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Tag: Lawmaker

  • Lawmaker seeks protection of Niger Delta Environment

    A member of the House of Representatives and Chairman, House Committee on Petroleum Resources (Downstream), Hon. Dakuku Peterside has called for wide-ranging policies to address the environmental degradation in the Niger Delta due to crude Oil exploration.

    Peterside said there was an urgent need for the government to pay particular attention to the issue of the environment to ensure that it continues to support life and livelihood of the Niger Delta people “even after the  oil wells  had dried up.”

    The lawmaker, while speaking in Abuja at the public presentation  of two books: “Niger Delta Environmental Roundtable- A Book of Readings” and  “African Women Can Lead,”  published by the Development and Leadership Institute(DLI), a non-governmental organisation, said there is need to enhance the preservation of  the environment of the oil rich communities in Nigeria.

    According to him, crude oil has  brought a lot of negative  consequences on the environment and people of the oil rich region, in spite of the fact that oil has sustained the Nigerian economy for several decades,

    The lawmaker while drawing an analogy between  the impact of oil exploration and exploitation in Nigeria and other climes, said contrary to the practice in other countries, Nigeria over the years has not paid enough attention to the issue of safeguarding its environment.

    His words: “The nation of America stood still because of an oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. The President of the country, Barak Obama visited  the site of the spill and  British Petroleum(BP), the company accused of being  responsible for the spill,  deployed  several of its directors to the spill site and kept them there for 30 days.  That is the level of seriousness attached to the issue of environment  in a country like the United States. But that is not exactly so in our country.”

    He said the Development and Leadership Institute (DLI)  was trying to raise the consciousness of the government and people on the issue of the environment.

    “As you already know, we didn’t create the environment; we inherited it and we have a duty to pass it on to the generations to come. But we treat our environment with disdain as if it does not matter. We don’t care about the environment, yet none of us can survive without the support from the environment.”

    In his review of the “Niger Delta Environmental Roundtable- A Book of Readings,” Peterside  said the book showcases a plethora of contributions by several authors on the need to protect the environment and preserve it for future.

    Peterside said the 1958 oil discovery in the Niger Delta was both a blessing and curse on Nigeria, adding that the blessing of crude oil came with some consequences such as the continuous exposure and degradation of the environment.

    He said: “As at today,  the Niger Delta environment is endangered  but nobody cares to know. We have done a lot of window dressing; sometimes we set up one commission or the other, but none of these have shown commitment to preserving the Niger Delta environment.”

  • Lawmaker connects with constituents

    Lawmaker connects with constituents

    Hundreds of appreciative residents of Ikorodu 1 constituency trooped to the Ikorodu Town Hall in Lagos on Wednesday, December 4, 2013, as their representative in the Lagos State House of Assembly, Hon. Sanai Agunbiade gave his mid-term account of stewardship.

    Giving account of his stewardship in the past two years, Agunbiade, who was elected to the House in 2007 and re-elected in 2011 for a second term said he has been able to impact on the lives of his constituents in several ways.

    According to him, “in the area of representation I have made direct and indirect impact on the lives of Ikorodu people, providing employment opportunities, empowering women and youths, providing interest free loan for small scale businesses, giving youths opportunity of learning ICT free, intervening in the collapsed state of Ikorodu roads and making sure that I  did not only call the attention of necessary authorities to urgently fix them but also engaged in direct advocacy to see to the fixing of the roads.

    “I have also contributed in uplifting the educational standard through schools rehabilitation, rewarding academic excellence and assisting youths to secure admission on merit. I have made impact also in the area of provision of borehole water, facilitating electrification and educating electorate on government policies like my public discourse on Road Traffic Law,” he said.

    As a lawmaker, Agunbiade said he has participated and contributed to legislative proceedings significantly “and this has been acknowledged by various honours and awards”, and he is also an advocate of legislative development in the country.

    “I have a record of consistent attendance and contributory participation at the sittings of the House of Assembly. I have raised issues, moved and supported motions and participated in debates on affairs of the state and the welfare of the people I represent,” Agunbiade maintained.

    He reminded the people of the bad state of many roads in the area in the past, but which has now changed due to his persistence in telling the state government about the plight of his people in the area of roads.

    “We intervened in the area of roads rehabilitation through the Minister of Works and Commissioner for Works in Lagos State. Many roads are being fixed currently,” he said. To crown it, the on-going Mile 12-Ikorodu Road, he maintained, is a product of his constant pressure on the state government to make the road more motorable for the people.

