The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Lawmaker

  • ‘Chairman disowns’ lawmaker

    ‘Chairman disowns’ lawmaker

    A factional chairman of the Labour Party (LP) in Oyo State, Adeola Adepoju, yesterday “disowned” the lawmaker-elect representing Ogbomoso North/Ogbomoso South and Oriire federal constituency, Segun Ogunwuyi.

    Adepoju, at a briefing in Ibadan, said his party “disowned” Ogunwuyi because he was not duly nominated to vie for the position, having allegedly not resigned his membership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), prior to contesting under the LP.

    “It is bizarre and it is only in a ‘Banana Republic’ that a person would not join a party properly and he would be parading himself as a member, and candidate of a party.”

  • Accreditation: Lawmaker applauds INEC

    Accreditation: Lawmaker applauds INEC

    All Progressives Congress (APC) Lagos State House of Assembly candidate, Honourable Olarenwaju Layode has applauded the ongoing accreditation exercise in Badagry, describing it as an improvement on the March 28 elections.

    The lawmaker, who is seeking another term to represent Badagry Constituency 1 said, “It has been okay today compared to what happened in the last election.

    “The process is now part of our people and I can assure you that there would not be any problem. I have spoken with my colleagues across the area and the responses have been very commendable.

    “The INEC officials came early with the ballot papers unlike in the last election where the people had to wait after accreditation for the ballot papers to be brought,” he said.

    Layode predicted that Alhaja Safurat Layode Abdukareem, his sister and running mate to People’s
    Democratic Party’s governorship candidate, Jimi Agbaje, would soon defect to the APC.

    The lawmaker, who is seeking another term, said the family has always belonged to progressive parties; adding “My sister would soon quit the PDP to join the progressive party, APC. She lost gallantly here during the presidential election and would equally lose woefully today.

    “Our family has always belonged to progressive parties but I guess she joined the PDP because of marriage. She would soon return to where she truly belongs.”

    Speaking after being accredited, Alhaja Safurat Abdukareem noted that being in a different political party from his brother should not bring about any quarrel, adding:” In my family, we were all given the
    freedom to belong to  wherever we want, so, there shouldn’t be any reason to fight. We are one family.”

    Assessing the accreditation exercise, she said: “There is a remarkable improvement in the exercise today. They have designed ways to get the people accredited with ease and it is good to see that the people came out in large number.”

    The accreditation exercise commenced at exactly 8am across the area as electoral officers and security agents arrived few minutes after 7am with soldiers mounting road blocks at strategic points.

    The electorate also acknowledged that there is an improvement on the performance of the Card Reader machines being used for the accreditation.

    One of them, Hon Nasiru Abdugafar, said: “We are satisfied with how the Card Reader has worked today. The accreditation has been very smooth and fast but it could have been better if we were allowed to vote immediately. The implication of not doing so is that many people will go home and may not have the energy to come back again.”

  • Bayelsa loses lawmaker

    A member of the Bayelsa State House of Assembly, Mr. Obedient Emoto, is dead.

    He was aged 59

    Emoto who represented Ogbia Constituency II in Ogbia Local Government Area died on Tuesday at a hospital in Port-Harcourt, Rivers State, following health complications.

    His friend of 20 years and former acting Governor of the state, Chief Nestor Binabo, confirmed the development describing his death as tragic and devastating.

    The late lawmaker who was elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) lost a second term ticket in controversial circumstances last year.

    Some of his constituents described him as a selfless and honest lawmaker while others referred to him as a man of outstanding integrity.

    His friends also said the late lawmaker who hailed from Ologi community in Ogbia, had outstanding leadership qualities.

  • Lawmaker dedicates victory to Buhari, Jonathan, Jega, Tinubu

    Lawmaker dedicates victory to Buhari, Jonathan, Jega, Tinubu

    A member of the House of Representatives and former governorship candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the June 21, 2014 election in Ekiti State, Hon. Opeyemi Bamidele, has congratulated the President-elect Gen. Muhammadu Buhari over his landslide victory in last Saturday’s presidential elections.

