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Tag: Lawmaker

  • Avengers: Lawmaker cautions Kachikwu on dialogue with governors

    A Bayelsa State lawmaker, Israel Sunny-Goli, has urged the Minister of State for Petroleum, Dr. Ibe Kachukwu, to be cautious in his consultations with Niger Delta governors in a bid to end attacks on oil and gas facilities by members of the Niger Delta Avengers (NDA).

    Sunny-Goli, who is the only All Progressives Congress (APC) member in the Bayelsa State House of Assembly, noted that to have an enduring peace in the region, political stakeholders must be included in the dialogue.

    The lawmaker said it would be unproductive to engage only the region’s governors, who are mainly members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the dialogue, while excluding APC leaders in the discussions.

    Acknowledging that security matters should not politicised, Sunny-Goli, who represents Brass Constituency I, said the new militant group had been partisan in its demands.

    The lawmaker said the destruction of the pipelines and other oil installations in the region was a ploy by a particular party to win pipeline surveillance contracts for its members to enable them have enough funds to prosecute future elections.

    He warned that Kachukwu would aggravate the problems, if he excluded APC leaders in the current negotiation.

    Sunny-Goli said: “Kachikwu could find himself aggravating the problem, unless he proceeds with the utmost caution. He must make a conscious effort to carry all critical stakeholders and leaders of the people along in the attempt to secure the pipelines through surveillance, using the communities and locals.

    “The surveillance strategy is commendable and it is in line with what we have always advised for the security of the oil pipelines. But we have discovered that the approach being pursued by the minister and the Niger Delta governors may be programmed to exclude the APC family in the region.

    “While security should not be politicised, it is important to make the process inclusive and create a sense of joint ownership among critical stakeholders.

    “In the particular case of the current pipeline surveillance effort in the Niger Delta, it is important to actively involve leaders of the people, like Chief Timipre Sylva, Bayelsa State APC leader; Rt. Hon. Chibuike Amaechi, who is the Minister of Transport, Chief Umana Umana of Akwa Ibom State, among others.

    “Such deliberate inclusiveness is particularly necessary, considering the bizarrely partisan colours of the present-day militants’ demands.”

  • Ramadan: Lawmaker urges citizens to pray for peace

    Ramadan: Lawmaker urges citizens to pray for peace

    The Chairman, Senate Committee on ICT and Cybercrime Senator Abdul Fatai Buhari has urged Nigerians to continue to pray for peace and progress of the country.

    The All Progressives Congress Senator representing Oyo North Senatorial District said this during the fourth annual Fatai Buhari Ramadan lecture held at Ogbomoso Central Mosque yesterday

    According to the lawmaker, there are indications that things have started taking shape and it will not stop until every Nigerian can afford to eat and live under peaceful atmosphere, and enjoy dividends of democracy.

    According to him, “The present administration is determined to restore the hope of citizens in good governance and democracy and by the grace of Almighty God we will not fail. Nigerians should not relent in their prayer for our  leaders, as well as those saddled with task and responsibilities in the country.”

    Dr. Shobuur Alaya in his lecture entitled “Islam and the fight against corruption” urged parents and people in position of responsibility to always imbibe the doctrine and practice of Islam in their day to day activities.

    He added that Islam does not encourage corruption and people should live according to the dictates of the religion and norms of the society.

    The event was climaxed with the presentation of a car gift to the guest lecturer by Senator Buhari and special prayer for the nation, the state and Ogbomoso town.

    Dignitaries at the event include Dr. Saka Balogun,  Chief of Staff to former Governor of Oyo state, Alhaji Radar Gbadegesin, Chief Imam of Ogbomoso land Alhaji Yekeen Asafa Sanusi,  Alhaji  Bolaji Dauda Afolabi  state  coordinator  of NACOMYO and other Islamic scholars.

  • Lawmaker empowers constituents

    Lawmaker empowers constituents

    A House of Representatives member, Olufemi Adebanjo, yesterday distributed empowerment tools to some of his constituents.

    Adebanjo, representing Alimosho Federal constituency gave out the materials during a Town Hall Meeting to commemorate his one year in office at Mosalashi, Alimosho, Lagos.

    The event was witnessed by Senator Olamilekan Solomon Adeola and Lagos State House of Assembly Speaker Mudasiru Obasa.