    Elaborating more on his achievements in the past two years, Agunbiade said that he has been able to sink five boreholes in different areas in the constituency and rehabilitated four within the last two years apart from the ones he did in his first term in office. “I have facilitated the clearing of two major canals also”.

    On education, Agunbiade said he has graduated a total of 1,378 youths in ICT in the past five editions of the programme while another set of 138 just graduated and he usually gives out a computer set each to the best three graduating students every year. “I have done best brain contest for students in both public and private schools in my constituency and given winners and all participating schools awards to promote academic excellence.”

    The lawmaker expressed regret that over 60 per cent of petitions (to the Assembly) in respect of violent disputes on land matters are from  Ikorodu, thanking God for the  amicable resolution of these matters which has averted further violence and blooding-letting.

    Expressing sadness over the issue of land speculators popularly called ‘Ajagungbales’, which he said has given Ikorodu a bad name in the state he said: “Aside from private bills I co-sponsored, I have made good my promise to get the state take a practical step on the problems of “Ajagungbales” which has given Ikorodu a severely bad name within and outside the state. As I speak with you, I have with the support and encouragement of Hon. Bayo Oshinowo, (Chairman, House Committee on Lands) initiated a private member bill to protect landed properties in Lagos State; criminalise and penalise activities of “Ajagungbales”, their sponsors and collaborators with imprisonment. The bill has gone through the 1st and 2nd reading and now at the committee stage awaiting public hearing.

    “Also, as it relates to land matters, I have as a legislator but substantially with the assistance of the Speaker of Lagos State House of Assembly and other members, persuaded the suspension of demolition of over 500 houses at Odo-Nla; another 400 at Aribila; over 300 houses at Oke-Arubi and almost 400 at Parafa.”

    While thanking God for the journey so far,  Agunbiade, recalled that he facilitated employment for 16 people both in public and private sectors while also facilitating medical treatment for three people; two on eye surgery and one for kidney related problem.

    In furtherance of his desire to assist his people, the lawmaker gave out interest free loan ranging from N25,000 to N50,000 to traders and some party members at the programme, this being the third edition of the exercise.

    He said, “We have influenced loans for the constituents through banks and today 50 market women will get N50,000 each without interest as I have paid the interest, 117 members of the party would be going home with cheques of N25,000 each as loans.

    According to him, with the assistance of the Deputy Governor of the State, the Permanent Secretary and staff of the Ministry of Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation (WAPA), he was able to facilitate the vocational training of over 650 people comprising women and youths in the constituency.

    The training, he said was in different vocations ranging from hair dressing, soap making, cake confectionaries, balloon and decoration, hat making and others.

    “These women were drawn from all the nooks and crannies of the constituency and nominated by CDAs, religious bodies, distinguished personalities, party leaders, professional bodies and other stakeholders in the constituency. They were certified by the ministry and I gave out N10,000 to each of the best 50 beneficiaries as encouragement,” he said.

    The lawmaker also reminded the people of his various electrification projects apart from the provision of adequate security for the people with the support of the law enforcement agents in the area.

    “You don’t need to wait for election period to do things for your people, the first year I was elected, I did the first edition of the loan programme. I am just trying to give back to my constituency because to whom much is given, much is expected. We don’t collect constituency allowance, none of us get such to do projects, we only collect our salaries and imprest.”

    According to him, his motivation is the need to give back to the people. “I want to make impact in the lives of the people,” he emphasised.

    In his speech, interim chairman of the All Progressive Congress (APC) in Lagos State, Hon. Dele Ajomale commended Agunbiade for his activities since he got to the Assembly. He recalled that it was Agunbiade that saved the party from embarrassment in the area in 2007, when they almost lost to the opposition parties.

    Present at the event were the Special Adviser to the Governor on Legislative Power and Political Bureau, Hon. Musiliu Folami, Cardinal James Odumbaku, Prince Abiodun Ogunleye, Leader of Lagos State House of Assembly, Hon. Ajibayo Adeyeye, wife of Ayangburen of Ikorodu, Olori Muibat Oyefusi, party chieftains, politicians, students, market women and residents of the town.

  • Delta Assembly recalls suspended lawmaker

    The Delta State House of Assembly on Tuesday recalled its suspended lawmaker, Mr Edoja Akpodiete, representing Ughelli North I State Constituency.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that Akpodiete was suspended on Sept. 26 over alleged gross misconduct, for a period of six months.

