The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Lawmaker

  • A lift for clash victims in Benue

    A lift for clash victims in Benue

    Lawmaker donates relief materials

    Good cheer has returned to the faces of victims of a Fulani/Tiv clash in Benue State, thanks to a member of the House of Assembly, Hon Avine Agbom.

    The lawmaker, who represents Makurdi North on the platform of All Progressives Congress (APC), donated relief materials to the people who were displaced by the crisis.

    He implored the people to take part in the sharing of the materials, including members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and All Progressives Congress (APC) who were victims of the bloody crisis between Fulani herdsmen and Tiv farmers in Makurdi Local Government Area.

    The crisis claimed many lives.

    The relief materials included bags of rice, millet, among other items, including personal effects like clothes and cooking utensils.

    The donor said the effort was meant to cushion the effects of the crisis on the people.

    Hon. Agbom urged the federal and state governments to set up relief camps for internally-displaced persons who are mostly from his constituency.

    He also pleaded for more relief materials for the victims.

    “The displaced persons have no camp,” he said. “They can no longer go back to their houses. I want to appeal to the federal and state governments to provide shelter for them. Some are staying at a camp called Duadu where there are no mosquito nets, adding that the children have been dying every day for the past two years without any kind of support from government.”

    He stated that the relief materials worth millions of naira are specifically for the victims of the crisis in Mbalagh and Ayaka wards which are parts of Agan Ward. He added that the second batch would be spread to other communities.

    Responding, President of Mbalagh Women Association, Mrs. Margaret Bija advised the victims of the crisis to be law-abiding and wait for the outcome of government’s intervention in the crisis.

  • Bauchi High Court grants Speaker’s, Assembly’s prayer on suspended lawmaker

    A Bauchi High Court, presided over by Justice Aliyu Baba Usman, yesterday granted an application for a stay of execution filed by the Speaker of the Bauchi State House of Assembly and the Assembly on a State High Court’s ruling.

    A Bauchi State High Court, presided over by the State Chief Judge (CJ), Justice Ibrahim M. Zango, on May 31, held that the indefinite suspension of Mrs Rifkatu Samson Danna, the only woman in the Assembly, who represents Bogoro State Constituency, violated her fundamental rights to fair hearing and freedom of expression as enshrined in the 1999 Constitution, as amended.

    The CJ also declared that her indefinite suspension from the Assembly, with effect from June 7, last year, was against Sections 109-110 of the 1999 Constitution and Article 13 of African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights and Enforcement Act, Cap. A9, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.

    He also set aside the indefinite suspension and ordered the Speaker and the Assembly to reinstate and pay Mrs Danna “all her outstanding salaries, committee allowances and constituency allowances and restore her official vehicle and security detail immediately”.

    Mrs Danna was suspended indefinitely, following her dissenting opinion on the relocation of Tafawa Balewa Local Government’s headquarters to Bununu when she spoke on the floor of the Assembly in June, last year.

    She informed her colleagues that “the relocation of the local government headquarters was a constitutional affairs which the State Assembly was not competent enough to reverse”.

    The members were uncomfortable with her position. They insisted that the suspended lawmaker should be punished with an indefinite suspension.

    Mrs Danna, a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) member, through her counsel, Mr Femi Falana (SAN), went to court and got a judgment in her favour.

    But the Assembly, through its lawyer, Mahmoud Haruna Yakubu, appealed against the judgment at the Appellate Court in Jos, Plateau State.

    The Assembly prayed the Bauchi High Court 7, presided over by Justice Aliyu Baba Usman, to stay execution on the judgment, pending the outcome of the appeal whose hearing date has not been fixed.

    In a 92-minute ruling yesterday, Justice Usman ordered a stay of the execution of Orders 3 and 4 of the judgment, which set aside Mrs Danna’s suspension, as well as the order for the payment of her allowances.

    He affirmed the declaration aspect of Judgments One and Two, which declared her suspension illegal, null and void.

    The judge also affirmed the declaration that she has a right to comment on the relocation of Tafawa Balewa Local Government’s headquarters.

     

  • Be change agents, lawmaker urges

    A lawmaker representing Ikorodu Federal Constituency, Abike Dabiri-erewa, has urged the outgoing pupils of Kith and Kin International College (KKIC) Ibeshe-Ikorodu to be agents of change in the society.

    The legislator gave this charge at the school’s valedictory/prize-giving day held at the school’s excellence hall.

    Dabiri, who was the special guest of honour at the occasion, also advised the graduating students to be focused, hardworking and add value to anything they do.

