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Tag: Lawmaker

  • Be focused and decisive, lawmaker tells students

    Member of the Lagos State House of Assembly representing Lagos Mainland 2 constituency, Moshood Oshun, has admonished youths to set their priorities right in life.

    Oshun lamented that youths are losing focus and drifting into social vices such as cultism which tends to be the norm these days.

    The lawmaker stated this while addressing a group of students under the aegis of ‘The Lagos State tertiary institutions speakers forum’ comprising of speakers from students parliament in all the tertiary institutions in Lagos state who paid him a courtesy visit and gave him an award for being the most youth-friendly lawmaker in the state at the Assembly.

    “Everything we do now, there is a price we have to pay later in life,” Oshun warned.

    Hesaid since becoming a lawmaker in 2007, he has provided between 60 and 80 jobs for youths in the state.

    The lawmaker, however, expressed worry that in the face of rising unemployment, some youths in the country no longer want to work because but are only interested in cutting corners.

    According to him, the get-rich-quick mentality has enveloped many young men and women resulting in an increase in social vices and criminal activities.

    “Youths are losing focus and what should be priority is no longer there. We are losing what should be our pride,” he said, while recalling how he grew up with focus on education and the spirit of competition between him and his mates  in school. “Today, youths now compete with smoking and drinking,” he continued, “Now, the youths only think of driving the best cars and living in the best houses, but they don’t want to work hard. And when you are not ready to work hard, then you would steal. That was how social vices came into existence.

    “I once had an opportunity to get someone a job that six people had already rejected because they were not comfortable with waiting for the end of the month to get paid. They also did not want to be seen wearing uniforms. It was the seventh person who picked the job.

    “The sky is the limit for this forum of yours, but that is when you decide that the sky would be your limit. Being serious does not mean you should not catch fun; but be very responsible,” he advised.

    Chairman of the forum, Ibrahim Oladimeji from Federal College of Education (Technical) Akoka, Yaba said they decided to visit Oshun and present the award following all his contributions especially to students of the tertiary institutions within his constituency.

     

  • Lawmaker hosts Corps members

    Lawmaker hosts Corps members

    The member representing Ikwuano/Umuahia federal constituency at the House of Representatives, Hon. Sam Onuigbo has held a befitting send-off as well as welcome party for the Batch C members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) in the area.

    The send-off party was for Corps members leaving the Ikwuano/Umuahia area after their service year, while the welcome ceremony was for those just posted there, especially the Ambassador’s Model College, Obuohia Obi-Ibere in Ikwuano Local Government Area of Abia State.

    The ceremony which attracted a number of personalities including the state coordinator of the NYSC, Adewoya Omotayo and the chairman of Abia state Board of Internal Revenue (BIR), Udo Ogbonna who served as the chairman of the occasion was the third time the ceremony was being held this year alone.

    Speaking during the ceremony, the federal lawmaker, Onuigbo said that the ceremony has been going on for the past five years and that it was initiated as a platform to appreciate out going and in coming corps members for their services to the community.

    Onuigbo said that the ceremony is also to encourage the incoming corps members so that they would motivate the students who they have come to teach during their primary assignment and make them aspire to the highest level in the society.

    He commended the initiators of the NYSC scheme which he said has been acknowledged as one of the greatest policy giant leaps for the consolidation of the post-independence era and urged all to continue to support the scheme, “which has united the country and contributed in no small way to the development of democracy and good policies in the country”.

    The lawmaker commended the corps members for their selfless service to his community in particular and the state at large, adding that their good conduct during their stay in the school made them to live peacefully with their hosts.

    In his speech the NYSC state coordinator, Omotayo congratulated the lawmaker for the scheme and for attracting NYSC to his community and for his support to the corps members posted to his village, “This goes a long way to show that people are appreciating the efforts of the NYSC scheme.”

    Omotayo commended the corps members who served in the community and those who have been posted to serve there as replacement for the outgoing corps members and urged them to do well and not disappoint the NYSC.

    The Abia NYSC boss said, “You deserve commendation for agreeing to come to serve here with its attendant terrain, am sure many people would not agree to be here, but I can see that you all are happy being here which is the basis for establishing the scheme”.

    He praised Onuigbo for initiating the building of the school for his people and sustaining it till date, adding that his love for NYSC and the corps members has gone a long way in sustaining the school for his people and promised to send more corps members to the school since

    they are treated very well by the community.

