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Tag: Lawmaker

  • Lawmaker empowers 500 in Ikorodu

    The Ikorodu Town Hall, last weekend, came alive with political activities. Before a large crowd of residents and the All Progressive Congress (APC) leaders, member representing Ikorodu Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, donated various items, including cash and equipment to empower hundreds of people in her constituency.

    Visibly excited by the gesture, the beneficiaries, among who were physically-challenged person, were full of prayers to the lawmaker, praising her for giving them opportunity to be useful in the society.

    The beneficiaries beamed with smile as they stepped forward to receive the items from the former Lagos Deputy Governor, Prince Abiodun Ogunleye, who chaired the occasion. Ogunleye advised the recipients to make good use of the items to justify the lawmaker’s confidence in them.

    Other dignitaries at the event included the Ayangburen of Ikorodu, Oba S.A Oyefusi, represented by Olori Taibat Oyefusi, Ranodu of Imota, Oba Ajibade Agoro, former Secretary to Lagos State Government, Chief Olorunfunmi Basorun, member representing Ikorodu constituency II in Lagos House of Assembly, Hon Sinai Agunbiade and Iya Kalo Kalo.

    To the lawmaker, empowerment of constituents should be a continuous programme for elected officers to reduce poverty in the society. Hon. Dabiri-Erewa, who noted that the empowerment programme was the biggest she had held, said: “We were surprised with the kind of assistance people needed when we received requests from people that filled the empowerment forms. We found out that some people just want to sell soft drinks, some want to sell beers, while some just needed wheel barrows to make a living.”

    She added: “Through my party, the APC, we want to help the people of Ikorodu, especially the women, no matter how small. The idea is just to have a positive impact on the lives of our people here in Ikorodu. And we want you to know that APC is the party that cares about the wellbeing of the people irrespective of race or religion.

    The lawmaker, who said she could not quantify the amount she spent on the empowerment programme, said the event was about touching the lives of the people she is representing. “I cannot calculate how much we spent to do this empowerment. I don’t even want to bring it down to naira and kobo, but the most important thing is that we must touch the lives of people that voted for us,” she said.

    Basorun, who described the lawmaker as people’s true representative, said he was gladdened that Ikorodu people supported Hon. Dabiri Erewa to represent them at the National Assembly. He said the lawmaker’s periodic empowerment and her decision not to abandon the people at the time of need was an indication that Ikorodu possessed people who could govern the state.

    He said: “It gladdens my heart that this empowerment programme is taking place at a time when poverty is wrecking havoc in the society. Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa has shown to us that elected officials don’t have to run away from the people, who voted them in. We are here today because we want to leave Ikorodu better than we met it. She has performed and carried people along. We are happy that the people’s support for Abike Erewa is not misplaced.”

     

  • Lawmaker donates to school on Valentine’s Day

    THE lawmaker representing Abia Central Senatorial District in Abia State, Mrs. Nkechi Nwaogu has donated a three lassroom blocks with toilet facilities to the Owerri Road Primary School 1, Umuocham, Osisioma Ngwa Local Government Area of the state.

    Speaking at the handing over of the facility at the school premises on Valentine’s Day, Nwaogu said the aim of the project, which she attracted through the Millennium Development Goals’ (MDGs) project was to enhance the pupils’ welfare. Nwaogu promised to donate additional 200 desks, a generating set and refurbish some of the dilapidated buildings in the school.

    She used the opportunity to eulogise Abia State Governor Theodore Orji’s landslide in the state, stressing that no government progresses when majority of its citizens are poorly educated.

    Mrs Nwaogu, who also doubles as the Chairman, Senate Committee on Oil and Gas, implored the beneficiary to maintain the new facility. She listed some of the projects she had executed in her constituency to include borehole, provision of transformers to rural communities, award of scholarships to indigent children, and empowerment of youths and women.

    The Headmaster of the school, Mr. Cyril Nwosu thanked the donor for penciling the school as beneficiary of her numerous projects.

    Nwosu said: “Words are not sufficient to express our hearty feelings with regards to your large heart.

