The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Lawmaker

  • Lawmaker, Makinde pledge rapid development in Oyo

    A member of the House of Representatives from Ibadan North Constituency, Hon. Abiodun Awoleye, and the governorship candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in the last general elections in Oyo State, Seyi Makinde, have reiterated their commitment in ensuring rapid development in Oyo state especially, Ibadan their home town.

    They urged influential individuals to invest in Nigeria rather than developing foreign countries economy at the detriment of Nigeria’s fortune.

    The two politicians made the pledge during the confernment of Distinguished Fellows Award on them by the Central Council of Ibadan Indigenes. The event was held at the Ibadan Civic Centre, Idi-Ape, Ibadan.

    Awoleye said the award has showed that the people appreciated what he has been doing, promising to do more.

    Awoleye said that the motion he moved in the Seventh Assembly led to rehabilitation of Ibadan Airport and that he is already pursuing the completion of the rehabilitation work.

    “I am very happy for honoring me with this prestigious award, the award is an invitation to do more, It has showed that people appreciate good deeds.”

    “I can tell you that the motion on the need to rehabilitate and upgrade Ibadan Airport has yielded positive results; the motion I moved in 2013 on the need for NEMA to compensate the victims of the Omitowoju fire incident also yielded positive results, the affected people have been dully compensated. All these I was doing are for the development of Ibadanland, Oyo state and Nigeria at large.

    “I am ready to do more and I have been doing that, recently I moved some motions, one on the need for National Assembly Broadcast project; the need for measures to adequately protect Websites ministries, departments and agencies of government and a bill to ensure that censuses are held in Nigeria at regular intervals of 10 years or less, if it is expedient to do so, for effective planning and the need to empower the Census Tribunals to have specific directions by removing them from being the appendages of President.

    Makinde, who was the chairman of the event, promised to take Ibadan land to the greater height urging Nigerians to join government in development the country.

    Makinde said: “It is our responsibility to develop Nigeria along with the government. When we want to invest, we go abroad. When we are seeking admission for our children, we go abroad but we instruct our children to take us to Nigeria when we die. Nigeria is not a cemetry, therefore, let’s develop our nation together.”

  • Lawmaker hails Appeal Court judgment

    Lawmaker hails Appeal Court judgment

    A member of the National Assembly, Hon Segun Dokun Odebunmi, has described his victory at the Court of Appeal as the triumph of truth over falshehood.

    Odebunmi, who is the only Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) representative  from Oyo State, said the judgment was not only an affirmation of his  victory, but it has also silenced his detractors who are bent on disrupting his good plan and vision for the people of Surulere/Ogo Oluwa Constituency.

    The court gave a unanimous judgment affirming the decision of the National and House of Assembly Elections Petition Tribunal in Ibadan and upheld the lawmakler’s victory.

    The panel, led by Justice M.L. Shuaib, held that the appeal of  Hon. Isreal Ogundiran of the Labour Party 9LP) and Hon. Mathew Abioye of the All progressive Congress (APC) lacked merit. The case was,therefore, dismissed.

    Odebunmi, who is the Chairman  House Committee on National Orientation,  said the judiciary has become the guardian of democracy.

    he stressed: “ The judiciary system in Nigeria is gradually taking its normal shape and position as the last hope of the common man. We now have people of integrity manning the system and I am sure it is good for Nigeria. The overall effect will be sanity and development of our nation.”

    While  calling for collaboration with his opponents,  Odebunmi added: “My doors are always open for anybody who is interested in the development of the state and my constituency,  irrespective of political affiliations.  Politics is just a game,  but what is paramount is the growth and development of my constituency  and the state.”

     

  • Lawmaker advises youths on skills acquisition

    A member of Lagos State House of Assembly,  Moshood Oshun, has advised Nigerian youths, especially graduates, to opt for acquisition so as to become self-employed.

    Oshun, who represents Lagos Mainland 2 State Constituency, spoke at the inauguration of the     skill acquisition programme he organised for his constituents in Yaba, Lagos Mainland.

    The beneficiaries numbering about 250 are to be trained in making of adire, soap making, chemicals, paint making, beads, make-ups and fruit juice processing, among others.