    Earlier in his address, the chairman of the occasion, Ogbonna said that Onuigbo has been having this program for corps embers posted to his community, saying that the gesture of the law maker has gone a long way to encourage the youths of his community to aspire to greater heights through embracing education.

    Ogbonna said that the way Onuigbo has been treating the corps members posted to his village has led to increase in the deployment of NYSC members into the secondary school in his community, “The impact of these corps members has been noticeable on both the students and

    people of the community”.

    In his speech the outgoing Corps Liaison Officer (CLO) Oyekami Abimbola encouraged the students of the model school Obuohia Obi-Ibere to be focused on their education which is the key to success, through reading their books, being disciplined and law abiding, “So that you can utilise effectively all we have taught you”.

    Abimbola thanked Onuigbo for his support to them while they were in the community and his contributions towards their welfare and urged him to extend same to the incoming corps members, saying that his gesture trickled down to the people of the community who took them as their own during the service year.

    He noted that the people of the community were taking turns to bring food stuffs to them and that the gesture of the community people led to their saving money and encouraged them to work harder to leave their marks in the community, “We will never forget this Obuohia Obi-Ibere all through our lives as we had the best of times here”.

    The highlight of the occasion was the donation of several bags of garri, bunches of plantain, red oil by the women of the community, while the different parting gift items were given to them as memorabilia, including cash gifts as transport fare by the lawmaker.

  • Lawmaker seeks selfless leaders to drive national growth

    A member of the House of Representatives, Mike Omogbehin has urged the country’s leaders to be selfless in order to drive national growth.

    Omogbehin, who spoke with reporters in Akure, the Ondo State capital, said what Nigeria needed was selfless leadership.

    According to him, this time calls for a sober reflection and at the same time, a stock-taking to examine where we were in the past and where we are now in order to chart a new course for the future.

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) lawmaker said the development of the nation must be a collective agenda by all and sundry, irrespective of our political inclination and background. He also said Nigerians must continue to put Nigeria ahead of other agenda in our daily activities.

    He said:”It is only through our beliefs and determination to fast-track the

    development of Nigeria that we can achieve a reasonable and even

    development of our dream as a nation; hence the need for all hands to be on deck to build a virile society.”

    Omogbehin praised the ex-Nigerian leaders who had contributed their own

    quota to the development and unity of the nation, especially President Goodluck Jonathan for handing over power freely to the present administration after the last general elections.

    The lawmaker said ex-President Jonathan’s sacrifice in this regard needed to be appreciated at all times and the development also worthy of emulation by the present and future Nigerian leaders for a continued existence of the nation.

    Omogbehin urged Nigerians to always pray for their leaders to lead aright.

    He commended various religious leaders across the country for their fervent prayers for the peace and unity in the country.

     

  • Lawmaker urges motorists to comply with traffic law

    Lawmaker urges motorists to comply with traffic law

    A Member of the Lagos State House of Assembly Segun Olulade has called on motorists to obey traffic law to curb incessant gridlock.

    Olulade, who was reacting to complaints of some Lagosians on the persistent traffic jam, said some drivers have become lawless, wrongly taking advantage of the pronouncement by the Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, that the officials of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) should stop impounding vehicles.

    The lawmaker, representing Epe Constituency 2, stated that the governor’s statement was not made to make drivers become disobedient to the traffic law which is still in place.

    ”Lagosians, especially motorists, commuters and every other road user should understand that the traffic law was passed by the state House of Assembly and was signed into law by the executive arm and this law is still very much in place. To this end, everyone must be civilised and obey the law.

    ”The governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, in his wisdom, has urged men of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority to stop impounding vehicles because he believes so much in doing things in a civilised manner.

    ”In civilised societies, you will never see traffic officers running after a motorist or jump into someone’s vehicle all because that person committed a traffic offence. That is where Lagos State is going; it shouldn’t be until LASTMA officials entered into our vehicles that we will obey traffic rules.

    ”All road users should learn to obey traffic rules and be civilised while on the road. The fact that the governor made that pronouncement that no vehicle should be impounded doesn’t mean we should start breaking the laws,” he said.

    Olulade, however, urged men of the LASTMA to continue the good works they have been doing by enforcing the law and coordinating movement of vehicles on Lagos roads, just as he appealed to motorists to continue to be orderly and obey traffic officers.

