A former member of the House of Representatives, Hon. Razaq Bello-Osagie, has lauded the choice of Godwin Obaseki as candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), saying he is the best man for the job, because he will build on the foundation laid by Governor Adams Oshiomhole.
Razaq said the decision of the party leaders’ to pick on Obaseki was because of his track record as someone who understands the workings of the economy.
He hailed leaders of the APC for ensuring a free, fair and transparent primary and for their efforts at reconciling aggrieved aspirants.
The former lawmaker urged Nigerians to be patient with the administration of President Mohammadu Buhari. He said Nigerian economy was already in dire straits when Buhari took over power.
Razaq said the President is making the right moves to bring the economy on a firmer footing, through the crafting of sound economic policies now at different levels of implementation.
His words: “The nation is currently faced with a plethora of challenges occasioned by accumulated years of poor leadership, mismanagement and massive looting of our common patrimony by those who were entrusted with leadership positions.
“What we have witnessed during those holocaust years was a wholesale collapse of our value system, culture of impunity and an appetite for primitive acquisition by those in authority”.
Former member of the House of Representatives Hon. Hakeem Muniru, in this interview with MUSA ODOSHIMOKHE exaplins why the relationship between the executive and legislature has been frosty.
How will you describe the relationship between the legislature and the executive?
You will agree with me that democracy rests on a tripod of the judiciary, legislature and executive. We have practiced democracy since 1960 in the country, where we had regional governments that were almost independent. They equally had their various executive, legislature and judiciary working to make the country better. But in 1979, when the presidential system of government was introduced, and perhaps, this was a system of government that was almost alien to us, the relationship between the executive and the legislature widened. From 1999 to this very moment, the executive has been interested in the composition of the leadership of the National Assembly. For instance, former President Olusegun Obasanjo wanted somebody like Senator Evans Ewenrem, but the lawmakers wanted Senator Chuba Okadigbo of blessed memory. Somehow, Obasanjo had his way. but this did not last long before some senators revolted against the choice of Obasanjo. And if you look at the tenure of Okadigbo, who was the choice of the senators, it was not a relationship with the executive. During the tenure of Senator Adolphus Wabara, Anyim Pius Anyim and Ken Nnammani, there were issues that later made them not to be popular with the executive. One could see that subtly, there was no love lost between the executive and the legislature during the Obasanjo days. This was the situation, until when David Mark was there as Senate President. Though Mark had good relationship with former President Goodluck Jonathan, unlike the House of Representatives where Rt. Hon. Aminu Tambuwal emerged against the wish of the executive. Again, there was no love lost through the period of Tambuwal, until he left for the All Progressives Congress (APC). In this dispensation, the emergence of the leadership of the House became a thorny issue and somehow, we have not been able to manage it very well. We allowed the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to infiltrate some of the positions. I think if every APC member had been at the meeting, which President Muhammadu Buhari summoned, preparatory to the inauguration, the PDP would not go ahead to proclaim the leadership that has divided the House. After suffering for 16 years, when some people felt it is our turn to take over the governance of the country, a PDP person emerged as a Deputy Senate President. You can really understand the frustration of the people, who had been in the opposition for long time. It is not because of any pecuniary gain, but that they have been shortchanaged of an opportunity.
Is that the reason why the executive and legislature differs on the budget?
Ever since the inception of democracy, there has been padding of the budget. As a parliamentarian, every budget is dead on arrival. It is a proposal to the parliament that this is what they wanted. the House will work on it to fall in line with the aspiration of the public. As a parliamentarian, I have a right to say this does not go in the interest of my constituency. What are the priority projects for Nigerians; road, electricity and health. So, when the lawmakers discover that there is a variation, they may be obliged to thinker with the budget, somehow to match public utility. Again, you know that the President is a man of integrity, and if he feels what was done did not go with government’s plan, he will not approve it.
How can the legislature and executive attain harmony?
There is need for constant engagement. Since, they are in the same government, there is need for regular discussion to attain success in the life of any administration. They must endeavour to trash out issues before it get to the public. You cannot compromise the independence of the legislature and also try to avoid undue interference with the duties of the executive.