    “In 2009, when you visited, you awarded scholarships to more than 100 pupils from Abia Central. Again you sunk water-borehole and pledged to renovate schools and today, Owerri Road Primary School 1 Umuocham, is one of the beneficiaries. This is a legacy and a Valentine bonanza you have left for the school.”

     

  • Reinstated Ondo lawmaker narrates ‘suspension’ ordeal

    Reinstated Ondo lawmaker narrates ‘suspension’ ordeal

    •I’ve been vindicated

    After six months at home following her suspension by her colleagues in the Ondo State House of Assembly, the member representing Ose Constituency, Hon. (Mrs) Funmi Olaseinde Vincente, has returned to her legislative duties in the hallowed chambers.

    She was all smiles last Thursday unlike her pensive mood on June 18, 2013, when she was suspended by the leadership of the assembly over alleged misconduct

    Hon. Olaseinde-Vincente was accused of her keeping fetish objects in her rented apartment which she vehemently denied. The development led to the setting up of a five-man panel headed by Mr. Fatai Olotu to probe into the matter and report back in two-weeks.

    However, when the time frame lapsed and the matter still had not been resolved but instead was dragging for too long, the lawmaker approached the Court to seek redress.

    An Akure High Court presided over by Justice Olaseinde Kumuyi after listening to both parties struck out her case for lack of merit. The lawmaker was dissatisfied and was in the process of going on appeal when her colleagues reconsidered her case and she was recalled by the leadership of the Assembly.

    The Nation investigations revealed that there was more to her suspension than the stated offence of keeping fetish objects. Sources said her ordeal had political undertone and might not be unconnected to her rumoured closeness to one of the governors in the Southwest which did not go down well with some powerful forces in the corridors of power in Ondo State.

    The forces collaborated to get her suspended for six months an action that denied her constituents representation in the Assembly for that period.

    According to the Deputy Speaker of the House, Dare Emiola, the Assembly took the decision to reinstate her after the ad-hoc committee set up submitted its report and recommended that the suspension be lifted.

    He said: “Following the submission of the Committee’s report, the House has pardoned her all that should have been done concerning her recall has been done at parliamentary level.

    “She is back in the House to perform her duty and everything that transpired is within us.”

    The majority leader, Ifedayo Akinsoyinu said, the House recalled Olaseinde Vincente after she tendered an apology letter, adding that the lawmaker had also withdrawn the suit she instituted against the Assembly over the suspension.

    The reinstated lawmaker recalled that on June 18, 2013, a letter suspending her from the Ondo State House of Assembly was handed to her. The suspension she said was hinged on a trumped-up story that fetish objects were found in her apartment.

    This apartment, the legislator said she had vacated and handed over the keys to the owners long before the story which was well-dressed to paint her black in the eyes of the people of her constituency and the entire global audience

    In her speech, on the floor of the Assembly, Olaseinde-Vincente said, “despite denial to free and equitable hearing I was suspended as a law abiding citizen, lawyer and representative of the people of Ose constituency, I went to court to seek redress.

    “I approached the court because I have always believed in the potency of the rule of law to right the orchestrated politics of mudslinging that was targeted at my person.

    “While the court process continues, the leadership and members of the House of Assembly absolved me of the wicked story, lifted the suspension and reinstated me.

    “According to the letter of reinstatement authored by the leadership of the State House of Assembly, it took effect from December 1, 2013.

    “I am therefore glad to inform you that I have been vindicated by my colleagues with all my benefits attached.

    “I am grateful to God Almighty whose name is above every other name and under whose grace we the ordinary mortals enjoy the gift of free will and abundant life.

    “It takes the special grace of God for a widow like me to go through a torrential flow of emotional torture on a matter that was premised on falsehood and still came out strong and resolute.

    “I thank my colleagues in the House for upholding the truth and speaking truth to the power that be. They searched for the truth, found and stuck to it.

    “Ours is indeed an Assembly of hope and truth in pursuit of the mandates of our people given to us legitimately.