    In a press release made available to The Nation, Hon. Bamidele described it as “a brilliant outing by Nigerians whose determination to liberate themselves from the untold hardship and sheer misrule that characterized the 16 years of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) hegemony in Nigeria is worthy of celebration.”

    Bamidele, who returned back to the All Progressives Congress Congress (APC) as the campaign for the elections got underway, called on the President-elect to regard the victory as a God-given opportunity to provide a most unique and transformative leadership to the nation. He added that Gen. Buhari should not renege on his promise to ensure a zero level of tolerance for corruption and to commit himself to the security and welfare of Nigerians on assumption of office. The lawmaker said, otherwise, the efforts of all lovers of democracy at home and abroad to support his bid for the presidency will be in vain.

    He said: “In the same vein, I urge Gen. Buhari neither to allow himself to be distracted nor dissipate so much energy in probing past leaders and administrations, but rather encourage those who have looted public treasury to re-invest such money in the local economy with a view to generating more opportunities for massive employment and financial stability.

    “His most urgent assignment must be to concentrate on the critical need to assemble a highly professional and resourceful economic team that has the capacity to rescue the nation’s economy from the doldrums within a reasonable space of time, as the poverty condition among the people of this country is no more tolerable and requires an urgent intervention. He needs this crack economic team to complement his strict leadership posturing in order to move the nation forward.

    Bamidele also congratulated President Goodluck Jonathan for his spirit of sportsmanship. “He has demonstrated that he has the spirit of a good sportsman and has acted in the interest of peace, progress and unity of our dear nation. The issue at stake is beyond Gen. Buhari and President Jonathan as it is essentially about the sustainability of our democracy as a nation and the need for us to demonstrate to the rest of the world that Nigeria has come of age and has set her foot on the right path in terms of commitment to global best democratic practice standard.”

    He described the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Attahiru Jega, and the National Leader of the APC Asiwaju Bola Tinubu as men who would go down in history as defenders of democracy. He said Prof. Jega is a man whose integrity and strength of character “became the blood and tonic that sustained the electoral process.”

    He also described Asiwaju Tinubu as the foremost opposition leader whose selfless and resourceful efforts gave rise to the new Nigeria everyone is celebrating today. He added: “Tinubu was once referred to as ‘the last man standing’ when he was the only surviving governor following the so-called ‘electoral tsunami’ that swept away his counterparts in the Southwest geo-political region in the 2003 general elections.

    “Tinubu did not only leave progressive legacies of socio-economic transformation in Lagos State, but went back to the trenches to rescue the rest of the Southwest region from the PDP between 2003 and 2011 in a tumultuous legal and political battle of heroic dimension.”

  • Lawmaker promises to complement his achievement

    Lawmaker promises to complement his achievement

    A newly re-elected  member of House of Representatives Hon. Abiodun Awoleye has promised to consolidate on his past achievements as he returns to the National Assembly.

    Hon. Awoleye, a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC)representing Ibadan North Federal Constituency made this known when he visited some political stalwarts, elders, community and religious leaders in his constituency to thank them for their support.

    Giving a breakdown of some of his achievements since became a member of the House of Representatives, Awoleye said he had facilitated many people-oriented projects as well as empowered over 3,000 constituents including youths, sportsmen, widows, women, artisans and traders,as against the 2,500 that he promised.

    He noted that his desire to make the students of the area compete favourably with their counterparts across the world was the rationale behind the commissioning of a N25 million ICT Centre at Anglican Commercial Grammar School, Total Garden Ibadan. The Centre is equipped with 25 desktop computers, full internet facility, generator and other ICT equipments.

    Awoleye advised the students and other beneficiaries of his other people-oriented the projects to make wise use of them as he  urged Nigerian youths to engage in activities that will promote them rather than engaging in acts that will put them in bad light.