You were not returned to the House because the opposition won your constituency…
Everywhere in the world, legislative experience is invaluable. You cannot compare the experience of a third timer to those of the first and second timers, in the process of law making. You cannot compare them in their contribution on the floor of the House, at committee level and other processes. When you look at the current House, less than 100 members of the old 360 members went back to the House of Representatives. So, you are going to start refresher courses for the new members. They have to be educated on lobbying, zero budgeting and other terms. You cannot even measure the performance of a legislature who only spent one term. He needs to understand many issues. I got a full grip of the House after my second year in the assembly. Someone might say, oh he is a slow learner, even the people you met there are not willing to teach you what is obtained in the House. They will tell you to wait for your turn and would they had same experience. As I am sitting right here now, I have a project on culture and tourism that has been stalled, but each time I pushed for the implementation, they say there was no funds. Such a project will die, since the person who replaces me may not be interested.
How long should a lawmaker stay in office?
As long as he or she delivers, he or she may continue in office. Now, Hon. Nicholas Mutu from Delta State has been in the House since 1999. He is the chairman, House Committee of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) for the third term. If they had taken Mutu out and brought in a fresher, will that person be the chairman of NDDC? Within the period he has been in the House, his people know how much they have benefitted. Also Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila in Lagos, if he had not been returned, will he gun for the Speakership? Would he have been Majority Leader? The influence that accrues to that office will also reach his constituency. You cannot underestimate constituency values of returning a member to the House. If you have started pursing a certain project as a members of the Seventh Assembly and it was not done under that brief, you will continue to pursue it as a member of the eight assembly.
A former lawmaker in the Kogi State House of Assembly, from Ogori/Magongo Mr. Gabriel Daudu was Monday sentenced to two years in prison by a Federal High Court sitting in Lokoja for money laundering.
Justice Inyang Ekwo, found him guilty on 77 out of the 208 counts pressed against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The charges brought against him by the EFCC bordered on conspiracy, advanced fee fraud and money laundering involving about N1.4 billion.
But while Daudu was convicted on 77 counts and sentenced to two years on each count to run concurrently, Justice Ekwo, however, discharged and acquitted Albert Soje Adesina, a retired Army major, who served as majority leader of the Kogi State house of assembly between 2007 and 2011 on the one-count charged brought against him.
Daudu’a trial started before Justice Adamu Bello of the Federal High Court Abuja before it was later transferred to the Lokoja division of the Federal High Court before Justice Ekwo, where Daudu and Adesina were re-arraigned twice on amended charges.
The prosecution counsel, Mr. Wahab Shittu, presented 13 witnesses and tendered 47 exhibits to prove the charges against Daudu.
Though Daudu, through his lawyer, Mr. O.J. Onoja (SAN), called seven witnesses in a bid to prove his innocence, the court however found him guilty as Justice Ekwo held that the prosecution proved its case beyond reasonable doubt.
Daudu, who served as the caretaker chairman of the Ogori/Mangogo Local Government Area of Kogi State between January and July 2008, had been standing trial since April, 2010 alongside a former Commissioner for Agriculture in Kogi State, Albert Adesina.
A philanthropist and former member of Lagos State House of Assembly, Princess Omowunmi Olatunji has provided succour to the needy with an empowerment items worth over N22m.
Princess Olatunji, an indigene of Akure, commemorates her late mother, Princess Monisola Adeniyan Olatunji Eddo every year by empowering the downtrodden with items that impact directly on their lives.
The relief materials presented to the people are estimated at over N22 million. The gesture was meant to enhance the living conditions of beneficiaries from all the 18 local government areas of the state.
Speaking at the 12th edition of the memorial programme held at BTO hall, Akure, the Ondo State capital, Princess Olatunji said her love for the people and provide succour to those in need to enable them to enjoy quality life.
Princess Olatunji said: “It is an annual event and this is the 12th edition of it. It is a way of showing kindness to helpless people in the society.”
“I began the NGO since 1999 and I have always been taking care of widows, orphans and also empower youths positively so that they can be self-reliant economically and be useful to themselves and the society.”
She maintained that growth; development and prosperity could never thrive under the strains and jangling cords of political intolerance, violence and weird disposition. She urged the people to shun all forms of political violence as the governorship election is approaching.
Olatunji, however, said Ondo State was one of the very few states in Nigeria that was blessed and greatly endowed with natural resources, stressing that it requires a leader that can drive the economy, manage the resources, reduce the state’s debt profile, revive all ailing industries and make Ondo State the centre of attraction.
Also speaking at the event, the state Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Isaac Kekemeke appreciated the donor for her kindness, praying that God would continue to lift her NGO.
One of the beneficiaries, Adeola Akinkugbe praised Princess Olatunji for the gesture, promising that the items would be used judiciously.