    “Also, I humbly wish to thank the people of my constituency for the support given to me throughout the period.

    “I am aware of the poignant grief and denial of representation my suspension brought to you. The fortitude with which you sailed through the period is incredible.

    “I know God that we serve will continue to fight our course and bring that development that we all crave to Ose constituency.”

    She also appreciated the women who according to never ceased from interceding for her and offered penetrating words of encouragement which made her cut through the thick cloud of intrigues of politics and attempt to despise her family name.

    The lawmaker said: “I further thank my leaders who stood by me, religious and opinion leaders of note for their prayers and words of wisdom, gentlemen of the press, print, electronic and social media for constant reportage of all sides.

    “I appreciate my friends who never compromised truth on the altars of propaganda and wicked politics designed to carve another image for a friend you have known for years. Those who know me right from my elementary school to University of Ife know who I am and what I stand for.

    “For those that conspired to bring me down, I leave you in the hand of God, for I take solace in the word of God that admonishes forgiveness.

    “I give glory to God Almighty and promise to serve humanity and continue to contribute to the growth and development of the state.”

    The lawyer noted that the last six months had been full of challenges, but said she was ready to continue to work for the people of Ose constituency despite that they were deprived the representation for six months.

  • Menace of land-grabbers will soon end, says lawmaker

    Deputy Whip of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Hon. Rotimi Abiru has said that the atrocities and menace of land-grabbers popularly called ‘Ajugungbales’ or ‘Omoniles’ in the state will be a thing of the past once the bill to criminalise their activities currently before the House  is passed into law.

    Abiru, who is the chairman of an ad-hoc committee set up by the House to look into the petition sent to the House by residents of house 3, 6, 7 and 15 on Adewunmi street, Ladi-Lak, Bariga in Bariga Local Council Development area, over  unlawful and forceful attempts to steal their properties by some individuals in cohort with the court and the police stated this while responding to reporters question on the petition.

    The petition signed by Messrs. Ajayi  Ogunrolu, Mobolaji Abass, Mutiyat Okeade and Olufemi Onagoruwa is titled, ‘Petition to the Lagos state House of Assembly against the unlawful and forceful attempts to steal our properties/threat to our lives and causing of injurious damages to our properties by Madam Oluwatoyin Ali, Mr. Zacheous Alabi and the Lagos state police command (OP-MESA)’.

    According to Abiru, “The kind of treatment meted out to the occupants of house number 3,6,7 and 15 Adewumi Street, Ladi- Lak, Bariga, is most unfortunate. Firstly, those that enforced the judgment came by 7 am with men of OP MESA and policemen. Of course, the policemen claimed that they went there to enforce the judgment of the court but they cannot explain the presence of OP MESA at the site of the incident.

    “And when they came, they actually gave heavy injury to those occupants, who were helpless people  and if not for the neighbours that actually called the press, I am sure, it would have degenerated greatly”, Abiru said.

    Abiru who is also the lawmaker representing Bariga in the House further stated that though the court would have given the judgment based on the evidences before it, it was clear that the judgment was fraudulently obtained.

    He said: “There is no doubt that the court must have given the judgment based on the evidences before it, but we can categorically say that the judgment was fraudulently obtained before the court and the court actually gave the judgment in error because all through the proceedings of the matter, none of the real owner was ever served with any notice by the court, neither were they joined in the suit.

    “And the man who claimed to own those houses does not have any link whatsoever with the people and what is amazing to us is how he was able to convince the court.

    “What we are particular about is for the House to look into the matter with a view to investigating the processes by which the judgment was given because the man claimed that he actually owns those houses and that he was owing one Toyin Ali and he wanted to use those houses to offset his debt, this is very ambiguous and very worrisome and this is one of the things that warranted the emergence of Ajagungbale Bill.

    “And again, we also want the Commissioner of Police to help fish out the policemen, possibly the OP MESA that were with the Sheriff when they came around to harass the residents.”

    The lawmaker also the  assured the residents that with the House and Governor Fashola’s intervention on the matter, they would soon receive justice.