    The lawmaker said the training was one of its kinds, adding that he organised it to tell Nigerians that white collar jobs are not enough to go round every job seeker.  There are other things that people can do apart from white collar jobs to boost Nigeria’s econoýmy.

    Oshun, who is Chairman House Committee on Public Account, stressed that the idea in Nigeria is that everybody must be in the office which, he said, is not possible.

    “There are other things that people can do to boost the economy of ýthe country. This is why I extend the training to both young and old.

    “We are ready to help people who will take the training serious. At the end of the day, it would encourage us to do more.

    “In Lagos Mainland, there is no week people won’t organise up to seven parties and you see people with different designs of headgears. Unfortunately, they are not the ones who fixed the headgears themselves. So, you can also set up your own business to make money,” he said.

    He said though the training could be rigorous, it is easier than stealing.

    “Beneficiaries who would want to establish their businesses from what they have learnt from the training, would be encouraged financially,” he said.

    The lawmaker, therefore, warned the 250 beneficiaries against not deploying what they learnt from the training to good use.

    Contributing, the Executive Secretary of Yaba Local Council Development Area, Bola Lawal-Olumegbon said the training was important since it would help the beneficiaries to meet their basic needs.

    “No amount of money given by the lawmaker can make up for the training. There is no job anywhere. Therefore, people live on what they know how to do best. We must, therefore, learn the skills with all seriousness. There is nothing you learn that would not benefit you,” she said.

     

  • Lawmaker donates bus to church

    Lawmaker donates bus to church

    The lawmaker representing Aba North and South Federal Constituency at the House of Representatives, Hon. Ossy Prestige has donated a 32-seater bus to the authorities of St. John’s Anglican Church, Osusu Aba under the Diocese of Aba.

    Speaking during the handover exercise, Prestige said the gesture was in fulfilment of his campaign promise to the church when he solicited its support during the 2015 general election. Expressing the hope that the bus would assist the church in solving its transportation difficulties; the lawmaker urged them to make judicious use of the facility.

    Stating that churches played significant roles in his election as a lawmaker, he pleaded for their continued support through prayers. He promised that he would not relent in advancing the cause of the city.

    He said: “It pains me that economic activities in Aba are not what they used to be in the past. Many shop owners are no longer in their shops again. Some of them are either driving keke or have left the town because things are no longer the way they used to be.

    “It is my wish to see business and economic activities come back to life again in Aba. I will be happy to see that those who left Aba for other cities came back to Aba.”

    Responding, the Archdeacon in charge of St. John Osusu Parish, Venerable Alexander Ihemekwala thanked the lawmaker for his generosity of spirit, stressing that the car donated to the church would go a long way in helping the church in propagating the Gospel of God.

    He promised to put the car to good use. He urged other politicians in the state to emulate the gesture of Hon. Prestige who was not compelled to pledge and redeem the promise he made before God and man.

    Most of the parishioners who spoke to reporters said it was the first time a public office holder would make a promise and freely fulfilled the promise. They expressed optimism that the lawmaker’s tenure would be a clear departure from what obtained during the tenures of former representatives of the zone.

    In a related development, Hon. Prestige has promised to donate a 500KVA electricity transformer and to sink a borehole with overhead tank to the people of Egbelu Ihiorji, Ohanku community in Aba South Local Government Area.

    The lawmaker was in the area to commission a 300KVA transformer and water project executed by the community.

    According to him, the 500KVA would serve as a relief to the load on the 300KVA while the borehole with overhead tank was to further enhance the distribution of water within the community.

    Speaking on the deplorable nature of roads in the area, Prestige attributed the total collapse of infrastructure in the area to neglect, abandonment and insensitivity of former members of Senate and House of Representatives. He promised to do his best possible to ensure that their roads would be given a facelift in no distant time.

    Some of the residents, including Eze Emejiaka, who the lawmaker had earlier visited, thanked him for coming to the area, even as they hoped that he would address some of the challenges which residents of the area are experiencing.

  • Lawmaker lauds Ambode over security equipment

    Lawmaker lauds Ambode over security equipment

    Mr Taofeek Adaranijo, a member of the House of Representatives, has commended Governor Akinwunmi Ambode for equipping Lagos State Police Command with security gadgets.