    ”LASTMA officials and police shouldn’t stop the enforcement of the laws; they should ensure that they use best practices in the discharge of their duties.  We should all remember that the government is doing everything to ensure that issue of traffic is addressed, so we must cooperate with government in order to achieve this,” he added.

     

  • Lawmaker visits IDPs

    Lawmaker visits IDPs

    The Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yusuff  Lasun has visited some Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), asking them what their needs were and presenting them with some food items.

    The lawmaker’s unannounced visit coincided with his birthday.

    An associate of his said, “Given his philosophy that birthdays should not be about overt celebrations, but a time to feel the pulse of the less privileged, Lasun chose the occasion of his birthday to make a difference in the life of the people no matter how little his gesture. This time he chose to visit the IDP camp without notice just to make them know that they weren’t forgoten.

    “The Deputy Speaker was abreast of the incalculable damage the misguided Boko Haram terrorists have visited on the innocent and law abiding citizens of the Northeast in particular. To show sense of empathy and responsibility, he decided that these down trodden people should be visited,” the associate who pleaded not to be named said.

    Lasun’s visit to the IDP camp was very revealing because it afforded him firsthand knowledge of the level of untold hardship that has been the lot of these Nigerians. The visit also gave him an opportunity to know that the displaced persons are craving for a quick return to their original habitats destroyed by callous Boko Haram insurgents.

    At the camp, the deputy speaker displayed his leadership qualities with a heart-to-heart discussion with the people, trying to find out first hand, their living condition and what they as citizens would want the government to do for them. He asked them of their needs in the short run, that can make them feel that they are part of the country and that Federal government has not forgotten them. By the time he was through, it was a sober and reflective Deputy Speaker, who promised to make a repeat visit to the camp with a view to addressing some of the fundamental problems confronting the people and also improve their standard of living.

    Statistics made available by the Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre put the current figure at 1,538,982 which comprised of people temporarily living in camps and shelters provided spread across Borno, Gombe, Nasarawa, Adamawa and Federal capital territory among others. The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara however put the figure at five million. The internally displaced persons who are mostly women and children still find it difficult to live normal lives despite efforts of government in times past with major problems confronting them including  insufficient educational facilities, lack of means of livelihood to sustain them and need for adequate health facilities. Although Government in April established 10 temporary primary schools at IDP camps in Borno while the United Nations Children’s Fund  (UNICEF) has so far provided educational support for no less than 29,397 children. Though several  other  Non-Governmental Agencies (NGO) and individuals have also extended support to the IDPs but much still needs to be done to help the Children catch up with their Education. The present administration of President Mohammadu Buhari is however not relenting in making sure that the Boko Haram menace is brought to an end with  the displaced people resettlled to their various communities and states.

    These efforts may have prompted Lasun into  reiterating  Government’s determination to end any form of terrorism in the country. In his personal and  official capacity, the Deputy Speaker donated relief materials to the IDPs as parts of activities marking his 55th Birthday, while promising that the Government will leave no stone unturned to bring the ugly situation the IDP’s found themselves‘ to an end. He was particularly concerned about the education of the young Nigerians in the camps looking at the adverse consequences on the country if the children would be forced to lose two to four years without education. Though the viait was meant to mark his birthday and donate what he has to them, Lasun however promised-”I would want to make another visit here to see what are those things we can do to make your stay here comfortable, but the most important thing is to have peace up there so that you people can go back home particularly because it’s not good to be displaced and it’s not good to be affected by war. We only pray to Allah that God in his infinite mercies would protect all of us and will touch the hearts of those people who are perpetrating this ungodly act. As a  Legislator, I affirm my readiness to work with the House of Representatives in advising the Executive arm of Government on the way forward especially the education of the displaced children. I am here today to give you hope that Federal Government is trying very hard to bring Boko Haram terrorism to an end and to make sure that  as Nigerians we know that you are here and we know that we are going to continually strive to see how we can solve this problems. I want to identify with internally displaced people and that is why I have choosen this place to come and at least spend some time with you and extend a hand of fellowship an give a token out of what of God has given me. We would still come back here as legislators to see what we can do and in terms of advising the executive arm of government on the way to move forward particularly on the issue of IDP and particularly on the issue of Education. Education is important because if people have to stay a long time without going to school it means a lot to the future of Nigeria. These children are our future and even the fathers and the mothers that are here too, they are no longer working and they are no longer being able to provide for the families.