    According to him: “I want to thank the governor for sending the Commissioner for Special Duties, Dr. Wale Ahmed with Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Justice, Rotimi Pedro to assist the committee and especially the affected families because as we speak now, they have provided temporary accommodation for those whose houses have been totally destroyed and they are kept safely somewhere now.

    “The affected families have approached the court to set aside the judgment while we are hoping that the case would be heard at the court very soon. So, I just want to assure the residents of these houses that they are not alone in this struggle because the House and the Governor are very keen to see that justice is done in this matter.”

    The petitioners are praying the Assembly to investigate the invasion of their properties by officials of Ikeja High Court and men of the Nigerian Police “chasing, beating and maiming residents indiscriminately, firing gun shots into the air, breaking down windows and doors and throwing out belongings, forcefully ejecting all residents and taking possession”.

    According to the petition the incident took place on Wednesday 15th January, 2014 “after Ali and Alabi fraudulently obtained a consent judgment in respect of our properties without our knowledge and also fraudulently used the police command (OP-MESA) to evict us from our houses and destroy our properties”.

    The petitioners said the court under Hon. Kayode Ogunmekun (Mrs.) erred by giving a ruling without proper verification of ownership claim of the properties by Ali and Alabi, adding that “the said judgment and order were arranged and bought with advice and connivance of the court directly or indirectly, or the court was lagging in its mandatory duties.

    “This is another attempt and system devised by land grabbers with the connivance of some bad eggs in the state judiciary to put the credibility of the ministry of justice into disrepute.

    “The Nigeria Police and state security operatives (OP-MESA) were bought and compromised against their statutory duties of protecting lives and properties, and maintenance of peace and order, with their brazen display of terror on hapless and helpless citizens, despite our continuous donations to the Lagos State Security Trust Fund towards the effective discharge of their duties”, they said.

    They therefore called on the Assembly to liaise with the commissioner of police to fish out and make public the identities of all players involved in this “land grabbing no matter how highly or lowly placed in the society and also the CP to investigate the unlawful involvement of the police in the case and mete out punishment accordingly as a deterrent to others”.      They also want all players in the act to be prosecuted and made to pay damages while also urging the House “to devise policies, guidelines and educative interpretation of the laws geared towards stemming the rising tide of syndicated land-grabbing in Lagos State.”

  • How Ondo lawmaker escaped assassination

    How Ondo lawmaker escaped assassination

    But for providence, what would have been a tearful Christmas and New Year celebration for the family of the lawmaker representing Okitipupa constituency in the Ondo State House of Assembly, Hon. Soji Akinkurolere and the people of the state was averted on December 28, 2013 as the lawmaker narrowly escaped an assassination attempt in his Ilu-titun Osooro residence.

    Last year, the state witnessed series of deaths involving some of its prominent indigenes including a former governor, Olusegun Agagu, former Commissioner for Culture and Tourism and son of a former Secretary to the Government of Federation, Chief Olu Falae, Deji Falae, the lawmaker representing Ilaje/Ese-Odo Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Hon. Rafael Nomiye among others.

    Hon-Akin-241x300

    Who could have sent the five gunmen and what could have been the offence of the easy going lawmaker to warrant an attempt on his life were the questions on the lips of many, particularly residents of Okitipupa who either witnessed the assassination attempt or heard about the incident.

    His escapade in the hands of the suspects happened in a miraculous way as he thought the end had come on that fateful day. But the bravery of some of his aides who attempted to foil the attack by the gunmen gave the lawmaker who was inside his bedroom when the assassins came ample time to escape through another door with members of his family.

    And with their target having escaped, the gunmen turned their anger on his property and vandalised everything within site in the compound especially vehicles.

    One of Akinkurolere’s neighours who spoke with The Nation but does not want his name in print, said he praised the legislator’s aides whom he said engaged in hot verbal exchanges with the assassins before they forced their way into the compound.

