The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Lawmaker

  • Lawmaker to Sanwo-Olu: Be focused

    The Chief Whip of Lagos State House of Assembly, Rotimi Abiru, has urged Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to prioritise the needs of Lagosians within the available resources.

    This, according to the lawmaker, will make the people feel the impact of government.

    Abiru, who represents Shomolu Constituency Two at the Lagos Assembly, made the call on a live television programme in Ikeja.

    The lawmaker said: “Meeting the demands of Lagos state residents is challenging due to the growing population of the state.”

    He aaded: “Lagos is the microcosm of the nation where all tribes or even families are represented”  the lawmaker emphasised.

    Abiru appealed to Sanwo-Olu to implement of the outcome of town hall meetings to be organised by the Lagos Assembly in the constituencies in Lagos state.

    He stressed that the constituencies’ town hall meetings was initiated by the leadership of the House of Assembly to get the feedback of people the lawmakers represent.

    Abiru called on Lagosians to support the government by paying their taxes, dispose their refuse properly and obey traffic rules among other civic obligations.

  • Why insecurity persists, by lawmaker

    The lawmaker representing Wurno/Rabah Constituency in the House of Representatives, Al-Mustapha Ibrahim, has called for the overhauling of the security apparatus to halt insecurity.

    Ibrahim, who was elected on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), said Nigerians must embrace the spirit of nationalism and patriotism in the fight against insecurity. He said corruption is also a major factor responsible for the ills in the country.

    The lawmaker said the current security operational system was below standard and not proportional to the growing population.

    He said: “They are overstretched and faced with training and capacity issues to tame security challenges. The  recruitment process is faulty, as occasioned by gross incompetence with criminals finding their ways into the police force.”

    Ibrahim, who spoke with reporters in Sokoto, pointed out that governmental failure at all levels,   population explosion, deficit in schools facilities and social amenities were catalyst to insecurity.

    He said: “Government has to redefine its population management capacity and provide basic infrastructure. These are things we could not get right at the beginning. We have taken a bold step and approach through motions to ensure the needful is done to bring an end to it. When we resume session, these would be tackled.”

    Ibrahim, who is also the deputy House Committee Chairman on Urban Development and Rural Planning, stressed that “ government has to take responsibility”.

    He said though the country is not ripe for a state police, “there is a need for responsive community policing approach”, to check the activities of bandits in Rabah, Goronyo, Isah , Sabon  Birni, among other areas in Sokoto.

    Ibrahim added: “If it becomes necessary, the Sokoto State Government should negotiate with the bandits, as being done in Zamfara State, to bring lasting peace and end to the attacks. Everyone has to take responsibility from the community level to the top and Nigerians should know that no leader will want to be associated with failure.”

     

     

     

  • Lawmaker, others charge media practitioners on good governance

    Former Senior Special Adviser to President Muhammadu Buhari on National Assembly Matters (House of Representatives), Hon. Abdulraman Kawu Sumaila on Saturday charged journalists to remain committed to nation building, describing them as projectors of good governance and egalitarian society. Kawu who is member of House of Representatives-elect to represent Kawu/Sumaila Federal Constituency, reminded members of the fourth estate of the realm that they have a great role to play towards ensuring good governance and sustainable democracy.

    The lawmaker spoke while chairing the swearing-in and inauguration ceremony of the newly elected executive members of the Correspondent Chapel, Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Kano state chapter, held at Kano NUJ Press Centre. According to him, “you have a great role to play to ensure good governance. Our democracy will not strive without a vibrant media that is fair to all classes of the society. “Journalists are the true representation of the people. They connect the government and the governed.

     

  • Lawmaker advises public servants to impact lives with their office

    A member of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Hon. Olusegun Olulade has advised public office holders and those who find themselves in public office to be focused and affect lives before they leave their offices.

    Olulade, popularly known as ‘Eleniyan’ added that public office holders should be conscious of the fact that they would leave the office they are occupying one day.

    The lawmaker who will not be part of the 9th Assembly represents Epe 2 constituency at the Lagos State House of Assembly was speaking at a dinner he organised for members of the Lagos State House of Assembly Correspondents Association (LAHACA) at DRemembrant Hotel, Alausa Ikeja.

    The lawmaker pointed out that despite the fact that former governor of Lagos State, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu was no longer in office he is still relevant because he had invested in people.

    “Title would not take you far, what will take you far is your contribution and service to the people.To be in government is not just about being called a lawmaker, governor or president, one day, you will leave office.

    Olulade, who had served as the Chairman of the House Committee on Information and later House Committee on Health, revealed that he would continue with his ‘Eleniyan Care Foundation,’ to take care of people.

  • Lawmaker reiterates commitment to constituency, empowers physically challenged

    A House of Representatives member for Owo/Ose federal constituency, Dr Bode Ayorinde, has maintained that his concern is for the betterment of the people in the area. The lawmaker said whether in office or outside, his constituents would continue to benefit from his little resources, particularly the physically-challenged.

    Ayorinde said even though he lost his bid to return to the lower chamber of the national assembly for second term through alleged manipulation, he considered it very imperative to assist a vital section in his constituency. He distributed various empowerment facilities worth millions of naira.