    Her words: “I thank the administration of KKIC for producing these wonderful, lovely and disciplined children. Wherever you (students) find yourself, be focused, hardworking and add value to anything you do. Be determined to change your country. Be the change Nigeria needs and let integrity be your watchword.”

    Also at the event, the Vice-Chancellor of Caleb University Imota Lagos State, Prof Ayodeji Olukoju who was the chairman of the occasion enumerated great individuals who had distinguished themselves in their various societies by doing something remarkable.

    “I challenge our graduands who are going to the next phase of their lives to see the opportunity in every challenge, to devise new methods of solving old problems, to innovate and create, and determine to make a mark in their various professions,” he said.

    The principal, Mrs Ale Mebel said the school recorded 100 per cent success in the SSCE WAEC and 90 per cent success in NECO examination last year. One of the graduands, Miss Akpederi Rachael said: “Today, I feel fulfilled and happy even though, I am going to miss my friends, teachers and principal. KKIC is the best school in terms of inculcating moral values and academic knowledge in students.”

     

  • Lawmaker motivates students with awards

    Member of the Lagos state House of Assembly representing Ikorodu 1 constituency, Hon Sanai Agunbiade has stressed on the importance of stimulating healthy academic rivalry among pupils through competitions.

    He said this motivated the initiation of the S.O.B Best Brains Contest for primary and secondary school pupils in his constituency.

    At the second edition of the competition held in Ikorodu, Agunbiade said winning a prize in primary school motivated him to strive for excellence.

    “What I have done is to bring together all the schools in my constituency to come and compete and they were tested mainly in English Language, Mathematics and General Knowledge. We are resuscitating the dying spirit behind motivating and encouraging deserving brains in the education industry at all levels.

    “I drew inspiration from my experience in primary school when I was called up for award on a prize-giving day which inspired me to be more serious so that I would continue to receive such applause every year. The expectation of that prize-giving day was enough for me during the examination”, Agunbiade said

    Praising ing the initiative, the Special Guest of Honour and Chairman, Committee on Education, Science and Technology of the Lagos state House of Assembly, Hon. Wahab Alawiye-King, said the state government has been agitating for such programmes where individuals can assist in promoting education.

    “One of the issues raised at the third Lagos Education Summit is that we must prepare our students to be future-ready and most importantly unleashing, unlocking and exposing their minds and making them realise their full potentials by using institutionalised support systems such as S.O.B. Agunbiade has done here.

    In the primary school category, Samuel Obiajulu of St. Margaret Nursery/Primary School, Ikorodu came first and Maja Kehinde of Lagos State Nursery/Primary School, Ikorodu was second while Omoyele Boluwatife of Local Government Primary School came third.

    In the junior secondary category; Olajide Oladipupo of Government Junior Model College, Ikorodu was first; followed by Esumeme Victor also from the same school while Adegbiye Adeniyi of Frontrunner City College came third.

    In the senior secondary category, Josanya Oluwakayode of Oriwu Senior Model College, Ikorodu came first and Ojuolape Toheeb of Homat Senior Unique College, Ikorodu was second. Omowole Esther of Living stone Senior College, Ikorodu and Oyedepo Tunde of Ikorodu Senior High School, Ikorodu both came third.

    The winners in the three categories went home with trophies and N50,000 each. The second placed won N30,000 while the third got N20,000. The 4th-10th positions were given N10,000 each while all the students were given branded notebooks with photographs of last year’s winner on the cover of the books.

    The money was paid into Sky Bank account for each of the students and pupils which was opened immediately by officials of Sky bank who were at the event for that purpose.

     

  • Lawmaker urges support for Ajimobi

    A member of the House of Representatives, from Ibadan North Federal constituency, Hon. Abiodun Dada Awoleye, has urged the entire residents of Oyo State to continue to pray and support the state government.

    He said their prayer and support for the present governor in the state is responsible for the landmark achievement recorded by the present administration in the state.

    Awoleye also noted that the achievement is responsible for the massive defection of the people from different political parties in his constituency to the ruling Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN).

    The lawmaker who spoke shortly after he received over 3000 decampees in his constituency with the governor in the state, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, assured the leaders of the ACN in the state that more defectors are still on the way to join the progressive party.

    Awoleye, who praised the effort of the governor in giving the state a new look, stated that the defectors are from the major and strong political parties in the state such as People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Accord Party (AP) and All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) but the good work of the governor attracted them to join the progressives in the state.