    “I know government is at it and they are working at it very relentlessly and I know sooner than later all these problems will come to an end. I will only enjoin you to continuously talk to people so that they would have peace of mind to show them that we are not leaving them behind and that we are not going to neglect them”.

    Part of the materials donated included food and other household items. The excited crowd was all grateful as the Deputy Speaker and his friends made their exit from the camp.

     

  • Lawmaker cheers up inmates, needy kids

    Lawmaker cheers up inmates, needy kids

    A member of the House of Representatives, Ossy Prestige, has lifted the spirits of prisoners and motherless babies, reports SUNNY NWANKWO

    A member of the House of Representatives Hon Ossy Prestige (Aba North and South) has given the restricted and the needy what they probably need most: love and care.

    He visited the Joy-Rita Motherless Babies Home along Aba-Owerri road, Abayi, Aba as well as  the Aba Prisons.

    From the prisons he went to Seventh Day Adventist Motherless, then to Father Basil Motherless Babies and then to Nwamaka Maternity and Motherless Babies Home Aba.

    The lawmaker and his team spent some time with various inmates and also would not leave any place he visited without donating toiletries, baby diapers, beverages, bags of rice and garri, among others, including cash to support the inmates.

    The lawmaker after being received by the Deputy Comptroller of Aba Prisons, DCP Stephen Ugbah was taken round the facility where he inspected their classrooms, skills acquisition workshops; carpentry section, laundry, sewing and barbing saloon rooms.

    Prestige who was apparently touched by the plight and infrastructural decay including challenges of accommodation for the inmates and prison officials promised to take up some of the challenges of the corrective home which would be presented on the floor of the House of Representatives as soon as they reconvene for urgent attention to be taken.

    The lawmaker who is also a Rotarian on discovering that the many of the inmates were on awaiting trial because they don’t have money to hire lawyers to pursue their cases in various courts said he was going to establish a free legal aids unit in his constituency office in Aba where he would engage the services of qualified lawyers to render free legal support for people who cannot afford fees for such services.

    “Aba is a place where law enforcement officers will bribe their ways to come and work and when they arrive, they employ all manner of intimidation and harassment of the people in order to make money. This will stop.

    “Already, I have started linking up with Amnesty International to find out ways they will help the people in this direction so that within the next one year, Aba will be a city where no one will be insulted or victimised for no just reason”, Prestige stated.

    While presenting the gift items and cash to DCP Ugbah, Prestige said he was making the donation so that the inmates of the place would join other Nigerians in celebrating the country’s 55th Independence anniversary and promised to make his visit to the prisons a yearly exercise until he leaves office as Aba North and South representative.

    The politician cum business mogul urging the Aba Prisons inmates to remain prayerful and steadfast, however promise to assist some of the inmates to offset their fines to enable them reunite with members of their families.

    In his response, Aba Prisons Deputy Comptroller, Ugbah disclosed that after 1911 when the Aba Prisons was commissioned to harbor and serve as a deformation home for inmates of various criminal offences that apart from Senator Sani Shehu from Kaduna state who was incarcerated at the Prison by then General Sani Abacha’s regime after his freedom, Hon. Prestige was the first politician in the southeast and Abia Lawmaker to visit the corrective center and lamented that if not for the assistance coming from various Non-Governmental Organizations (NGO’s), Churches and corporate organizations who frequently donates to the Prisons, the place could have been closed down.

    Ugbah informed the lawmaker that a primary and secondary school including other vocational workshops were setup within the Prison yard to help in educating and developing the knowledge of the inmates while undergoing rehabilitation process and to also as to equip them with the right skills of becoming useful and law abiding citizens when they would have served out their term and ready to reintegrate back to the society.

    He urged the lawmaker to always remember them in his day to day activities at the National Assembly even as he prayed God to guide and protect the lawmaker and challenged other politicians in the state to emulate the gestures of Prestige.

     

  • Lawmaker hails Ambode over commissioner slots for Badagry

    Lawmaker hails Ambode over commissioner slots for Badagry

    A head of the confirmation of commissioner nominees in Lagos State, the lawmaker representing Badagry II Setonji David has praised Governor Akinwunmi Ambode for allocating two slots to the Badagry zone.

    Setonji said the governor’s action was a clear testimony that he means well for Badagry, which according to him, has suffered unimaginable neglect in terms in infrastructure and political patronage.