    The items included six tricycles (Keke Marwa), 70 motorcycles (Okada), 70 grinding machines, 70 sewing machines, 30 hair driers, 300 bags of rice and beans and cash.

    The beneficiaries included the youths, the elderly, market men and women, Community Development Association (CDA) and Community Development Committee (CDC) executives, Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), teachers, artisans and many others.

    Adebanjo said his gesture was informed by the prevailing financial situation.

    He said: “The current financial situation in the country calls for desperate measures. Our declining revenue as a result of the crash in international crude oil prices has further proven that we need to explore other sources of income.”

    The lawmaker praised Governor Akinwunmi Ambode for the completion of Ayobo–Ipaja–Abesan road and Meiran road, the upgrading of Ajasa-Command road, the construction of Abule Egba overhead bridge, Aboru–Abesan road, Isefun – Kande road and the completion of the mini waterworks at Abesan, among others.

    “These clearly indicate the governor’s love and passion for the development of our constituency,” he said.

    Obasa hailed Adebanjo for giving account of his stewardship and empowering his constituents to lessen their hardship.

    The speaker urged Alimosho residents to continue to support the government so that they can keep enjoying the dividends of democracy.

    He pleaded with them to protect the infrastructure in their area.

    Senator Adeola said he had distributed 500 life jackets to the people of his senatorial district, adding that he will be giving 28 schools one toilet and one borehole each.

  • Community savours lawmaker’s impact

    Community savours lawmaker’s impact

    For many lawmakers, the provision of constituency projects has become one of the ways of adding value to their constituents’ lives.
    But the people of Billiri/Balanga Federal Constituency of Gombe State have not enjoyed such gesture since the return to democracy in 1999.
    Their current representative Ali Isa J. C. has now changed all that.
    To the admiration of all, he organised a programme at which loyalists of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and All Progressives Congress (APC) mingled without rancour;  something that had never happened in Gombe before.
    Little wonder that the Chairman of the occasion, Gabriel Suswan, immediate past governor of Benue State, described Ali as a blessing to his constituents and state, urging them to support him.
    ”Rarely do we have people who expend their time and resources to train people in various skills and then give them the working tools necessary to succeed in the pursuit of their dreams. But today, we are witnessing the benevolence and generosity of one of these rare politicians.
    ”This programme which is an eloquent testimony of his care and concern for humanity and I must confess that the people of Billiri/Balanga Federal Constituency and Gombe state in general are blessed to have this young man as her ambassador at the House off Representative,” Suswam said.
    The former governor of Benue State therefore commended the lawmaker effort in empowering his constituents, saying most people in elective positions tend to get carried away by the glamour of good roads, infrastructure and life in Abuja as well as their personal pockets and then forget about the plight of the people that elected them.
    He then urge Nigerians to always ensure that they elect into positions, people who would work through thick and thin in order to bring development to their constituencies, even as he commended the lawmaker for coming up with such intervention at a time of hardship and global recession.
    And when he stood up to speak, Ali Isa J. C. said he was spurred by the resolute commitment towards fulfilling his campaign promises, which the gesture was just part of. He recalled that he promised to empower women and youths to be self-employed through various skills hence had gathered the people to the promises as it is time for governance, not politicking.
    J. C. purposely chose May 4, 2016, being his birthday to celebrate with his constituent through the event announced that more than five hundred people had undergone training in such skills like tailoring, hairdressing and knitting under his skills acquisition programme for the past three months; and that he was empowering with tools and equipment at the occasion so that they can pursue their dreams and aspirations in life.
    Also to be supported through the programme were about four thousand farmers who collectively got more than five trailers of fertilisers, seedlings, herbicides chemicals and napsak sprayers.
    In addition, motorcycles were distributed to the present and immediate past PDP Ward Chairmen and their deputies in the twenty Wards that make up his constituency alongside other select constituents while the sitting party Chairmen of Billiri and Balanga local governments got a brand new Peugeot 406 car each.
    As a mark of respect for constituted religious authorities, Honourable Isa also gave one car each to the Chief Imam of Tangale, Chairman, Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Balanga local government and Chairman, CAN, Billiri local government.
    The Honourable Member also happily to announced that trough his efforts at lobbying for Federal presence in projects and employments, some youths of Gombe state have been recruited in various areas.
    And in order to make for easy access and interaction between him and his constituents Ali J.C built and commissioned his constituency office in Billiri so that every member of the constituency could reach him through the staff that will be operating from the office.