    Adaranijo, representing Agege Federal Constituency, in an interview with newsmen on Sunday, described the gesture as a strong statement by the governor.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Ambode on Friday handed over security equipment worth N4.8 billion to the state police command.

    The equipment included helicopters, gun boats, cars, trucks and power bikes, among others.

    “It shows that the security of lives and property is of paramount importance to him.

    “It’s one of the things that we are expecting from him and he has shown his commitment to the welfare, security and well-being of the people”.

    “We have seen an upsurge in the wave of crime, especially armed robbery in the state in the past few months,” he said.

    Adaranijo said that with the procurement of modern security gadgets, the police would have no excuse than to go all out and ensure that residents were safe from armed attacks.

    “It’s no doubt a good development and beginning of good things to happen in Lagos,” Adaranijo said.

    Dr. Elijah Olu-Adewale, another lawmaker representing Ifako Ijaiye Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, said that the equipment would go a long way in boosting the capacity of the police to swiftly respond to security threats.

    He urged the people to be vigilant and give necessary information that could assist the police to track down criminal hideouts.

    “This surely is a good development for our state and it shows the commitment of the governor that security is top priority to him, ” Olu-Adewale said.

  • Dickson’s ex-aide, lawmaker, others defect to APC

    Dickson’s ex-aide, lawmaker, others defect to APC

    SOME former aides to Bayelsa State Governor Seriake Dickson and thousands of Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP’s) members at the weekend defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    The defectors vowed to work for the success of the party’s candidate in the December 5 election, Chief Timipre Sylva.

    The defection occurred when Sylva’s campaign, led by Director-General of the Sylva/Igiri Campaign Organisation (SICO) and Minister of State for Agriculture, Heineken Lokpobiri, moved to Southern Ijaw.

    The ex-Commissioner for Lands and Survey, Furoebi Akene, who resigned his appointment and Dickson’s Special Representative to Southern Ijaw, Apreala Pereladei, were among those who joined the APC.

    Sylva and his entourage visited Otuan, Amassoma, Koluama, Foropa and Oporoma.

    There was drama at the Oporoma campaign ground when an aged woman in her 80s, found her way to the podium, shouting Sylva’s name.

    When they saw the woman, Sylva and Lokpobiri helped her to the podium, where she thrilled the crowd, dancing with the APC standard-bearer and the minister.

    She was given a broom, the party’s symbol.

    Addressing supporters and residents, Sylva said the council was a major stakeholder in the party because his running mate, Elder Wilberforce Igiri, and APC’s state chairman are from Southern Ijaw.

    He assured them that the party would improve their lives and urged them to embrace the APC for development.

    Sylva said his former administration started the controversial Yenagoa-Oporoma Road, also called the Bayelsa Central Senatorial District Road.

    According to him, he paid N10 billion to Julius Berger, contrary to the allegation by Dickson that he (Sylva) did not pay attention to the road.

    Sylva said it was regrettable that Dickson revoked the road contract and re-awarded it to a Chinese firm after Julius Berger had done preliminary work up to Anyama-Ijaw, about 25 minutes’ drive to Oporoma by boat.

    He urged the people not to be deceived by Dickson, noting that the governor was distributing appointment letters to unsuspecting indigenes barely two months to the end of his tenure.

    “Oporoma people, Southern Ijaw people, if you want development and progress, it is APC. PDP is dead. We have buried it in Abuja. We will also bury it in Bayelsa. The governor called me a guy man, but I called him a bush man.

    “On December 5, vote for me and my running mate. After victory, we will look at how to restore peace to Bayelsa. Companies will be established, there will be jobs and enjoyment.”

    Lokpobiri said Bayelsa could not afford to be in the opposition.

    He enjoined the people to join other states that had aligned with the centre.

    Sylva said: “A party does not make people. Individuals make a party. The burial date for PDP is December 5. On that day, we will dance proper Owugiri and bury the party finally. President Muhammadu Buhari told me he loves Bayelsa and that Bayelsa should be controlled by APC. If we hold election today, APC will win by 75 per cent. “

    The APC Chairman, Chief Tiwe Orumi Nighe, said the party had secured the future of the council by giving Southern Ijaw the running mate and the party chairmanship.

    He said Sylva would deliver on road, adding that besides the N10 billion the APC candidate paid for the Oporoma Road, Dickson paid nothing to advance the building of the road.