    He added that Ambode’s action has shown he was ready to give the zone, which is a gateway to the country’s western axis, a facelift in terms of provision of social amenities and human development. The lawmaker added that Badagry deserves such recognition and attention because it has become a prominently All Progressives Congress (APC) area.

    He said: “Badagry is an APC zone, the party won all the seats from the House of Assembly to the National Assembly levels to the zone. This is big credit to the area; it shows that Badagry people are ready to work with the government at both the state and federal levels to ensure better governance.”

    Setonji however called for more recognition of the zone through the appointment of more indigenes into state and federal boards as well as ambassadorial positions.

    He said the zone was awash with credible and talented professionals who have excelled in various fields of human endeavour, and are very qualified to occupy exalted positions.

    Setonji promised to continue to work relentlessly with the executive arm to ensure that Badagry gets a better deal in terms of infrastructure and human capital development

     

     

     

  • Edo lawmaker to companies: adopt Corporate Social Responsibilities

    The lawmaker representing Ikpoba-Okha/Egor Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Hon Ehiozuwa Agbonnayima, has urged multinational companies operating in his constituency to do more for their host communities.

    Ehiozuwa spoke after he visited Ward Nine, Ologbo community in Ikpoba-Okha Local Government, to see the abandoned health care facilities built by an oil firm, Pan Ocean.

    Ehiozuwa was peeved to learn that the health centre was built and inaugurated in October, 2014 but has since remained under lock and key.

    The lawmaker had earlier visited the oil firm and Guinness Nigeria Plc to urge them to be alive to their Corporate Social Responsibilities when he was told about the now abandoned health centre.

    At the health centre, some community members said they requested for the health centre at Imasabor quarters of Ologbo as the Itsekiri and Idologbo quarters already has an health centre each.

    They however said one doctor is available in one of the health centre.

    The abandoned health centre, according to the community members, is equipped  with modern medical facilities with a stand-by generator and a borehole.

    A large part of the centre has been overtaken by weeds.

    Mr. Actor Osakpolor, who spoke on behalf of the community, said the health centre was closed because no medical personnel was available.

    According to him,  “It was built and commissioned years back. There are some equipment there but some professionals said the equipment are not complete. We don’t have doctors and nurses on ground.

    “We have two other health centres but there is only one doctor in one of them while at the other one, there are only nurses.  We have not been using it because there are no doctors. Pan Ocean has more than 20 oil wells in this community.”

    Eziozuwa promised to visit the Edo State Government to ascertain why the health centre was not put to use said he would encourage investors to invest in his constituency so that the people could be employed.

    His words, “It is not to discourage those already here. I went there to tell them about things to be done and to know how many people that they have employed, especially as it concerns their CSR.”

    “Some of the equipment at the health centre are not in other big hospitals. It was well furnished and now it is laying down fallow. If Pan Ocean could build a health care centre and the people are now being denied it means they have done enough but I want them to do more.”

    “What is important is for me to visit the State Goevrnor to know what happened and what are the problems, why there are no doctor and nurses. Grass have taken over the beautiful healthcare centre.”

    Speaking on his visit to Guiness, Hon Ehiozuwa said he discovered that the firm was serious in carrying the community along.

    “I challenged them on Western Boys football field. Guinness has a football team that make use of the field for training. They have not anything to improve on the field. I told them I want to see improvement in the school that is just opposite them.”

    “They showed me schools that they have renovated and a road they constructed. I appealed to them to build the bridge across the river to link Upper Sakponba. They have agreed with me to partner on the bridge but it would be done stage by stage. Other companies should do something, we have a lot of churches and mosques. They should do something in their immediate society.”

     

  • How my police father, disabled mum shaped my life , by Edo lawmaker

    How my police father, disabled mum shaped my life , by Edo lawmaker

     Hon Osaigbovo Iyoha is a first-time lawmaker in the Edo States House of Assembly. He won election on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to represent Oredo East Constituency. In this interview with Osagie Otabor, the lawmaker reveals how the determination to succeed, in spite of his humble background, spurred his efforts.

    How do you combine business with politics?

    It is not easy. It is only in Nigeria and in some other countries that politics has become a full time job. It is bad for it to be so. Ask somebody here who he is, he will tell you, I am a politician. I think politics should be part-time. We should make politics less attractive. That is what drives stealing and other vices. It will make people to know that public service is an avenue to serve. People should have time for their business as well as being involved actively in politics.