    All the items he said were provided in line with proper consultation on the basic needs of the people, pledging to work judiciously towards providing more dividend of democracy to his people because his business in the system is to make a difference in the electorates’ lives. It was on that note that he urged Nigerians to: “Please let’s join hands to give our leaders a helping hand to make a difference in our lives.”
    Speaker of the Federal House of Representatives, Right Honourable Yakubu Dogara who graced the occasion as Guest Speaker after a lavish out-pour of encomium on Ali J.C and his large-hearted act took a swipe at insinuators and antagonists of constituency projects, arguing that it creates balance in the polity as well as cushions constituents hardship and give them sense of belonging.
    He proped his position with the argument that it was in realisation of the fact that the conditions are hard for people at the grassroots; and because service to humanity and electorates is central to representations, most legislators have taken it upon themselves to provide entrepreneur and entrepreneurship training and to deliver some of the thing the ones Honourable Ali Isa had given to his constituents.
    ”If not through the instrumentality of the zonal intervention or what is known as constituency projects, it would have been absolutely difficult if not impossible for the honourable member to provide the things he has provided and even train some of his constituents.
    “That is why I argue always with those who believe that there’s no need for zonal intervention or that it should have no place in our budget.
    ”We know that the only way by which we can maintain fairness in governance, fairness across the board, across the length and breadth of this country is by patronising Federal Constituencies.
    ”When you patronise Federal constituencies, you have touched every nook and corner of Nigeria. That is why we should continue as leaders to ensure that we have programmes in governance that touches directly on constituencies,” he posited.
    Other speakers, Senator Binta Garba and Honourable Chukwuma Ujam at length about the goodwill of their colleague which is the attraction of colleagues to him as well as the empowerment packages, while calling on beneficiaries to not to let the efforts go in vain by maximally utilizing what they got for the purpose they were provided.

  • Lawmaker urges constituent to show gratitude

    Lawmaker urges constituent to show gratitude

    House of Representatives member Dolapo Badru has urged beneficiaries of constituency largesses to desist from selling them.

    He spoke during his constituency poverty alleviation programme held at the Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu Multipurpose Centre, Lagos.

    He noted that it was an act of ingratitude for beneficiaries to sell gifts donated to them.

    Badru, who donated tricycles, sewing machines, generators, refrigerators and other materials to enable the beneficiaries start their own business, explained that some of the items donated in the past were sold away at cheap prices.

    The lawmaker added that if the items donated were properly utilized, the effects would translate into the provision of jobs opportunities for others.

    He said:”I promised the people of my constituency that twice in a year I will provide materials or items that will alleviate their lives. We can see the level of poverty in the country, there is need for those in position to assist the needy to get over hard times.

    “Some of the people will have the opportunities of making daily income. What we are doing is just a tip of the iceberg, in term of giving. We do hope to do more and ensure that the people are well catered for as long as the efforts are justified.”

    Badru maintained that if the beneficiaries make good use of what they got, it would encourage other philanthropists who are not politicians to come to their aids.

    “From the benefit of hindsight, I also wish to warned those who are in the habit of selling what they got at cheaper rate to desist from it. It is even better to sell it back to me.

    “We had of situation where some people sold items which cost N300,000 for just N100,000 or less. This is a lost and it is not encouraging. But, they utilize the items; they will be better off than selling it. I rather plead with them resell it back to me.”

    Lagos State House of Assembly Deputy Speaker Wasiu Eshinlokun urged the beneficiaries to conduct themselves properly by ensuring that their benefactors are prompted to sustain the giving spirit in them.

    He said Lagos Island is known for the entrepreneurship, stressing that each beneficiary should see it as a challenge to employ others.

    “Our party the All Progressives Congress (APC) is doing everything within its capabilities to eradicate poverty and enhance employment, it would be wrong for those who are being assisted not to show gratitude.”

     

  • Lawmaker aids Niger farmers

    A member of the House of Representatives Honourable Lado Suleja representing Suleja/Gurara/Tafa, Niger State, has distributed five trailer-loads of fertilizers and others farm inputs to growers in his constituency.

    This, he said, will help them provide food for the constituency.

    Lado said the distribution would be done ward by ward and by elders and traditional leaders in each ward.

    According to him, the gesture is part of his representation to the people and an oversight function towards ensuring that what is meant for his constituency is channeled to them at the right time.