Among materials distributed at the empowerment programme were 200 Eleganza coolers,10 popcorn machine, 52 sewing machines, tin tomatoes, bags of rice, several grinding machines, industrial standing fans, UV sterilisers, clippers, equator dryers, single door refrigerators, water dispensers, power generating sets and a cash of N250,000 to widows and elderly people.
All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain Princess Omowumi Olatunji has said the people of Ondo State are warming up for the governorship election, adding that the carrot of council poll dangled at them by Governor Olusegun Mimiko is a distraction.
She faulted the decision to conduct the local government elections by the Mimiko administration, which she said, had rejected the agitation for the exercise in the last seven years.
Olatunji, a former member of the Lagos State House of Assembly, said that it is curious that the governor who had refused to conduct the elections has suddenly turned around to release its timetable at a time people are preparing for the governorship poll.
Describing the council election as a trap and distraction, she said many stakeholders are of the view that the poll should be conducted by the next administration.
Olatunji said: “The state is ready for the governorship election. It is going to be an election with a difference. The people of Ondo State are yearning for change. The APC is now their party of choice. We need to probe for the motivation for planning for the local government elections by the same government that has refused to hold it in the past seven years. The priority of the stakeholders now is the governorship election.”
The politician, who spoke with reporters in Akure, the state capital, on her empowerment programme for women and youths, applauded the opposition political parties for their decision to boycott the council polls. She said the boycott will herald a credibility problem for the local electoral process.
Olatunji, who chided the government for its inability to pay salaries of workers regularly, urged the people to endure the hardship, assuring that help is on the way.
She added: “I think everything is set for the APC and we have to leverage on the inability of the current government to discharge its duties. I won’t lie to you. People are not happy with the Mimko administration. I think it has really lost its popularity. Many things have gone wrong. So, you cannot repair a broken wall overnight.
“The Buhari administration just got into office less than a year. We are not going to expect so much. It’s going to get worse before it gets better. So, for any administration that is still flowing from the PDP, it will be rejected. They do not have the interest of people at heart.
Olatunji reflected on the succession struggle in the Sunshine state, saying that the large number of aspirants on the platform of the APC will not constitute any problem for the main opposition party. She said: “ I believe the leadership is looking into that and at the end of the day, the number would be pruned down. So, I see that number reducing before the primary. We cannot have that large number; it doesn’t make sense, it does add up to have 25 people going for the shadow poll. I think the party is looking towards that direction to prune down the number of aspirants.”
Exuding confidence over the proposed governorship poll, the former lawmaker said the gale of defections from the PDP to the APC have attested to the public disillusionment about the Mimiko’s government.
She said if voted at the poll, the next APC governor will advance the cause of change and progress and restore the lost glory of Ondo State.
Olatunji stressed: “The APC is a government that believes in accountability and that is what we are saying and in whatever we are doing, we are very consistent; we believe in continuity. Anything that we do, we sustain it and that is what we are selling-consistency in governance. We don’t believe in duplication and wasting money. Anything that we are doing and is affecting people positively, we sustain it. Also, in what we do, transparency is important. You must be seen not to only say you are transparent. You must be seen to be transparent.”
On the empowerment programme set up in memory of her mother, she said: With the empowerment that I have introduced, it is going to capture a large number of people. On individual basis, I have been doing that, paying school fees for people and all that. It is what I am used to. You get to hear this family has problem, that one is sick in the hospital. I do that periodically; sometimes on a weekly basis, on a daily basis. So, I touch their lives. But, I want to look at a larger percentage of the people of Ondo State. That is why I am sponsoring an empowerment programme that will cut across the entire state to touch a thousand people-youths, women, old people, widows, orphans.
A FORMER member of the House of Representatives Hon Sani Sha’aban has been honoured in Zaria with the traditional title of Danburan Zazzau.
The honour was bestowed by the Emir of Zazzau, Alhaji Shehu Idris.
Sha’aban, chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kaduna State, is also a philanthropist and businessman. He is reputed to contributed immensely to the development of his community.
Sha’aban is equally a blue blood, being related to two of the four Ruling Houses in the Zazzau emirate. A direct descendant of the Mallawa Ruling House, he has a maternal relationship with the Katsinawa Ruling House that has ruled the emirate for the last 41 years.
There was much fanfare at the conferment of the title, which made Sha’aban one of the highest title holders and a member of the inner caucus of the Emir’s council. The event drew a large crowd of supporters from across the world to Zaria town with all the hotels fully booked one week before the event. The Emir’s palace was filled to capacity as early as 7am with dignitaries which included former Defence Minister, General Aliyu Mohammed Gusau, former Permanent Secretary of Defence, Alhaji Ismaila Aliyu, the Dallatun Zazzau, Ramalan Yero, former Kaduna State Governor and former governor of Benue State Gabriel Suswam, and members of the diplomatic corps.