    The recall of the lawmaker followed a motion moved by the Deputy Majority Leader of the House, Mr Johnson Erijo.

    Erijo said that the lawmaker had shown some signs of remorse, adding that “he has also demonstrated that he is thoroughly remorseful for his actions, having realised his mistakes and also in the spirit of the yuletide season.’’

    The motion, which was unanimously supported, was seconded by Mr. Efe Ofobruku, representing Uvwie constituency in the House.

  • 175 killed in attacks on Benue community, says lawmaker

    A Benue State House of Assembly member representing Agatu Constituency, Sule Audu, has said 175 people have been killed by suspected Fulani herdsmen in the area since April.

    Agatu Local Government is located in Benue South Senatorial District. Its residents are mostly peasant farmers and fishermen.

    Addressing reporters in his Makurdi home, Audu noted that among those killed by the suspected mercenaries were children, women and the aged, who were either shot or hacked down with machetes.

    The lawmaker said four villages in Agatu – Egima 1 and 2, Ikpele and Omogbou – had been deserted, following a series of attacks by suspected hired mercenaries.

    He said the invaders also burnt houses and settled in the area.

    Audu said the attackers of his constituents resembled Nigeriens, Malians and Chadians, adding that they operated in large numbers and used sophisticated arms.

    He described the attacks and occupation of his constituency as an extension of Boko Haram, because his people were harmless peasant farmers.

    The lawmaker urged the federal and state governments to assist his people because they “face extermination”.

    Audu explained that the difficult terrain in the area has made it possible for security agencies to thoroughly check the invaders.

    He averred that the attackers came to Agatu through Loko, in Obi Local Government Area of Nasarawa State.

    The lawmaker hailed the state police command and officers of the Nigerian Army for repelling the attackers.

  • …how ex-Deputy Reps Speaker attacked me — Lawmaker

    …how ex-Deputy Reps Speaker attacked me — Lawmaker

    The federal lawmaker representing the Emohua/Ikwerre Federal Constituency in the National Assembly, Chief Andrew Uchedu, has accused former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Austin Opara, for allegedly assaulting him at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International airport in Abuja recently.

    Chief Uchendu stated this during an interview with newsmen in Port Harcourt.

    According to him, “I took the 11am flight of Arik Air to Abuja from Port Harcourt. Also on board the flight was the former Deputy Speaker. At the arrival hall, I was accosted by Hon. Opara who asked me: ‘you granted an interview where you said that I, Austin Opara, knelt down and begged Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi when he was the Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly to help make me (Austin) Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives’, and I answered in the affirmative”, Chief Uchendu said.

    Continuing, Chief Uchendu said shortly after he narrated the role he played as the Chairman of the political tink-tank in Ikwerre ethnic nationality, a position he holds to date, Hon. Opara abused and cursed him severally without justifiable reasons.

    “After asking me where did that happen, he (Opara) then abused me, cursed me and saying that how could an old man like me tell lies. I challenged him to invite me to an appropriate venue, so that I could give him the full details of what transpired, and how he even pleaded, knelt down and begged Rotimi Amaechi to make him Deputy Speaker”, Chief Uchendu explained.

    Chief Uchendu further stated how Hon. Opara pleaded at the Ogbakor Ikwerre Convention and also told the Ogbakor Ikwerre to thank Governor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi for making him to become the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives.

    “As I said that, I started walking away when he held me, pushed me aside, and said he was going to slap the hell out of me.

    “I couldn’t say much than to challenge him to do that if he was a man. He held me and pushed me before the airport security staff intervened and held me back. And all this was happening in the presence of Hon. Asita O. Asita, another member of the House of Representatives from Rivers State”.

  • Tackle oil theft, lawmaker urges Fed Govt

    A House of Representatives member, Mr. Rotimi Makinde, has urged the Federal Government to adopt home-ground and a lasting solution to crude oil theft across the country.

    He raised concerns over the increasing magnitude of crude oil theft and vandalism in the country, noting that the use of ethnic militias had not proved effective in the past.

    Makinde, who spoke with reporters in Lagos, said an estimated 400,000 barrels per day, which translates to about 20 per cent of Nigeria’s crude oil output, is being lost to the activities of vandals and thieves.

    He said: “Sadly, the activities of oil thieves, which hamper the amount of barrels of oil available for export and insufficient investments in the upstream sector of the Nigerian oil and gas industry, have remained a major impediment to our economic growth and it appears government is indifferent.”