    His words: “I was on the other side of the road when I saw a vehicle parked very close to my own house with some guys sitting inside. I was surprised when I saw that a man, who had been sitting in the front seat of the car, came out and started making phone calls. Few minutes later, he finished the calls and tapped the other guys sitting at the back seat and they headed to the residence of Honourable Akinkurolere. The next thing I heard was sporadic gunshots.

    “I ran inside my house, but I was hearing them shouting that they wanted to see the honourable and they were banging on the gate. I think it was in that process that they forced themselves in the house, but the lawmaker escaped with members of his family before they could get in. I will like to commend the lawmaker’s aides, they made attempt to stop the killers from entering the house, but I think the ammunition they carried was too much for them to fight against”.

    When contacted, Akinkurolere said it was through the grace of God that he escaped from the assassins’ net. He did not know why they were after his life.

    According to him, “how all of us in the residence including my aged father and mother, wife and children escaped the ordeal was inexplicable, but I thank God for everything”

    The Okitipupa Divisional Police Station could not comment on the assassination attempt, but vehicles belonging to the Akinkurolere, riddled with bullets  could be seen parked outside.

    But spokesman for the state police command, Wole Ogodo, confirmed the incident stressing that the case had been transferred to Akure while a business man has been arrested in connection with the assassination attempt, and he is helping police in their investigations.

  • I am being persecuted unnecessarily, says suspended Ondo lawmaker

    I am being persecuted unnecessarily, says suspended Ondo lawmaker

    Life has been extremely difficult for her since June 18, 2013, when she was suspended from the Ondo State House of Assembly for alleged misconduct.

    Mrs Funmi Olaseinde, a Lawyer by profession dabbled into politics to represent her Ose constituency at the State House of Assembly without  any premonition that at a time in her political life, she would confront unforeseen problem of alienation by her colleagues in the hallowed chamber.

    Mrs Olaseinde, who is still observing the mandatory period of mourning after losing her husband some months ago was alleged to have kept some fetish objects in her former apartment, an allegation which she vehemently denied.

    The leadership of the House headed by Hon. Samuel Adesina consequently set up a five-member committee led by Mr Olotu Fatai to probe the allegation and come out with its findings within two weeks.

    However, with the controversy running into several months without any action from the probe panel, Mrs Olaseinde approached the court to seek redress.

    After several months of protracted arguments and submissions by her lawyers, the Akure High Court 1, presided over by the state Chief Judge, Justice Olaseinde Kumuyi on December 18, 2013, struck out her case  based on five major points.

    He particularly said the suspended lawmaker failed to substantially prove that she was not given a fair hearing as alleged.

    Justice Kumuyi said the House has the right to discipline erring member that put its integrity into disrepute and embarrassment.

    He said the offence committed by Mrs Olaseinde was not personal as a public officer, stressing that her case lacks merit.

    The Chief Justice contended that it was a crime as stipulated by law, for anybody to be in possession of fetish objects even if it is meant for personal protection.

    According to him, the embattled lawmaker should have waited for the outcome of the investigation panel set up by the House before considering legal option.

    He consequently struck out the case, stressing that the plaintiff could not prove her case beyond any reasonable doubt.

    However, the plaintiff’s counsel, Adetunji Osho who expressed dismay over the judgment maintained that his client would proceed with the case at the higher court.

    A physically disturbed Mrs Olaseinde said she was dissatisfied with the judgment and would pursue the case to a logical conclusion.

    She said, “we have started with the lower court and we will pursue it to the climax. We still believe in the sanctity of the Judiciary and we are convinced, we will get justice at the higher court”.

    Olaseinde lamented that she had waited for the outcome of the committee’s findings for over four months without any head way, while she was being deprived of all her benefits at the State Assembly.

    The embattled lawmaker wondered why she should be persecuted over an offence she did not commit, stressing that truth will prevail eventually.

    Many of her supporters from Idoani community and Ose constituency who always thronged the court during each sitting said the judgment of the High Court was below expectation.

    They lamented that her constituents were the worst hit, because, since June 18, last year, they have been deprived of any representation at the State Assembly because of what they termed “unsubstantiated allegation”.