    The legal practitioner said life continued after stressing that he would not challenge the outcome of the election at the tribunal. According to him, he must continue to do good for those people who voted for him to represent them at the national assembly since 2015.

    Ayorinde said: “There is the need for us after the election to go ahead and execute our zonal intervention projects. We renovated schools, we installed transformers in some communities and did some other projects for my people.”

    The founder of Achievers University, Owo, said, he would continue to touch the lives of the people in the constituency and beyond within his limited resources. The PDP chieftain said the empowerment programme was the first phase, noting that there are 400 physically disabled persons to benefit from the programme.

    According to him, the distribution will be in four batches to the beneficiaries as part of the dividends of democracy to his constituents. Some of the items distributed include wheel chairs, grinding and sewing machines and cash of N10,000 to each of the beneficiaries.

    Many beneficiaries hailed Ayorinde for his magnanimity, stressing that the empowerment scheme would relieve them of the economic hardship they are confronted with. They noted that the lawmaker had done a lot for the people in Owo/Ose federal constituency, which deserved commendation.

  • We are indebted to the electorate, says lawmaker

    The lawmaker representing Ajeromi-Ifelodun Constituency 2 in the House of Assembly, Fatai Oluwa, has said the state will experience progress beginning from May 29 when a new government is formed.

    Oluwa said both the legislative and the executive arms of the government would work to satisfy the people’s yearning.

    The lawmaker made the promise while thanking the electorate for their continued trust in the All Progressives Congress (APC) led government.

    This trust, he said, resulted in the party’s victory at the elections.

    Oluwa thanked the party’s national leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, for putting the APC on a sound, and praised Speaker of the House, Mudashiru Obasa, for remaining steadfast in making the legislature the envy of others in the country.

    He said: “We understand the people’s yearnings and we trust the Governor-elect, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, to maintain that standard of excellence that Lagos has become known for.

    “Under the current Speaker, we passed life-changing bills into law. We passed the anti-kidnapping, the neighbourhood safety corps, and the cancer research institute bills, among others.

    “We assure you that the next four years would witness more people-oriented bills as well as a synergy between the legislature and the judiciary that would benefit the people.”

  • Lawmaker empowers widows, others

    Elderly men, women and widows in Ikoyi Obalende Local Council Development Area (LCDA) of Lagos State have received financial support from a councillor, Mr. Sulaiman Jubril.

    The donation was done under a programme tagged: “Financial support for elders, men and women”.

    It was the second edition.

    Fifty beneficiaries went home with N5,000 each. Three got N20,000 for medical treatment.

    Speaking at the event, Jubril, the councillor representing Ward ‘A’, said the programme was his little way of contributing to the development of his community.

     

     

     

  • I’m not desperate to be lawmaker -Ogun Apc assembly candidate

    The Ogun State House of Assembly Candidate for Abeokuta North Constituency under the platform of All Progressives Congress (APC), Hon. Taiwo Oludotun (Twinny), has said he is not desperate to be lawmaker, contrary to what some members of Allied Peoples’ Movement (APM), and its mentor have said.

    “If I am desperate, I would not have stepped down for Hon. Olayiwola Ojodu at primary elections twice, “he said. Oludotun who stated this at Ogun Central mega rally in Abeokuta the state capital.

    He said if Abeokuta indigenes, especially members of his constituency could follow his political antecedent, they would not see him as a desperate politician, upon what the present governor does to him while seeking for political position in the state.

    “In 2011, I contested with Olayiwola Ojodu. I was asked to withdraw from the race which I did, and in 2015 I also contested with the same Ojodu which I was forced to stepped down for him, but now I have to contest to show the people that I have the right to contest and did that to satisfy my conscience and the people’s confidence in me.” Oludotun said.

    “I could have become a lawmaker in 2015 when, virtually all the people of my constituency then, rallied support for me to contest, which I declined on the order of the governor. I am not desperate to be lawmaker; as some desperate candidates view it,” he added

    He said people of his constituency believe in him so much which gave him the mandate and confidence to contest for the House of Assembly this time around, to representing Abeokuta North Constituency under the platform of APC, assuring his constituents to serve them diligently, and to the best of his knowledge.

    “Some people are so desperate for power and position, which they can go extra miles while seeking for power/position, but if really God call you to serve, it is not necessary to kill, maim and threat people to achieve your dreams. That’s why I said that am not desperate to become a lawmaker in the state,”? Oludotun admitted

    He admonished the people to remain resilience and choice the right candidate that would serve them for the next four years, saying that when they bring their money, people should not hesitate to collect it from them because it was their resources and sweat money.

    He added that while workers in the state were living or wallow in abject poverty due to unremitted deductions, leave bonuses and unprompt ?payment of salaries, the current administration continued lavishing the taxpayers money on APM campaign, noting that civil servants in the state deserves more than what they are earning today.