    He said: “The ongoing defection into the ruling ACN in the state is as a result of the positive changes that the state is witnessing since the inception of Governor Ajimobi’s administration. He has transformed the state in the areas of education, infrastructural development, urban renewal, health, agriculture, transportation, women and youth’s empowerment and human development. The dynamic representation by the party’s political office holders in the state is also among the rationale behind the mass defection into the party.

    “I want to urge entrants to remain in the party so as to move the state forward. More defectors are on their way to the party in the state, especially in my constituency. The secret behind their defection is because we are still counting our achievements; the more we are counting our feats, the more the people come in to the party. I urge residents of the state to continue in the unalloyed support for the present government.”

    The defectors were led by former councillors, supervisory councillors and members of caretaker committees in Ibadan North Local Government from 2003 to 2011 and were received by the state governor, Senator Isiaq Abiola Ajimobi, ACN chairman in Oyo State, Chief Akin Oke and Hon. Abiodun Dada Awoleye.

  • Don, lawmaker bemoan govt ineffectiveness

    Lagos State University (LASU) senior lecturer Dr Saheed Timehin and Member, House of Representatives Lasun Yusuf have attributed the socio-economic crisis in the country to the ineffectiveness of government.

    The duo believed that Nigerian government has failed the society.

    They spoke during the Ramadan Lecture and Quranic Competition organised by AbdulRasheed Mafe Quranic Foundation in Lagos.

    Lasun, who represents Irepodun/Olorunda/Orolu/Oshogbo Federal Constituency in Osun State, declared that there is no government in Nigeria.

    He said the basic functions of government have not been met, hence it ceases to exist.

    “What I mean practically is that when you look at the constitution, Nigeria has a very good constitution, no doubt about that, but government has ceases to perform its basic functions which are the security and welfare of the people; that is why I find it difficult to agree that government exists,” he said.

    He restated the need for Nigerians, nay Africans to look inward and fashion out the way forward.

    “I don’t know the problem of black man and I have always tried to find out from scholars what is wrong with black man; it looks like we don’t like others and we don’t like rules and God in his infinite mercy created this world with rules and order; as human beings, when you refuse to follow rules and order, then you can’t have a good society. Government needs to appreciate the benefits of orderliness and do its utmost to ensure people obey rules and regulation,” he said.

    Dr Timehin said the major challenge facing the country is insecurity.

    “We find ourselves in this mess because government has failed in providing social welfare packages for the people. One of the essences of governance is that the government should put in place structures to guarantee the total well being of everybody; when a certain section or a considerable portion of the society suffers, then there is going to be a problem.”

    According to him, nobody feels the positive impact of the government.

    “We only feel the negative impact of the government – people suffer on a daily basis and unemployment increases on a daily basis. As a result of these, it is better to just admit that there is no government metaphorically,” he said.

    Founder of the foundation, Alhaji AbdulRasheed Mafe blamed the centralisation of government for the crisis.

    He canvassed decentralisation of power.

    In advance countries, Mafe said, the power to police the populace lies with state and local governments, saying the Federal Government should be more concerned with external security.

    He called for the creation of state police to curb the growing insecurity.

    Mafe, who is the chairman of Mosan-Okunola Local Council Development Area dismissed the argument of politicisation of the force if created at state level.

  • Lawmaker urges Muslims on unity, tolerance

    A lawmaker, Farouk Lawan has urged Muslims to use the Ramadan period to imbibe the spirit of tolerance and unity to build a united country.

    Lawan, who is representing Bagwai/Shanono federal constituency, said “Muslims should use the period of Ramadan to seek forgiveness from others and forgive those that have offended them in order to receive Allah’s blessings”.

    “As Muslims, we are all aware of the importance of Ramadan as a holy month when Allah forgives his servants of all their misdeeds. I urge Nigerians to use this period to also forgive one another of all misgivings that must have happened in the past,” he said.

    He said “time has come for us to unite and embrace one another as brothers and sisters.

    Lawan admonished Muslims to attune their minds to the messages of love, brotherliness and peaceful co-existence, inherent in Islam, urging them to always be their brother’s keeper in whatever they are doing.

  • Lawmaker lays claim to Rivers Speaker’s seat

    Rivers State lawmaker Evans Bipi on Monday night declared himself the speaker.

    Bipi was reported to have led five members of the Assembly to orchestrate Peter Otelemaba Dan-Amachree’s purported impeachment.

    Dan-Amachree, who resumed sitting with 23 lawmakers, maintained that his leadership of the Assembly remained intact. He presided over the deputy governor’s budget amendment presentation.