    “Nigerians, most especially the youth should shun violence, thuggery and any other acts of social vices that may hinder free and fair elections, this is necessary because all eyes are on us, the international community is looking at us to conduct free and fair elections”

    The lawmaker who had earlier made donations of 111 laptop computers to The Polytechnic Ibadan in 2013,and  facilitated 104 computers to Oba Akinyele Memorial Grammar School, Bashorun,promised that similar projects would soon be commissioned for the use of the University of Ibadan Community, Cheshire High School Sango and St Lious Grammar School all within Ibadan North Federal Constituency.

    He noted that he had empowered many youths through a vocation centre, Hon. Awoleye Technical and Vocation Educational Centre which has trained over 200 youths in various vocations.

    While soliciting the support of his constituents for APC candidates in the April 11 elections,Awoleye urged the people to always do a follow up on their representatives through correspondences, saying this will help the representative to know what the people want.

    He noted that his doors are always open for the electorate to interact with him and respond to their requests.

    “I am your representative, you should be inviting us to your programs, send correspondences, that is why I opened two constituency offices to attend to the requests of you, the electorate. We are your representatives and you should be sending letters and meeting us to know what you need and how we will be able to respond to them.

    “The youths that constitute majority of the electorate should not allow themselves to be used by desperate politicians, they should

    engage in acts what will improve their welfare not those that will puttheir names in bad light”

    According to him, “ In my bid to improve the lives of the youth in my area, I have successfully hosted the 6th edition of my football

    competition, I have established a football club, PacesetterInternational Football Club and I have trained many youths in various vocation through HATAVEC, I urged the youth to make wise use of these opportunities and not to disrupt the peace of the society through thuggery, violence and hooliganism”.

    “The students of this school where we are commissioning the ICT centre are advised to make wise use of the centre to improve on their ICT knowledge as this will help them to compete favorably with their counterparts across the world.

    “I am of the opinion that this ICT centre will improve their knowledge of computer and its technical know-how, it will expose them to various computer programs that will enhance their skills and knowledge”

    “The people in the areas where Primary health centre, security post,transformers and boreholes are cited are also advised to guide these projects well and make wise use of the projects in order to improve their living condition.”He said.

  • Police arrest ex-Delta lawmaker

    The Delta State police command has arrested a former member of the House of Representatives, Napoleon Gbinije, for allegedly tearing election results sheet.

    Gbinije, who represented Okpe, Uvwie and Sapele between 1999 and 2003, contested for the same seat in last Saturday’s elections on the platform of the Labour Party (LP).

    It was gathered that Gbinije, not satisfied with the results from his constituency, grabbed the results sheet and tore it.

    Although he reportedly escaped from the scene, he was later apprehended and now being held by the police.

    Command spokesman Celestina Kalu said Gbinije was in custody for committing an electoral crime.

    “Is it not that politician, who tore result sheet? He is still with us. You know that is a serious offence”, she said.

    She said the offence was bailable but she was not sure that could happen yesterday.

     

     

     

  • Lawmaker thanks God

    THE winner of the Saturday’s National Assembly election in Ibadan North, Abiodun Dada Awoleye, has dedicated his victory to God and the people.
    Awoleye thanked various political stalwarts, groups, associations, traders, traders, youths and others who contributed towards his re-election.
    The lawmaker, who contested the election on the platform of All Progressives Congress (APC), scored 34, 347 to defeat his closest rival with 14,029.
    He said:“I urge the people to vote for Governor Abiola Ajimobi and other APC candidates, including Mrs. Bolanle Agbaje contesting Ibadan North 1 and Olusegun Olaleye (Ibadan North 2) in the April 11 elections.”

  • Lawmaker praises Tinubu

    Lawmaker praises Tinubu

    The national leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has been  described as a political oracle.

    The APC candidate for the Lagos State House of Assembly, Alimosho 01, Adebisi Abdul’ Raman Yusuf, said Tinubu had predicted the nation’s political situation.