    “Suleja has always been [excluded] in the past, allocations were usually made but there will be no implementation. I am representing my people to ensure that what belongs to them is given to them and I am going to sustain it until 2019.”

    The lawmaker, who is the National Coordinator of Gwari Youth Forum disclosed that about 30 communities in his constituency would soon be electrified as 24 transformers will be delivered to his constituency.

    He warned the people not to sell the farm implements and ptoducts urging them to use it judiciously while pleading for patience as there was enough to go round.

    Lado stated that his priority to the people shall be on health, education and agriculture with more attention to be focused on children of the masses adding that in the past one year, he has provided basic amenities in his constituency and empowered over 4000 people on entrepreneurial skills.

    According to him, 17 people will soon be sponsored to Cairo to study while six girls will be sent to Sudan to study medicine, adding that plans are underway to help traditional leaders in his constituency.

    He urged the people to have patience with the present administration as things will get better with time.

    Speaking on behalf of the chairmen of the three local government areas that constitute the constituency, the local government Chairman of Tafa, Ado Abubakar commended the legislator for his gesture adding that it will go a long way in assuaging the sufferings of the people.

    He promised that the constituents will make judicious use of the fertilizers and farming implements and products assuring that the local government chairmen will walk in his path in putting up relevant programmes that will touch the lives of the people.

    Items distributed freely to the farmers include fertilizers, seedlings, wheel barrows, insecticides, high grade farming implements and sprayers.

     

  • Relief as lawmaker inaugurates Surulere clinic

    Relief as lawmaker inaugurates Surulere clinic

    There was jubilation in Surulere Local Government, Lagos State, over the weekend when House of Representatives Leader Femi Gbajabiamila inaugurated the Surulere Clinic at Baracks area.

    Residents, workers, stakeholders and other dignitaries witnessed the short and informal ceremony.

    Addressing the attendees, Gbajabiamila recalled the difficulties encountered in completing the project, which took off over 10 years ago.

    He said: “This project is over 10 years old. At a point, the things we bought were vandalised and stolen. The local government chairman then could not help. There were some powerful people, who said it was over their dead body that this project would be completed.”

    The lawmaker hailed the local government’s Executive Secretary, Mrs. Bamidele Hussain, for her support and dedication to the completion of the project and other projects in the local government.

    The lawmaker said the hospital standard would be at par with that of other local government clinics across the world.

    He donated three fully equipped ambulances, one each, to three hospitals in the local government at Akerele, Randu and the new Surulere Clinic, to commemorate the day.

    “I place a lot of importance on health matters. Every year, we have our two-day health festival in Surulere, where we bring in health facilitators from around the world. We must pray that nobody has any reason to visit this place, but if you do, you will enter and come out in good health.

    “It is important that we understand that health is wealth. We would not compromise, but we will ensure it measures up to the standard of any local government clinic across the world,” he said.

    Mrs. Hussain, who played host at the event, said the clinic would be named “Hon Femi Gbajabiamila Clinic”.

    She said: “The provision of this facility is based on the sustainability of the health care sector in our local government. That is why the package of the facility revolves around a comprehensive health services.”

  • Lawmaker calls for urgent repair of road

    Lawmaker calls for urgent repair of road

    A member of the House of Representatives representing Umuahia/Ikwuano, Sam Onuigbo has inspected failed portions of the Umuahia-Ikot Ekpene Road and called for its urgent repair.

    The road has become a source of worry to the Ikwuano communities and road users, especially those travelling to Akwa Ibom or Cross River states. They spend several hours on the road because of its poor state.

    Every year with the coming of the rains the road gets worse and this year is no exception as several portions are impassable, forcing motorists to seek alternative routes to their destinations. Rural farmers are also suffering.

    The situation forced the communities of Ikwuano which are along the road to make distress calls to Hon Onuigbo who inspected the road to see things for himself.

    The lawmaker sent an SOS to the federal Ministry of Works as well as FERMA, the road maintenance agency, to quickly fix the road

    Onuigbo said that he and his colleagues in the National Assembly ensured that its repair was accommodated in the 2016 budget but lamented that the funds so provided can only foot palliative measures and not comprehensive repair that was recommended.

    He described the about 60km road as strategic and important, passing through rich agricultural areas of the state to northern and southern states.

    The federal lawmaker observed that many vehicles have been damaged while many lives have been lost due to the bad nature of the road and called relevant authorities to come to the aid of his constituents and other road users to enable them get connected to other parts of the state, as they have been cut off completely from them.