  • Arms purchase scam shocking, unbelievable – Lawmaker

    Arms purchase scam shocking, unbelievable – Lawmaker

    The Chief Whip of Lagos state House of Assembly, Hon. Rotimi Abiru has described as shocking and unbelievable the alleged contracts arms procurement scam amounting to N333b in which the former National Security Adviser, Col. Ibrahim Dasuki (rtd) and other top retired military brass were indicted.

    The interim report of the 13- man committee set up to audit the procurement of arms and other military  equipment in the  defence sector from 2007 to date had indicted Dasuki and others siphoning huge sums of money for procurement of arms without any evidence of such purchases.

    Abiru was reacting to the development in a chat with some journalists in his office at the Assembly complex Thursday.

    He describes the arms scandal as a shameless act of corruption, adding that, “It is an act of wickedness and callousness against the Nigerian people.

    “With the number of lives lost and property destroyed by the insurgents all those involved in this shameless act of corruption and their surrogates should be brought to book,” Abiru said.

    He added; “the time to send corruption and lawlessness out of this great nation is now. It bugs the mind that some political appointees could just direct an institution of government to disburse funds, I think it is highly unfortunate and anyone involved should face the law and their companies blacklisted.”

  • Lagos lawmaker promises dividends of democracy

    Lagos lawmaker promises dividends of democracy

    Member Lagos State of Assembly representing Surulere  Consistuency 1,Hon. Desmond Olusola Elliot has hosted a stakeholders’ meeting,where he briefed members of his consistuency on the role expected of the legislature

    The stakeholders’ meeting held at the council secretariat with the theme: “Towards a better constituency engagement’’ was simultaneously held in all the 40 constituency was initiated to enumerate the primary responsibility of the lawmaker and address salient issues of the area.

    Speaking at the interactive session, Hon. Desmond Olusola Elliott noted that there had been conflicting ideas on the duties of both the legislative and executive arms by the public. He added that the  functions of the legislature include; appropriation and allocation of fund for projects; legislation and consideration of political or economic actions of the executive and approving them when deserved; over sight function and checking on the executive to ascertain funds allocated are used for the projects they are meant for ;and representation to serve the people by lobbing and influencing the executive to ensure that the yearnings and aspirations of his constituency are meant.

    Also, he assured that a health care centre would be built and affordable stores would be made available to the people.

    Elliott said the needs of the people would be accommodated in next year‘s budget.

    “The essence of having this kind of stakeholders meeting is that we want to move closer to our people and we want to deepen the dividends of democracy, you can see that the area it populated by the people of different social strata, we invite them because we want to hear their opinions and know their feeling about our government in the state.

    “As you have heard, all their grievances and agitations would be noted and taken to the floor and would be deliberated upon .The deliberation won’t end here; it would be addressed on the floor of house and sent to the executive arm for its assent .We have it in mind to use this forum to determine where the shoe pinches our people and to alleviate their sufferings.”

    He also urged the commercial motorcycle and tricycle operators to obey the state’s traffic laws.

    Residents of the Constituency appealed to the Lagos State government to create more Wards and to also create another local government in the area.

    According to the residents, this would aid proper administration and socio-economic development across the length and beneath of the area.

    While addressing the gathering, the Executive Secretary of Surulere Local government Area, Hon. Mrs. Bamidele Hussain, said the stakeholders’ meeting would promote development and good   governance.

    Hussain said: ”The House of Assembly can help us make laws to better the lot of Surulere residents. We need functional Customary Court and a law that will make the Community Development Area (CDA) and Community Development Committee ((CDC) be part and parcel of the local government. ’’We also need more inner roads, skill acquisition and recreational centers to empower our youths.’’

    The event was attended by politicians, traditional rulers, the party chieftains, market women, artisans, interest group amongst others.

  • Lawmaker alleges plot to remove Gbajabiamila

    Lawmaker alleges plot to remove Gbajabiamila

    •It’s not true, says Chief Whip Doguwa

    An All Progressives Congress (APC) lawmaker representing Katsina Federal Constituency, Ahmed Baba Kaita, yesterday alleged that there were plans to remove the Majority Leader of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila.

