The Nation Newspaper

Tag: ‘Ex-lawmaker

  • Ex-lawmaker shot dead in Benue

    A former member of the Benue State House of Assembly, Mr. Douglas Beagh, was killed by gunmen on Monday in Zakibiam, Benue State.

    An eyewitness, who preferred anonymity, told The Nation that the gunmen stormed the home of the ex- lawmaker in the evening and shot him at close range.

    Our reporter learnt that there was an attempt on Beagh’s life two months ago, but he escaped. His son was, however, shot dead.

    Police spokesman Matter Oko said the gunmen came on a motorcycle and shot dead the former legislator.

     

     

  • Resign now, ex-lawmaker tells Saraki

    Resign now, ex-lawmaker tells Saraki

    A former member of Lagos State House of Assembly, Mufutau Egberongbe, has said it is not too late for Senate President Bukola Saraki to resign following allegations that he was elected under forged rules.

    Egberongbe represented Apapa Constituency 1 in the 7th Lagos Assembly, wondered why morality has been thrown to the dogs by some politicians in their desperation to hold on to power.

    “In whose interest was the Senate rules forged,” the former lawmaker asked, adding, “Is it in the interest of the masses or some individuals? Definitely, it is not in the interest of the masses. As it were, moral persuasion forms part of the characteristics of a leader, but this is suffering in the present circumstance. Therefore, the man (Saraki) should just honourably resign and apologise to Nigerians.

    “Even if he feigns ignorance of the fact that the rules were forged, he should still resign on moral ground and become a role model for the youths.”

    Egberongbe urged the national leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to apply disciplinary measures to ensure that Saraki does not become a cankerworm that would erode party discipline.

    He noted, “Most of the issues bedeviling this country bother on morals, including dishonesty, stealing of government money and all forms of inhuman activities. If there are morals, issues of corruption would be a thing of the past. Your morality is your personality. Therefore, persons of high moral decadence are not right to lead us. Saraki should resign honourably.”

    Egberongbe also expressed disappointment in a statement credited to Alex Badeh, the immediate past Chief of Defence Staff, who cited lack of funding and equipment as few of the reasons why insurgency in the North East has not been tackled.

  • Ex-lawmaker for House of Representatives

    A chieftain of the Urhobo Youth Forum for Change (UYFC) and former Niger Delta militant Isreal Akpodoro has declared his support for President Goodluck Jonathan’s bid for a second term in office.

    The diminutive ex-militant declared: “President Goodluck Jonathan is our sole candidate in Urhobo land.” He made the declaration in Asaba, the Delta State capital last Wednesday.

    Akpodoro noted that the President had tried his best at moving the nation forward, adding that Nigeria is a complex society.

    According to the Urhobo-born ex-militant, President Jonathan, has proven that development was not impossible in the country citing infrastructure, agriculture, power, education, peace and security as those areas the Jonathan led-Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) administration excelled beyond the “imagination of the ordinary Nigerian.”

    The Urhobo youth leader argued that the Jonathan government has done well in his revenue drive for the country. He cited the Ugborodo Gas Project in Delta State as a milestone, which only a leader with vision and mission can initiate and establish.

    Akpodoro urged the feuding host communities to give peace a chance, adding that the project was capable of removing idle youths from the streets.

    He said the project is big enough to cater for the needs of all the stakeholders. The Urhobo youth leader called on fellow ex-militant leader, Chief Government Ekpemupolo and Chief Ayiri Emami, to enter into peaceful dialogue on how best to resolve the issues impeding the official take-off of the project.

  • Ex-lawmaker’s succour for the indigent

    The joy of eight indigent Law graduates knew no bound when they were presented with N350,000 each to further their studies at the Nigerian Law School. The graduates, of Kwara State origin, are beneficiaries of a scholarship scheme instituted by Senator Gbemisola Ruqqayah Saraki, a former lawmaker. SIKIRU AKINOLA reports.

    Olusola Ayeni graduated from the Faculty of Law of the Lagos State University in 2010 but he could not proceed to the Nigerian Law School for his Bar programme because his parents could not afford the fee. Five years after his mate had completed their advanced legal studies, Olusola will be going to the Law School.

    His dream to enrol for the Bar programme came to pass when he was selected as one of the beneficiaries of the scholarship scheme of Senator Gbemisola Saraki for 2014. Olusola was among eight indigent Law students given N350,000 each, last weekend, to further their studies at the Law School.

    In her letter to the beneficiaries, Senator Saraki, daughter of the late godfather of Kwara State politics, who instituted the scheme in 1995, said she was deeply touched by the plight of brilliant students whose parents could not afford to pay their fees. She said the cash would cover N295,000 tuition fee and N55,000 for their upkeep.

    The letter reads in part: “This scholarship is a reflection of my passion for education because I have a firm belief that people with education are unstoppable in their quest for success.”

    At the presentation of the cash to the beneficiaries, Senator Saraki, represented by her Special Assistant, Mrs Tawa Yusuf, described education as the greatest gift that any generation could bequeath to the younger ones, adding: “It is in recognition of this fact that I have been persistently giving out scholarships to worthy students since 1995. My passion for education can be seen through the various educational development programmes I have initiated as a private citizen.”

    Mrs Yusuf said the former lawmaker was prodded by passion to lift the poor and empower the youth through education and skill acquisition.