    Makinde, a former worker with the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and currently a member of the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) Committee, expressed doubts about the current security arrangements for petroleum products pipeline.

    He said the Federal Government should concede the protection and management of the pipelines across the country to the states of dominance and fund them accordingly.

    “Until there is a deterrent against these organised and systematic stealing of Nigeria’s natural resources, the industry does not stand a chance against bunkering of the magnitude we currently experience.

    “Recently, we were told by the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI) about the effects of oil theft on the economy. We were informed that the nation lost over 136 million barrels of crude oil estimated at $10.9 billion through pilfering and sabotage from 2009 to 2011.

    “It also stated that about 10 million barrels of products, valued at $894 million, were lost to pipeline vandalism in the downstream sector within the period under consideration.

    “Honestly, Nigeria’s plan to increase crude oil production to four million barrels per day and grow the reserves to 40 billion barrels by 2020 is absolutely unrealistic, unless the government simply transfers the protection of pipelines across the country to the state of dominance and fund them as we do to oil producing states on first line charges by an agreed and workable template.”

    “Government had in the past used traditional rulers and youth leaders, yet, not much success was recorded. This is because engaging anybody without the chief security officer of the state would only be a circus show,” he said.

     

  • Nasarawa: How 50 people were killed, 1,431 houses burnt, by lawmaker

    Nasarawa: How 50 people were killed, 1,431 houses burnt, by lawmaker

    A member representing Kokona West in the Nasarawa State House of Assembly, Danlandi Jatau, yesterday relived how mercenaries allegedly killed over 50 people in his constituency.

    Jatau spoke at the resumed sitting of the Judicial Commission of Enquiry probing the killing of security personnel in Lakyo village, in the state.

    The Justice Joseph Fola Gbadeyan-led panel had adjourned for a week because of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) conference in Calabar, the Cross River State capital, last week.

    Although Jatau’s memorandum earlier came up for hearing, it was adjourned twice following applications by his counsel, Ovye Ezekiel Yakubu.

    The lawyer told the panel that Jatau could not attend the sittings because he was indisposed.

    The commission turned down the lawyer’s request that the lawmaker’s submission before the panel should be taken as having been read.

    Some Eggon communities and their counsel had withdrawn from the sittings of the commission, alleging irregularities in the conduct of its proceedings.

    The affected communities also said they were no longer certain of justice at the end of the day.

    Jatau is from Eggon.

    Although Jatau did not appear before the commission yesterday – on health grounds – according to his counsel, Justice Gbedeyan allowed him to read his submission to the panel.

    The chairman said it was necessary for Jatau to appear before the panel to answer pertinent questions emanating from his submission.

    He mandated his counsel to present a medical certificate of his illness to the panel, so that the panel could visit the hospital to crosscheck the lawmaker’s claim.

    Reading the lawmaker’s presentation, Yakubu relived how mercenaries killed over 50 people in Eggon.

    He also accused the mercenaries of burning 1,431 homes, including the palace of the District Head of Bassa, Joshua Daudu, JP; the palace of Ukai Village Head, Alhaji U. Ibrahim; the palace of Yelwa Village Head, Alhaji M. Dauda.

    Other property allegedly burnt include eight ECWA churches, an RCM Church, an ERCC Church, a Word of God Church, three tractors and two primary schools, among others.

    Jatau also attributed the carnage to the slow response from security agencies during the attacks.

    He said: “On December 8, last year, while I was in Lafia (the state capital), I received a call from some people in my constituency, particularly those in Arume, a village in Bassa District.

    “The report I received said there was a likely reprisal attack by Eggon youths on Angwan Arume, a Fulani herdsman, if immediate steps were not taken.

    “I promptly contacted the youth leaders, elders of the village and the District Head of Bassa. I also set out for the area.

    “On my arrival, I discovered the bodies of two Eggon youths, whose names were given as Obgenre Emmanuel and Philibus Avre, who were attacked by some Fulani herdsmen while they were in the farm threshing rice.

    “This unfortunate incident occurred when the deceased had a disagreement with the herdsmen who forcefully entered to graze on his rice, as narrated by the survivors of the attack.”

    He told the commission that it was the intervention of the police, the District Head and himself that pacified the enraged youths.

    The lawmaker said he later held a peace and reconciliation meeting with the aggrieved communities in collaboration with the security agents, district head as well as traditional and religious leaders.