    Kaita said: “Our party gave instructions to Mr. Speaker about five days ago and he promised to get back to the party by Monday. It was the same Monday he flouted the party’s directives.

    “Yesterday, when we were meeting at the party secretariat, SMS were sent by the people who do not want APC to succeed in the House.

    “The content was that Gbajabiamila would be removed this morning (yesterday) and they planned it. But when we arrived at this meeting, they couldn’t do so.

    “They failed because they know we have the majority. As long as this House is going to be dictated by the PDP, we will resist it.

    “If Dogara wants us to be with him, fine and good,  we have no problems with that. He is one of our own, but only if he will align with the party’s wishes, manifestos and programmes of Mr. President, he will have a smooth ride because we have the majority.

    “But as long as he flouts party’s directives and as long as he instigates unscrupulous members to attempt to remove Gbajabiamila, we will resist it.”

    But the Chief Whip, Ado Doguwa, a Dogara supporter, said there was no plan by the Speaker or the House leadership to remove Gbajabiamila.

    He said the meeting held by the APC caucus in Hearing Room 1 was meant to iron out issues.

    His words: “This is a meeting for APC members to address and inform ourselves that enough is enough. That is, enough of misunderstanding among the APC family in the House.

    “You are aware of what happened yesterday when the Speaker chaired a special session of the House to inaugurate the committees.

    “I want to inform you, on behalf of the leadership that there is no crack whatsoever as far as we are concerned.

    “As we speak, the Speaker and the House leadership are in the meeting room of the office of the Speaker, discussing how we can move ahead.

    “Nigerians are tired of this waiting. We were elected to come and work as members of the House of Representatives.”

    It was learnt that Gbajabiamila at the meeting with the leadership begged the Speaker over his utterances and absence at the committees’ inauguration.

    However, a source in Gbajabiamila’s camp denied the story, saying it was a propaganda to malign the Majority Leader.

     

  • Lawmaker buys army recruitment forms for youths in Argungu

    Youths in the six local councils of Argungu, in Kebbi State willing to join the Nigerian Army have been given recruitment forms by the senator representing Kebbi North Senatorial District, Senator Yahaya Abdullahi.

    The gesture is said to be one of the ways Senator Abdullahi intends to tackle youth unemployment in the area, according to a statement from his constituency office in Birnin Kebbi, the state capital.

    The statement said that the APC chieftain recently procured 300 Nigerian Army recruitment forms and distributed to youths from the six Local Council Areas of Argungu, Augie, Kangiwa, Kamba, Bagudu and Suru, all in the Kebbi North Senatorial District of the state.

    According to the statement, the senator has promised to support every successful candidate who sat for the qualifying examination that held on October 8, 2015, including the provision of transport and feeding allowances to each of them.

    In a similar development, Sen. (Dr.) Yahaya A. Abdullahi has taken up the medical treatment of a commercial motor cyclist, (achaba), IbrahimSadiq of Tudun Wada, (Kokani South) who broke his arm in a serious crash, shortly before this year’s Ramadan.

    According to medical sources at the Federal Medical Centre, Birnin Kebbi, the accident was so serious that without the timely intervention of the Kebbi North federal legislator, it could have led to the amputation of the arm. Sen. Abdullahi is also reported to have already deposited N120, 000 for the accident victim’s treatment, promising to do more so that Ibrahim Sadiq can get back on his feet.

    Also, Senator Abdullahi has condemned the arbitrary surge in electricity current in some Argungu communities of Kebbi State, saying no fewer than 11 people have so far been killed by suspected public power surge, in the last three weeks.

    The Senator said he has taken up the issue with the relevant Electricity Distribution Company (DISCO), adding that the deaths from electrocution have created fears and anxiety among the people in the area.

    Besides the high casualty figure, household items and appliances, destroyed during the deadly public electricity system failures, have been estimated in millions of naira. Dr. Abdullahi, however assured that he has discussed the unfortunate incident with members of the Senate Ad Hoc Committee on Power, and to soon present a formal memo to them on the matter.

    According to him, there is every indication that his colleagues will work with him to call on for a comprehensive overhaul and re-strengthening of power lines, across the country, to withstand the impending increase in national power output, particularly as President Muhammadu Buhari sets about tackling the issue of infrastructural decay in the power sector.