    Mrs Yusuf said: “Apart from the tertiary institutions’ scholarship, Senator Gbemisola Saraki has placed over 20 indigent students on scholarships at various international private secondary schools. These students are mostly orphans, a category of people that the society think will never amount to anything and neglects.

    “Her interest is predicated on the fact that we can only have a better society if we have the right people who possess the good education. she believes youths are the future of the country and the future of Kwara State. This is why she lends a helping hand to the poor.”

    A beneficiary, Abubakar Issa, who graduated from Public Law Department of the University of Maiduguri (UNIMAID), said: “I heard about the scholarship from a friend living in Abuja.

     

  • Ex-lawmaker to IGP: restore Speaker’s security

    Ex-lawmaker to IGP: restore Speaker’s security

    Former House of Representatives member Chief Bode Mustapha has urged the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Suleiman Abbah, not to plunge the nation into “fire” with the continued withdrawal of Speaker Aminu Tambuwal’s security aides.

    Mustapha said the action of the IGP could expose Tambuwal and the nation to risks, wondering what would happen in a country that is steeped in tribalism, “if grave harm comes upon the Speaker following absence of security protection around him.”

    The former National Auditor of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who is now a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), spoke with reporters in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, shortly after submitting his expression of interest form and nomination form to the APC state Chairman, Chief Roqeeb Adeniji, for his senatorial ambition.

    He is aspiring to represent Ogun Central at the Senate, a position occupied by Senator Gbenga Obadara.

  • Ex-lawmaker hails Tinubu’s virtues

    AN ex-lawmaker in the Lagos House of Assembly, Hon Kunle Ademoye, has described the National Leader of the All Progressive Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, as the only political leader in Nigeria with the potential to attain the stature of Nelson Mandela. Ademoye said that Tinubu and Mandela exude sterling qualities and attributes which are similar in several ways. According to him, these qualities have endeared the duo, not only to the hearts of the people, but to humanity as a whole. “This indeed is not surprising, because Tinubu is first and foremost a humanist before a politician. Like Mandela, Tinubu’s world view transcends narrow tribal perception and chauvinism of any sort, be it of religion or sex. “He is the only Nigerian leader in the contemporary political setting whom you can describe as hundred per cent Yoruba, hundred per cent Nigerian, and hundred per cent humanist. Rarely do you find any politician in Nigeria and Africa today who combines these qualities to the maximum, as Tinubu.” He said Tinubu’s humanist temper is the pervasive factor which differentiates him from other politicians across the nation and the continent as a whole. “It was also this factor which explained his stupendous allround success during his stint as governor of Lagos State. “Particularly notable in this regard was his ability to weld the diverse ethnic groups within the state into a united political family, and giving them a sense of belonging as Lagosians, irrespective of tribe or ethnic group.”

  • Put your house in order, ex-lawmaker tells governors

    A former member of the Ondo State House of Assembly, Mr. Omotayo Abidakun, has said the All Progressives Congress (APC) will wrest power from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in 2015.

    He said APC would enthrone true democracy and deliver good governance, if it takes over power at the centre.

    The Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) chieftain urged the people to vote for the APC in the next presidential election to “end the PDP’s over 14 years of misrule”.

    Abidakun urged members of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) to put their house in order by following laid down democratic practices.

    He said: “As leaders, governors must show quality leadership and strengthen our democracy, not endanger it. I urge governors to beware of some elements in the NGF, who are bent on disrupting the forum for their personal gains.

    “Those are the kind of men that can be described as ‘hiding behind one finger to perpetrate evils while pretending to be saints’.”

    Abidakun urged Ondo State Governor Olusegun Mimiko to focus on improving the standard of living in the state, rather than battling the progressive forces in the Southwest.

  • ‘Ex-lawmaker Okonkwo inspired us’

    ‘Ex-lawmaker Okonkwo inspired us’

    A youth group, Agune-chemba Youth Scheme (AYS), has mobilised resources to visit motherless babies and destitute homes in Anambra State, saying it drew inspiration from ex-lawmaker Senator Annie Okonkwo.

    The youths said they are set to visit motherless children as well as homes for the destitute in the state, hoping to cheer them up with gifts.

    Led by Charles Ifejika, the group said they would be happy to make a difference in people’s lives, just as the lawmaker who represented Anambra Central has done.

    Ifejika said: “Senator Annie Okonkwo is a patriotic Anambra politician and see how he has been politically stable till now. He is in APGA [All People’s Grand Alliance] and is supporting our Governor, Mr Peter Obi to take the state to the next level. He has given thousands of youths scholarship and empowered youths, women and men in the state without discrimination. In October he will be the Chairman of NUJ Zik Lecture Series at Emmaus House, Awka.”

    The youths announced that they would support Okonkwo, now a member of APGA, in any capacity he chooses to present himself for service to Anambra people.

    They also set up a 22-member committee drawn from the 21 local government areas of the state to coordiante their activities in the state.

    He said the youth scheme is committed in mobilising youths in the state to support Senator Okonkwo in 2014 judging from his investment in youth education and business and economic empowerment.

    The leader of the group insisted that the senator has empowered more people in Anambra than all the senators and members of Representatives put together, adding that only Governor Peter Obi as governor of the state, has done more than Okonkwo.

    He said that any position the senator deems fit to contest in 2014, including the governorship, will receive the backing of not only the coordinators and youths of the Agunechemba Youth Scheme but youths across the state.

    He said the visitation they would embark on to destitute homes and orphanages has the blessing of Senator Okonkwo.