    Chairman of the Ikwuano LG Council retired Major Emmanuel Awa told journalists that there are over seventeen dead spots between Ikwuano and Ikot Ekpene in Akwa Ibom state and that workers of his Council could not report to work today because of the bad nature of the road due constant rainfalls.

    The traditional ruler of Ajata Nigu King Larry Ogbonna urged the government not to use unknown contractors for the road repairs again which is becoming a recurring decimal in the appropriation bill every year.

  • Work tools for lawmaker’s constituents

    Work tools for lawmaker’s constituents

    Work tools worth millions of naira have been distributed to some members of the Ebonyi Central Senatorial District.

    The items were provided by Senator Obinna Ogba who represents the constituency.

    The items included motorcycles, grinding machines, cassava grinding machines, sewing machines, kernel grinding machines and over 10 cars.

    Speaking during the distribution at his hometown Amanvu Nkalagu in Ishielu Local Government Area of the state, Senator Ogba noted that the distribution is structured in such a way that all the 58 wards in the four local government areas of the zone namely Ikwo, Ezza North, Ezza South and Ishielu benefit from the scheme.

    He said the distribution which will be periodical is in keeping with his campaign promises to the people.

    The Senator said he has started paying stipends to over 232 persons in the constituency.

    The programme he said costs him over N1m monthly, adding that he is determined to sustain it till the end of his tenure.

    On creating jobs, Senator Ogba noted that notwithstanding the embargo placed on employment, he has been able to secure employment for about 14 persons spread across the four local governments.

    “I recommended over 30 persons for employment; about 9 of them will get their appointment letters now that the 2016 budget has been signed,” he said.

    Also 10 persons from my constituency are also in my payroll and I spend well over N400,000 on their salary monthly.

    On education, Senator Ogba noted that he has paid school fees for over 100 students. He said he has concluded arrangement to float a scholarship scheme later in the year.

    Other projects by the Senator include construction of rural bridges and roads in some communities in Ishielu local government area and sponsorship ofsome constituents to overseas tour.

    “On arrival, the contingent receives cash rewards not fewer than 500,000 each. I am making arrangements to secure some slots for two or more persons to travel to Brazil for the 2016 Olympics”.

    Senator Ogba said all those who drove his campaign vehicles have been given those cars.

    He urged the beneficiaries to put the gifts into good use while assuring that the programme will continue throughout his tenure.

     

  • Lawmaker’s jobs tools for constituents

    Lawmaker’s jobs tools for constituents

    Some got sewing machines, some motorcycles or tricycles. But even as Federal House of Representatives member, Alhaji Zakari Angulu-Dobi gave out those items to his Abuja South constituents, he assured them of more to come.

    Angulu-Dobi said the gesture was a way of giving back to his people who voted him in the last election.

    “We were voted into the office and not appointed,” he said. “Politics is all about giving back the dividends of democracy to the people. It is not about beauty; it is not about being proud. It is all about reciprocating the gesture given to you.

    “I am fulfilled that I was able to bring happiness and excitement to people of my constituency by giving them these few items that were shared across my constituency comprising Gwagwalada, Kuje and Kwali and Abaji. It is a laid foudation. This not a first time I have been voted into power. I have always benefitted from giving out, being honest with the people and carrying them along,” he said.

    Angulu-Dobi also said that his people should expect more of such gestures and promised to pursue with all seriousness whatever is meant for his constituency as it contain in the year’s budget.

    “I want to assure the people of my constituency and FCT in extension because I am the only highest elected person in APC. I know I have a challenge. I have a fight ahead of me. I am ready and capable to face it and it gives me joy.

    “The people of my constituency should expect continuity. We will continue to do what we have done. The good thing is that budget is signed, I will pursue what is meant for my people to ensure that all ministry, agencies and parastatals where projects are domiciled are dully executed to the benefit of my people,” he said.

    Speaking on behalf of the beneficiaries, APC party chairman in Abaji area council, Alhaji Haruna Yaba, described the gesture as first of its kind in the history of Abuja politics while pledging their support for the honourable member.

    “It is a kind gesture we have never experienced before. It will help to eradicate poverty. It will create a way  to make a living. He has done well and I urge everyone to support him,” he said.

    Apart from tricycles, motorcycles and sewing machines and generators were also presented to women and elders of the constituency at d occasion.