    What was your growing up like?

    It was not easy growing up. I was not born with a silver spoon. I am the son of a policeman and a disabled tailor. They did their best to make sure I had a good education. I grew up in Benin City. I sold things on Lagos Street to survive. A lot of people had it more difficult than I did. It was not bread and butter always. My parents had to bend their backs to ensure I got educated. The secondary school I went to, the Immaculate Conception College, was one of the best in old Bendel State. For me to get admission into ICC then, being from a modest background, means my parents meant well.

    How did you make the breakthrough in business?

    As every young man, while in secondary school, you aspire to be a doctor, lawyer or an engineer. I attended former Edo State University now Ambrose Alli University. I actually wanted to be an Electrical Engineer but I was given Mechanical Engineer. At that time, we were under the illusion that after school, jobs would be waiting for us. Growing up in a difficult time, I knew that I had to find a way to survive.

    After completing my National Youth Service Corps, I went to live with my sister in Lagos. Luckily, I was around where real estate was growing – the Badagry area real estate was growing. I became an agent and turned into a super-agent. I moved to Ajah axis where they call the fastest growing real estate area in Africa and I became a broker for most of the communities. That was what we did for 10 years. In 2007, we moved to Bayelsa. The attraction was real estate. But after three years, I was lucky to be close to people through which we started doing construction jobs. It was from there I moved into politics.

    How did you feel when you made your first millions?

    I am not a millionaire, but the reward for hard work is success. You will realise that some people work harder than you but they have not been fortunate. It is only through God we can achieve more. Making money is like arithmetic; when you are able to be at the right place at the right time and take it when opportunities call. When you project and work towards your dream, you will get there. You also need to be truthful. Morally, I was taught to be modest by my parents. No matter what happens, nobody knows tomorrow. When I look at my background compared to where I am now, I never believed it. If you have the desire and energy to work at something, make sure you have every time and not taken by the vices. Once you keep the focus, you will achieve your goals.

    What pushed you to run for political office?

    I have been a private businessman all the while. I got interested in politics because of what Oshiomhole said the day he declared to run for governorship. He said governance is a serious business that should not be left for mediocre. That was where the drive came from. We needed to start building the system and to make good laws. That was the drive and I believed (that) I have a lot of goodwill.

    How has it been this past three months?

    It has been a very interesting time at the Assembly. We are learning on the job. We are not a rich state. We are doing something but you know we are barely three months in office.

    Do you think your party will make headway in 2016?

    What you sow is what you reap. If you ask people on the streets and market women they will tell you the difference between the PDP and APC. I was surprised people were congratulating Jonathan for conceding defeat. He did not have a choice because the people wanted change. The thing is to impact on the people because the day of reckoning will come. I always tell people they should vote us out if we do not perform. The only reason people voted APC was when they compared what APC governors were doing in Lagos and Edo to other PDP controlled states, they saw the difference.

    Go to Delta State, you will not believe it is an oil rich state. Go to PDP states, they have not done anything. We have the momentum in APC. It is no longer business as usual in this country because a new sheriff is in town. Everything in this country was programmed to fail because certain individuals want to reap from the system before it collapses. We will not lose focus on what we have for the people. Very soon, everything is going to fall in place. The problem we have in this country is corruption but things have started falling into place. There is improvement in power. Policemen now conduct themselves a little better. I travelled and was surprised to see a new immigration service at work. Where several immigration officers used to stay, you find only two and there was no queue. I was initially worried. We got in the baggage room and all the baggage were ready. Before now, you will wait for two hours and be asked series of questions just to be extorted. Things are falling into place in this country.

    What is view on the search for Oshiomhole’s successor by Dr. Ogbemudia?

    Only the people have the power to install a successor. When he finds his successor, we are still going to determined who to succeed Oshiomhole.

     

     

  • Accountant, lawmaker among Hajj victims

    Accountant, lawmaker among Hajj victims

    •President orders census of Nigerians

    President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday ordered the National Hajj Commission (NAHCON) and the Nigerian Embassy in Saudi Arabia to urgently account for all Nigerian pilgrims in the aftermath of last Thursday’s disaster at Mina.

    The presidential directive followed conflicting reports on the number of Nigerians who died or got injured in the catastrophe, which claimed 769 lives as at the last count.