    “The civil servants deserves more welfare packages than what they are earning today but due to non-challant attitude of the present administration, civil servants now turned to beggars, begging for their salaries, deductions and leave bonuses, they are also begging to be promoted which is their statutory, but now the incoming administration APC will address all these issues as regard the civil servants and the residents of the state,”? Oludotun said

     

  • Ashafa, lawmaker canvass vote for Lagos APC candidates

    Senator representing Lagos East Gbenga Ashafa yesterday appealed to the coalition of estate residents in Lagos East Senatorial District to vote the All Progressives Congress (APC) on Saturday.

    Ashafa, who kicked off the campaign for victory for the APC at Omole Estate, said the turn out for the presidential election was below expectation.

    The senator spoke as the lawmaker representing Ifako-Ijaiye Constituency 1 at the Lagos State House of Assembly, Dayo Fafunmi, also urged over 100 youths he trained as fashion designers to canvass for votes for APC candidates in Saturday election and also go out en-mass to vote for them.

    Fafunmi gave the directive yesterday in his address at an empowerment programme for youths and students, which he organised in his constituency office at Ogba.

    Ashafa urged residents to appreciate the good efforts of the APC government in Lagos by ensuring that its candidates were elected.

    The politician said he was using the opportunity provided by the sentisisation of estate residents to remind them of their civic responsibility, noting that government would continue to serve them better.

    He said: “We are asking our people to come out massively, without fear or favour. Whatever ethnic group you belong, we want to assure you that you are safe. Lagos is going to be safe under Babatunde Sanwo-Olu and Babafemi Hamzat.

    “If we are able to achieve the landslide victory that we are talking about, which is just around the corner, the effects would be great on the people. We have identified about 42 different estates in the Lagos East Senatorial District alone.

    “We expect over 100, 000 minimum registered voters from the list. We discovered in the last election that only 19 per cent of them came out. We want to change the narrative in the coming election. I am appealing to you to come out and vote on Saturday.”

    Ashafa maintained that government had done well, stressing that the party would plug the loopholes responsible for the low turnout voters in the last election.

    “We are closing the loopholes; part of it is that we are giving recognition to those in the low, middle and upper income earners. Omole and all other estates are occupied by these groups. These people have their PVCs and we are making efforts to ensure that they come out during the election.”

    Speaking, the Chairman of Coalition of Estate Residents Mr. Dele Lanisa, said members approach issues on their merit, noting it could only be influence by genuine performance.

    He added that Ashafa had distinguished himself as a lawmaker, who love people and would go the extra-mile to assist them.

    “We simply want the government to be close to us after it wins the election. As long as the government collects taxes from us, we expect it to do the needful.

    “It is not possible for you to come here to offer us money to vote for you. This is not possible, all that we seek from you is to do what is expected of you, and the people will naturally come out to vote you.”

    The empowerment ceremony by Fafunmi featured the presentation of certificates and sewing machines to the youths as well as school bags to pupils and students in the constituency.

    The training lasted for more than a year at an institute of fashion designing.

    Though the lawmaker, who is a third term member at the State Assembly, is not contesting in Saturday election, he, however, urged the recipients to vote for APC so that empowerment programmes like the one they benefited from can continue.

    “I want you all to come out in large number and support APC, that I am not contesting does not stop me from campaigning for my party and those contesting.

    “Come Saturday, I want you to go out in large number and vote for our governorship candidate, Babajide Sanwo-Olu and other APC candidates for the House of Assembly.

    “Canvass for APC, do not disappoint me, make sure the progressives are voted into office for programmes like this to continue”, Fafunmi said.

    He told the youths that they have been trained and they have acquired the skill, adding that they must “take advantage of the training to make a headway in life. The training you acquired has automatically taken you out of the labour market and if you are serious, you can become employers of labour yourselves,” he said.

    He stated that the programme was in fulfilment of the promise he made to his constituents last year.

     

  • Lawmaker urges Lagosians to vote for Sanwo-Olu, others

    The lawmaker representing Mushin Constituency 1, Olawale Abdulsobur, has urged Lagosians to vote for the Lagos State All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, and other APC candidates on Saturday.

    Àbdulsobur, who spoke yesterday in Ikeja, said Lagosians would benefit more from the government of continuity initiated by former governors Bola Tinubu, Babatunde Fashola and actualised by Governor Akinwunmi Ambode by electing Sanwo-Olu as the next governor.

    The legislator, who also solicited votes for himself to return to the legislative chambers, listed some giant strides he had achieved during his first term at the assembly to include creation of jobs for Mushin youths, purchase of 200 GCE forms for pupils in the area every year, free computer training programmes, Yuletide gifts to Muslims and Christians, as well as presentation of buses to motherless homes.

    “I can assure Lagosians that once they vote for Sanwo-Olu, his running mate,  Obafemi Hamzat and other APC candidates, including myself,  on March 9, there is no doubt that the privileges and dividends of democracy hitherto enjoyed by all and sundry will be increased,” he said.

    Abdulsobur appealed to registered voters to come out en masse and exercise their franchise.

    He said issues relating to logistic supplies, smart card readers, conduct of electoral officers and safety of National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members should be addressed if the March 9 elections are to be successful.