Speaking at the event, the Emir, who was represented by the Wazirin Zazzau, Alhaji Ibrahim Aminu, said the decision to make Sha’aban the Danburam Zazzau was in recognition of his selfless contribution to the development of the emirate as well as his genuine concern for the people. He described the former lawmaker as an illustrious son, and a worthy ambassador of the emirate whose immense contributions to the community over the years are invaluable.
One of his friends who attended the ceremony, former Managing Director of the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria, Alhaji Gimba Yau Kumo, said the event proved to Nigerians that Sha’aban has both national and international connections.
He said: “I hope with this title bestowed on him by His Royal Highness, the Emir of Zazzau, Alhaji Shehu Idris, another responsibility has been placed on Sha’aban to take not only the people of Zazzau, but the people of Kaduna in particular and Nigeria in general to the next pedestal in terms of securing employment for the teeming youths: in terms of getting job opportunities for the people of Kaduna and Nigeria; in terms of bringing foreign investors to Nigeria.
A former member of the Lagos State House of Assembly, from Oshodi-Isolo Constituency and who is also an indigene of Ondo State, Hon. Omowunmi Olatunji-Edet, has lauded the Nigerian Police for intercepting some suspected Boko Haram members in the state recently.
In a telephone interview with our Correspondent, Hon. Olatunji-Edet said the development is a plus for the Nigerian police force because the action will help boost the security of the state. She said: “Our security agencies must be encouraged and supported to assist them in performing their duty optimally. People must be at alert at all times. They must also be ready to give genuine information to security agencies within their community in order to save lives and properties.“
He enjoined the people of Ondo State not to panic and that they should cooperate with security personnel to assist them in doing their work.
He assured that the Federal Government, led by President Muhammadu Buhari, will do everything possible to rid the country of the menace of terrorists.
Abia State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has commiserated with Senator Nkechi Nwaogu on the passing of her husband Dr. Roland Nwaogu.
The ex-lawmaker represented Abia Central Senatorial District from 2007 to 2015.
Dr. Nwaogu died after a protracted illness at the National Hospital, Abuja.
Speaking in Aba, the state APC chairman Dr. Donatus Nwankpa described Dr. Rowland’s death as unfortunate and a big loss to the entire state.
He said, “It is a very big loss to us especially this period that we are trying to organise ourselves. He was not just Nkechi Nwaogu’s husband. He was one of our leaders who have participated in the political restructuring of our place. He was very prominent in SDP (Social Democratic Party), NCPN, APP before it became ANPP, UNCP.
“So he has been a major actor in the political scene and one thing that we are going to miss about him is his straightforwardness. He is a very, very uncompromising person towards his honesty. He is a man that wants things to be said the way they should and he called a spade a spade.
“The burial is an APC affair. My people are already working, but let me also point out that he belongs to everybody. Dr. Nwaogu is beyond political party. Let me also point out that the period of politicking is over. What we are having now is government; government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and government of Abia State. So, in that regard, every responsibility towards the successful burial of Dr. Nwogu should not be looked at from the political angle; he was one of the oldest knights in the Anglican Church where he worshipped until death and a traditional leader. So, it is a burial that affects all.
“People should also condole with us; the APC because it is not only her loss, but a loss to the APC family,” Nwankpa added.
Dr. Nwaogu died at the age of 63, according to the family, which added that there would be service of songs at his Kamalu, Umungasi residence and Umuagaa Village in Mbutu-Oma autonomous community, Osisioma Local Government Area on August 23 and 24.
A ramshackle government quarters allocated to the immediate past lawmaker who represented Ose State Constituency, Mrs Folajimi Olaseinde-Vincente while in office has pitched her against the Ondo State House of Assembly. DAMISI OJO reports.
The Ondo State House of Assembly and an ex-lawmaker who represented Ose State Constituency, Mrs Fola Olaseinde-Vincente are at daggers drawn over a government building “Quarter 13 type 2 Alagbaka” Akure, the Ondo State capital, which was allocated to the ex-lawmaker on August 14, 2012.
The apartment, which is now in a shambles, was originally allocated to Olaseinde-Vincente when she was still a member of the Seventh Assembly.
However, when the controversial building was allocated to the ex-lawmaker who is also a lawyer on August 14, 2012, she wrote a letter to the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Lands and Housing, Akure on the need to renovate the building because its roof, paints, floor, doors, windows and fence were in terrible condition.