    According to them, it is unfortunate that the ruling Labour Party (LP) administration in the state could pay back their representative in such a cruel manner in spite of her immense contributions to the success of the party in the area during past elections.

  • Akwa Ibom lawmaker to youths: embrace unity, hardwork

    The Leader of the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, Okpolupm Etteh, has urged youths to eschew violence and other anti-social vices that propagate disunity and disharmony, especially in this season of celebrations.

    Etteh spoke when he received members of a frontline socio-political group in the state, Ikpoto Akwa Ibom, who paid him a Christmas visit, saying they should strive, at all times, to live up to the virtues of peace, harmony, unity and hospitability for which the state is known for.

    The lawmaker, who represents Esit Eket/Ibeno State Constituency in the House of Assembly, thanked the group for choosing to visit him and urged them to promote a genuine bond of brotherhood in the state by supporting “what is good, what is right and what is true.”

    He urged the youths to be focused, hardworking, loyal and diligent in their duties, stressing that its reward knows no limit and urged them to showcase the state positively to the rest of the world.

    Earlier, the group leader, Nsima Uwak, had said their decision to visit the House member, who is a major Patron of the group, was to give their unalloyed solidarity and respect to him as a role model amongst youths of the country.

    Uwak, who described Akwa Ibom State as model of good governance in the country, lauded Governor Akpabio for his developmental stride which, according to them, has become a reference point.

    lta State Government House, Mr. Solomon Arenyika and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) National Secretary, Mr. Steve Oru, were among dignitaries that attended the event.

  • Ondo lawmaker offers scholarship to indigent boy

    Ondo lawmaker offers scholarship to indigent boy

    Apparently worried by the plights of many indigent children, a member of the Ondo State House of Assembly, Hon. Olatunji Dairo has stressed the need for well-meaning Nigerians to always assist the less-privileged.

    This, he said would rid the society of social vices being perpetrated by indigent youths.

    Dairo spoke with reporters in Akure, the state capital while offering scholarship to Master Timilehin Folorunsho, a 12 year-old apprentice generator repairer with no formal basic education

    The lawmaker explained that he was moved to help Timilehin, who he saw walking the street of Oluwatuyi in Akure one day seemingly with nowhere to go and when he asked why he was not in school, the boy explained he had no parents again. He accompanied him to where he lives with his grandmother and from there the story that would change his life for good began.

    Dairo, who is also the chief whip of the House of the Assembly, explained that “I told him (Timilehin) it is possible he would be one of the greatest engineers the country will produce in the future and he agreed.

    “Because of this development, he was taken to the Nursery and Primary School to start his education. I am happy that the boy is doing well academically. I have been responsible for the boy school fees, feeding and other necessities”.

    He pointed out that if well-meaning Nigerians could emulate such gesture, the society would be better off.

    Timilehim is now in primary one at Height Nursery and Primary School, Akure, with the lawmaker promising to sponsor his education to university level.

    The proprietress of the school, Mrs. Oluwayemisi Adewumi affirmed that the boy is doing well as he concentrates more on his studies.

    The kid, Timilehin expressed gratitude to the lawmaker while his grandmother, Mrs. Aduke Folorunsho said she could not afford to send the boy to school as his father died when he was an infant. The Septuagenarian woman thanked the lawmaker for the good gesture.

     

  • Lawmaker lights up community

    A member of Plateau State House of Assembly from Jos North North Constituency, Hon Ibrahim Baba Hassan has presented a special Christmas gift to the people of Gwosh community in his constituency. He gave the people electricity after over two decades of darkness.

    The special gift is a 33KVA transformer which the community. The Lawmaker has successfully installed a power transformer he purchased to solve the electricity needs of people of the community. The people saw electric light in their rooms first time in the last 20 years when the transformer was connected to the power source on Christmas Day.

    The project was commissioned on the 25th of December as many residence who went for church service came home to behold electricity light in their rooms all over. A resident Ajang Mathew said, “It was unbelievable, but it was real. Unbelievable because it was long expected and we had lost hope. The lawmaker promised us he will do it, we doubted him, but not that we have seen the light, we are now rejoicing.

