure, Health, and Welfare.
“Four months may be short, but it is enough for people to begin to see your direction. Do not allow negative impressions to form early,” he warned.
Obasa also pledged that the Lagos Assembly will intensify oversight of all LGAs and LCDAs to ensure transparency and accountability.
He said lawmakers would not hesitate to call out treasurers or serving chairmen found colluding with ex-officials to undermine governance.
The Speaker further noted recent reports of unusual deaths within councils across Lagos, describing the trend as “unprecedented” and urging leaders to prioritize health and wellness for themselves and their constituents.
While some newly elected Chairmen have welcomed Obasa’s intervention as a boost to their autonomy, political analysts view the Speaker’s warning as both a governance safeguard and a strategic political move to reinforce the Assembly’s influence at the grassroots.
At the Community level, residents expressed cautious optimism. Some hailed the move as a step toward better service delivery, while others remained skeptical, arguing that entrenched political loyalties might still allow former Chairmen to retain backdoor influence.
For now, Obasa’s message is clear: the new Council Leaders must chart their own course, and the era of ex-chairmen running the show from behind the scenes is over.