But, between then and the time the ex-lawmaker packed out of the building, there was no response from the state government in respect of the renovation.
•Akindele
After exhaustive deliberation on the matter on Thursday, June 18, the leadership of the House led by the Speaker, Princess Jumoke Akindele, set up an Ad-hoc committee headed by Hon. Araoyinbo Joseph to investigate the level of damage to the quarters formerly occupied by Mrs Vincente.
Consequently, on Thursday August 6, the committee invited the former legislator to a meeting at Araoyinbo’s office to clear herself from the circumstances surrounding the unlawful damage to the building.
Mrs Vincente appeared to defend herself over allegation of vandalisation of the government quarters.
Recall that Mrs Vincente was also suspended for several months during the Seventh Assembly over an allegation of being in possession of fetish materials which could not be proved.
She eventually dumped the ruling Labour Party (LP) then and joined the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) which is now one of the parties that formed the All Progressives Congress (APC).
•Olaseinde-Vincente
When she appeared before the panel, the ex-lawmaker tendered a letter dated August 14,2012 which she sent to the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Lands and Housing requesting the renovation of the particular building (Quarter 13 type 2 Alagbaka) which was allocated to her.
The letter reads: “Sequel to the approval of quarter 13 type 2 Alagbaka, Akure as my official quarter, it has become imperative for me to complain about the level of bad shape of the apartment; especially its roofing, floor, doors, windows and fence.
“The building is due for total renovation and I will be grateful if my complaint can be responded to immediately.” Mrs Vincente maintained that she met the quarters in bad shape when it was allocated to her in August, 2012, stressing that it was not habitable.
The ex-lawmaker told the committee that the letter to the Permanent Secretary, Lands and Housing was received on September 12, 2012, while she also informed some political leaders who assured her that something would be done about it.
However, she said no action was taken until she vacated the apartment, stressing that she paid a private contractor to do a minimum renovation on the building in anticipation of the approval for the renovation. She expressed displeasure over the step taken by the State Assembly without hearing from her before going to the press to malign her character.
She insisted that she did not vandalise the said building, adding that the shape the apartment was when she left was far better than she met it. Olaseinde-Vincente called for retraction of the aspersion cast on her person over the building and a refund of N4 million being the cost of the minimal renovation she spent on the controversial quarter.
A former lawmaker, who represented Ajeromi-Ifelodun State Constituency II in the 7th Lagos State House of Assembly, Hon. Abdoulbaq Ladi Balogun, has presented gift items worth thousands of naira to Bab-es-Salam, an orphanage at Joel Ogunaike Street, GRA, Ikeja Lagos.
He had earlier reached out to So’Said Charity Home in his constituency at Ajegunle where he donated several gift items and empowerment items worth millions of Naira to some less-privileged persons such as widows, as well as his political supporters in the constituency at the event which took place at the premises of Ajeromi-Ifelodun Local Government Area secretariat.
The empowerment items donated included six mini-buses for transportation, fridges and 50 packs of table water for each of 12 beneficiaries. Twenty-five other beneficiaries also received gas cookers as food vendors received cooking utensils and satellite decoder for viewing centres, among several other items.
Hon. Balogun said the gesture was part of programmes lined up for his 40th birthday. Making the presentation, Hon. Balogun appealed to wealthy Nigerians to always remember the less-privileged as a way of reducing the socio-economic inequality among the citizens. Reaching out to the less-privileged people, he said, will make the environment a better place to live in for all.
Speaking with journalists shortly after the presentation, Balogun, who said he felt very happy at 40, thanked his supporters and those who have been part of his success story. He appreciated God for giving him the magnanimity and the means to assist the less-privileged people as well as be a blessing to those around him.
“Giving to charity from what God has given to me has been a way of life for me right from when I was in the private sector. I thank God for giving me the magnanimity and the heart to do this.
“It is my 40th birthday and it is a milestone in my life. I chose not to confine the celebration to my nuclear family alone. I had always celebrated my birthday through the years by reaching out to the less-privileged.
“This has been the practice in the past,” he said.
Dignitaries present at the event included the Leader of Lagos West Senatorial District, Chief Rabiu Adio Oluwa, Senator Ganiyu Olanrewaju Solomon (GOS), Hon. Adekanye MHR, Hon. Funmlayo Tejuosho, Hon. Kasumu, immediate past deputy Speaker, Lagos Assembly, Kolawole Taiwo, former Commissioner for Transportation, Comrade Kayode Opeifa and other stalwarts of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