    Jatau added: “While our peace promotion lasted, I received another distress call, just about a week from the previous attacks, that an Eggon woman had been macheted by a herdsman. I quickly intervened in the matter. This time round, it was in Ruman Doma of Sakwato village area (now deserted).

    “From that day, the rumour of an impending invasion of some settlements owned by Eggon people in Bassa became the order of the day. While the rumours lingered, I received more information on January 8 that our Eggon youths had been attacked.

    “Two of the youths died on the spot of the attack; two others survived but had severe bullet wounds.

    “The incident created room for serious mutual suspicion among the ethnic inhabitants of my constituency and of the possibility of attacking some specified settlements.

    “The rumour persisted till February 9, when I got a call that some gunmen had invaded some major settlements in my domain. This led to the sacking of over 15 settlements in Bassa District.”

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

  • Taraba crisis: Lawmaker urges Taraba Assembly to impeach Suntai

    THE deputy whip of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Rotimi Abiru, has urged the Taraba State House of Assembly to immediately commence the impeachment process of the indisposed governor of the state, Danbaba Suntai.

    Speaking in a telephone chat with The Nation, Abiru declared that since the governor from all indications is incapacitated and unfit to continue to run the affairs of the state, he must be removed by the House of Assembly.

    The lawmaker while expressed surprising at the dissolution of the Taraba State cabinet by Suntai said, “This is a man that just returned after being hospitalised for about ten months and while people are still having doubts about his ability and fitness to continue as the governor of the state, the next thing he could think of is to dissolve a cabinet that has been running the affairs of the state since he became incapacitated.

    “These people in his absence were praying for his quick recovery, but now that he has returned, he could not even address the state to say ‘thank you’. I call on the state House of Assembly should immediately commence his impeachment process if he fails to address the state before the end of the week. If they fail to do what is right, they should have it at the back of their minds that posterity will judge them.”

     

  • Lawmaker awards bursaries

    Leader, House of Representative Hon Mulika Akande-Adeola has given out bursary awards to 150 students in the Ogbomosho North/South/Orire Federal Constituency of Oyo State.

    At the celebration of her sixth anniversary in office at Ogbomosho recreation club, Ogbomosho, Oyo State, the students, drawn from various tertiary institutions in the state were presented with N10,000 each as part of efforts to support their education.

    Mrs Akande-Adeola said she embarked on the scheme because education is vital to national development.

    The lawmaker noted that the problem of financing education in Nigeria was serious as most parents and guardians have limited funds to carry out that responsibility.

    She, however, hoped the gesture would assist the beneficiaries in addressing part of their financial constraints.

    She also disclosed that over 500 widows and the aged have benefited from her empowerment programmes as part of measures to enhance the welfare of their families.

     

  • Suspended lawmaker sues Ondo Assembly

    The lawmaker representing Ose Constituency in Ondo State, Mrs. Fola Olasehinde, has sued the House of Assembly for suspending her.

    She filed the case at an Akure High Court through her counsel, Falana and Falana’s Chambers.

    Mrs. Olasehinde, a chieftain of the Labour Party (LP),

    was suspended on June 19 for allegedly leaving fetish objects in her former apartment.

    She denied the allegation, saying her suspension was politically motivated.

    A committee, headed by Mr. Olotu Fatai, was constituted by the House to look into the allegation and submit its report within two weeks of the suspension, but the Assembly has been silent on the issue.

    Following the Assembly’s alleged failure to respond to calls for her recall, the lawyer approached the court.

    Mrs. Olasehinde prayed the court to determine: “Whether the Assembly is competent to investigate the allegation against her, considering Section 2 of the Assembly’s Code of Conduct.

    “Whether her indefinite suspension is not a violation of Section 36 of the Nigerian Constitution and Article 7 of the African Charter on Human and People’s right.

    “Whether she is not entitled to be reinstated as a member of the Assembly and receive her outstanding salary, committee and constituency allowance since June 19 and the restoration of her official car, driver, water and power supply in her official quarters.

    “Whether if these questions are answered in the affirmative, she is not entitled to general and exemplary damages.”

    Mrs. Olasehinde said she was not given a fair hearing before her suspension, stressing that the development has deprived her constituents representation in the Assembly.

    She urged the court to grant all the reliefs sought in the interest of justice.

    A community leader in Ose Constituency described Mrs. Olasehinde’s suspension as “humiliating”, adding that she was committed to the success of the LP in the last governorship election.