    But speaking with State House correspondents at the end of the presidential dinner in honour of delegates to the African Union (AU) Special Summit on HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria in Abuja on Monday night, Bipi said he was duly elected by 23 members.

    Reacting to the allegation that only five members, against the rules, made him Speaker, Bipi said: “How would it be five? We formed a quorum. It was a full house and I was duly elected. It was over 23 lawmakers.”

    On a video clip showing him punching somebody on the floor of the chamber, Bipi said: “Myself punching? That is a framed work of Governor Rotimi Amaechi.”

     

  • Lawmaker lifts constituents

    An Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) Chieftain in Alimosho Local Government Area of Lagos State, Princess Uzamat Akinbile, has distributed poverty alleviation materials to residents and community development associations.

    Speaking at the event tagged: Goodwill Project 2013, Akinbile, who is the Supervisory Councillor for Agriculture, Rural and Social Development in Agbado/Oke-Odo Local Council Development Area, said that she was touched by the plight of the residents and the limited resources by community development associations to carry out self–help projects.

    “There is need for public office holders to initiate community-based developmental projects that would uplift rural dwellers and alleviate poverty in the society. I was encouraged to embark on this gesture because there are many skilled residents who, for lack of fund do not have necessary work tools to earn a living while many communities lack basic infrastructure or social amenities to make life worth living especially in the rural areas.”

    Speaking further on the choice of the choice of beneficiaries, Princess Akinbile said they were picked after a careful selection by a committee.

    “We selected 10 outstanding community development associations across the wards in the Agbado/Oke-Odo council area for a N50,000 grant each as support for their self-help developmental projects. We have single handedly constructed and commissioned a culvert project in Ward G to alleviate the untold hardship experienced by road users and we have also rehabilitated a borehole in Temidire community. This is not my first time of reaching out to my people; many residents have benefited from my charity in the past, especially in the areas of health education and free treatment for infirmed mothers and their children. I have given free medical treatment to people and I have also distributed drugs, mosquito nets and other items to empower indigent residents who don’t have any means of livelihood or resources to prosecute their children’s education. I am not tired yet of doing more because it’s a calling to help humanity, not to actualise self-seeking goals,” she added.

    In his message on the occasion, Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola, who was represented by Hon. Dele Ogunsakin, praised Akinbile for her gesture saying :” she has demonstrated outstanding commitment toward grassroot development which is the pivot of national development and one of the cardinal programmes of the Action Congress of Nigeria. toward executing

    About 100 artisans and traders were given various items and tools ranging from hair dryers, clippers, baking oven, freezers, generators, computers, public address systems and digital camera among others.

     

  • Lawmaker plans ICT training for youths

    Lawmaker plans ICT training for youths

    Deputy Whip of the Lagos State House of Assembly Rotimi Abiru has pledged his commitment to providing a platform for Information Communication Technology (ICT) education for members of his constituency.

    Speaking at the graduation of 196 youths he sponsored for ICT training in Bariga, Abiru, who represents Shomolu 2 Constituency, said the thrust of the programme was to assist the government in liberating the young ones from poverty and equip them with skills for self sustenance.

    “We have no other choice than to help our people achieve this desire of ICT education because it is simply the only way. And the forgoing made me to contribute a mite to my constituency through organisation of a free Computer Training programme that over 1000 indigent students have successfully benefited from in the last six years.

    “Three best students among the graduands usually go home with a new computer set and accessories, having excelled in the examination with good grades in Desktop Publishing while two best students from the System Engineering Department are given engineering equipment.

    “Also, 190 students would be admitted for the seventh season of the scheme and the admission process will commence soon for Senior School Certificate Holders”, he said.

    Abiru said he has not regretted investing huge amounts in education as one of the tools to improve the well being of the Bariga people, including distributing 60 November/December Senior Secondary Certificate Examination (SSCE) forms to indigent candidates from different parts of his constituency.

    Lagos State Commissioner for Science and Technology, Biyi Mabadeje, who was a special guest on the occasion, commended the initiative, adding that it further complements the state government’s computerisation programmes.

    He urged the beneficiaries to maximise the training and equipment they have been given, describing it as a fish-net for an enviable future.

    Highpoint of the event was the presentation of an aquarium by some of the students to the lawmaker, who later re-presented the aquarium back to the school.

    Abiru, while explaining his reason for re-presenting the aquarium back to the school, said: “I did not organise this programme with a view of getting anything in return from the beneficiaries. So, I am re-presenting the gift back to the school.”