    Mrs Hanatu Azi said, “I don’t need any Christmas gift other than this, this is marvelous, I will remain grateful to this lawmaker, he has broken the jinx”

    The transformer which is expected to supply power to people of Gwosh and Nukpis district of Jos north local government area is said to be a completion of an abandoned project of the Federal Government’s rural electrification project.

    Leader of the Gwash community who is the chairman of the Afizere Community and Cultural Development Association (ACCA) Gwash, Musa Itse said “as far as this community is concern, we have never seen light, we only saw poles crossing over to other places but nobody ever came to our side. This community has been existing long before Plateau State was created but we have been in the dark, very close to the state headquarters, a proximity of four kilometres until now.”

    Hon. Baba Hassan at the commissioning said the inability to provide power supply to the people has become shameful for all political leaders in the state adding that “the Lamingo dam in this community supplies water to Jos city yet the people of this community do not have access to good pipe born water.”

    The lawmaker called on Plateau state government to ensure that the people get portable drinking water to avoid cholera epidemic which may result from sourcing drinking water from unhygienic sources.

    Hon Hassan Baba Ahmed was the former deputy speaker of the Plateau state house of assembly; he was re-elected to represent his constituency in the last election for the third time in 2011.

  • Lawmaker trains unemployed youths

    Lawmaker trains unemployed youths

    A member of House of Representatives, Hon Bamidele Faparusi, has warned that the Nigerian youths may pioneer revolution that would shake the foundation of the country if the unemployment rate in the country is not arrested.

    Faparusi, who is representing Ekiti South Federal Constituency 2, however, charged Nigerian youths to take their destiny in their hands by stop relying on white-collar jobs.

    He said the mere fact that the country has lost over 10 trillion of naira to oil theft since its Independence, is enough to teach a lesson that the youth must be empowered and gainfully employed.

    The lawmaker gave the advice in Ode Ekiti during a specialised entrepreneurship training organised for some select graduates in Gbonyin/Ekiti East/Emure Local Government Areas of Ekiti State.

    Faparusi said it would be foolhardy for the government at all levels to allow the situation to fester without fashioning out ways to better the lives of the future generations and leaders.

    He pointed out that the scourge of militancy, youth restiveness, terrorism, political thuggery, robbery and other vices were not associated with youths in the 60s and 70s, noting that it crept into the country’s national life when unemployment became pronounced.

    Faparusi, who pointed out that the scourge might be the straw that would spell doom for the nation unless something urgent was done, said: “Many productive Nigerians have been killed by terrorists in the North and militants in the South. Now, Nigeria is losing 30 percent of its oil proceeds to theft being perpetrated by some willing and unemployed youths. I have come to restore confidence and hope in all of you. I have walked the path you are walking today. I know what it is to be to be looking for jobs where they don’t exist. I know what it means to be poor. But I have come to tell you that in spite of the bad situation, tomorrow will be better.

    “This training is an attempt to construct a compass which everyone should get hold of.  Rather than looking for job that doesn’t exist, why not create one and bring in people to work for you. I have tried it and it worked and it is still working for me. So, if it works for me, it can work for you also. But this cannot happen by miracle or by attending vigil, but through commitment and dedication to a cause you believe so much in.”

    He said entrepreneurial training has assumed a global dimension and present a reality that nobody can run away from.

    Faparusi said there is the need to expose Nigerian youths, who are groaning in hard-biting joblessness to skill acquisition programmes that would make them cope with the 21st century economic reality.

    During the lecture series, Faparusi advised the youth: “Break away from the poverty bracket; there is need to for you to conceive ideas, give birth to the idea and begin to run with the idea. Inculcate into yourselves the values that are transformational and not one that are transactional. Be productive at all times because an idle hand is a veritable workshop for the devil.”

    He charged the youth to divert attentions away from criminality to self employment for Nigeria to be a pride for all and sundry.