    The Hajj Commission on Sunday night said 54 Nigerians had been confirmed dead. But many others are still missing.

    It emerged yesterday that more high profile persons died in the stampede, with the announcement that Niger State lost its Accountant General, Alhaji Shehu Kontagora. A member of the Katsina State House of Assembly, Mr. Faisal Musa, also died.

    A statement by the Senior Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu, said the president was very concerned that days after the unfortunate incident, some Nigerian families are still grappling with painful uncertainty over the fate of their relatives who travelled to Saudi Arabia for this year’s Hajj.

    He expected the National Hajj Commission to work with the various state pilgrim boards, Islamic organisations and private travel agencies involved in hajj operations to speedily provide a confirmed and verifiable report on the status of every Nigerian pilgrim in Saudi Arabia.

    The President also directed the Hajj Commission, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Nigerian Embassy in Saudi Arabia to assist Nigerians who are still receiving treatment for injuries suffered in Mina.

    Katsina State Governor Bello Masari yesterday condoled with the family of Faisal Musa,the state lawmaker who died in the Makkah stampede. The deceased represented Jibia Constituency.

    Masari, who visited the deceased’s family in Jibia in company of the Deputy Governor,, Alhaji Mannir Yakubu, prayed Allah to forgive his sins and grant him eternal rest.

    He also prayed for the family to have the fortitude to bear the loss.

    The governor said that the government had directed the Pilgrims Welfare Board to get the exact number of Katsina citizens who were affected by the incident.

    Apart from the accountant general, the Niger State Deputy Amirul Hajj (leader of delegation), Mr. Abubakar Isa, also died in the tradedy.

    The news was received from Mecca on Sunday evening.

    When The Nation visited the Niger State Pilgrims Welfare Commission in Minna, an official said they were yet to ascertain the number of people missing. He said the figure was not less than 10.

    Niger State Acting Governor Mohammed Ketso has also visited the families of the deceased to commiserate with them.

    The fidau prayer (prayers offered for the repose of the departed by Muslims) was held for Isa in Bida town yesterday, with members of his family, friends and relations in attendance.

    President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Zainab Bulkachuwa has expressed shock on the death of two justices of the court in the stampede.

    A statement signed by Mrs Sa’adatu Musa, Media and Publicity Officer, Court of Appeal, listed the dead justices as  Abubakar Jega and M.H. Alkali of Abuja and Ilorin divisions.

    It said the President described their sudden passage as “huge losses not only to the judiciary but to the entire country’’.

    Justice Bulkachuwa said the two justices had never been found wanting in the discharge of their responsibilities, adding that they were highly principled on the bench.

    “Justice Zainab on behalf of the justices and the entire staff of the Court of Appeal prayed Almighty Allah to grant the souls of the departed jurists Aljannah Firdausi.

    “She also prayed that God should grant their families the fortitude to bear the irreparable losses,’’ the statement said.

    Also yesterday, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) called for a thorough investigation into the two major incidents that led to fatalities during the 2015 Hajj in Saudi Arabia.

    NLC President Ayuba Wabba, commiserating with the families of the 767 Muslim faithful who died in a stampede on the way to Jamrat Complex (stoning site) in Mina, said:

    “In order for transparency and re-assurance, we urge that countries whose citizens perished in the two incidents be made members of the body of inquiry.

    “But, most importantly, perhaps, time has come for the Saudi authorities to review their crowd control management techniques and administration of the Hajj generally.

    “Our special condolences go to the families and loved ones of 54 Nigerians who were among the dead. We pray for the repose and admission of their souls to heaven.

    “As painful as this incident is, we believe it is predestined. Accordingly, the victims should be seen as martyrs who gave up their lives in worship,” Wabba said in the statement.

    He advised that the 805 injured among whom were 61 Nigerians, be given urgent and best medical attention.

    He acknowledged that managing a mammoth crowd, sometimes in excess of two million people during every annual pilgrimage was no mean task, for which the Saudi authorities deserve commendation.

    The NLC President, however, noted with over 1,200 deaths, including those who died in the crane collapse, the 2015 Hajj ranked among the most eventful in recorded history of Hajj.

    “We are shocked and completely at a loss by the extent of the losses this year.

    “That is why we are calling for a thorough investigation of the two major incidents that led to these deaths, ” Wabba added.