    “I give kudos to our amiable leader for his foresight in Nigerian politics. He sees ahead of others and works immediately to achieve his goals, carrying everybody along.

    “He is an oracle personified because whatever steps he takes are in the right direction and they always come into manifestation. See how the emergence of Buhari as our presidential candidate has continued to set the camp of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on fire.”

  • Tinapa owing N79b, says Cross River lawmaker

    The Tinapa Project, initiated by former Cross River State Governor Donald Duke, left a N79 billion debt for the Liyel Imoke administration, the Chairman of the House of Assembly Committee on Finance and Appropriation, Dr Jake Otu Enya, said at the weekend.

    Enya addressed reporters after various ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) defended their budgets before the Assembly.

    The lawmaker said the Tinapa debt was just one of several inherited by the former administration.

    He said the financial problems faced by the government today were because of the huge debts it inherited.

    Although Enya did not give a figure on how much the state owed, he said it was within manageable limits.

    He said: “The debt profile of Cross River State did not start from today. We inherited from the former government. I was the chairman of the panel set up by this House to investigate the activities of Tinapa. I went into it for two to three months and presented a report before this House. We know the level of indebtedness as at when the last administration left office. Most of the financial problems we have today are the result of that indebtedness of about N79 billion as at then for Tinapa alone.

    “We had other debts, which were deducted at source from the Federation Account. We have the problem of Bakassi. All of you are living witnesses. We had a problem of the 76 oil wells that left Cross River. If not the instrumentality of the present administration it would be very difficult.

    “It is quite unfortunate that we are trying to see how best to bring in the best financial management policy that will actually reposition Cross River State for the interest of all. People will not even ask how Cross River State government is paying salaries but they are very anxious to know why the state is owing salaries for one month or two as the case may be.”

  • Lawmaker urges youths to emulate Ajimobi

    A member of the Oyo state House of Assembly Hon Olusegun Olaleye has urged the youth to emulate the doggedness and commitment of the Oyo State Governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, towards repositioning the state.

    He said governor Ajimobi has improved the living standard of the masses especially the youth since he came on board adding that Ajimobi has proved to be the change Oyo state people have been clamouring for before 2011.

    The lawmaker who spoke during the presentation of empowerment items to youths in the Abadina area of the University of Ibadan boasted that he was a product of the university as well as the Abadina community.

    He donated gas cookers, home theatres, refrigerators’, grading machines, cash, cobblers machine among other gadget to the people.

    He said he was happy for the support of the youth who believed in him and mobilised for him during the last election. He urged them to do the same in the 2015 election.

    Olaleye who highlighted the achievement of the governor in the state implored the people to believe in the transformation and policies of the state government adding that they will enjoy more dividend of democracy beyond the 2015 if they voted for the governor in the forthcoming general elections.

    “I want you people to emulate Governor Abiola Ajimobi for what he stands for. He has proved to be the change we are looking for prior to the 2011 general election. Ajimobi believes so much in the youth and he has contributed to the development of the state. I am very happy with the way you supported me and I want you to keep supporting us. You believe in our ideology and we appreciate you for that.”

    Reacting the president of the caretaker committee of the Abadina residents association Mr. Monday Okpokuru appreciated the gesture of the lawmaker and urged him to continue getting back to his community. He said the lawmaker has distinguished himself from other youths who began their lives from the Abadina and prayed that he will get relected in 2015 elections. “you are a good ambassador of this area and we are proud of you” he noted.

    The youth leader Mr. Emeka Aliba who appreciated the lawmaker on behalf of the entire youths said they were happy for the generosity of the lawmaker and assured him of the total support of the area. He said the youth were happy for having the lawmaker who happened to be one of them in the House of Assembly. He confirmed that Olaleye has came to their rescue many times. “He is our brother and mentor. He has proved to be a leader with the way he has been dealing with us. I am now assuring him of our total support in the forthcoming elections” he assured.