The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Lawmaker

  • Lawmaker tasks Nigerians on realistic budget

    A lawmaker at the Lagos State House of Assembly representing Eti-Osa II Constituency, Hon. Gbolahan Yishawu, has advocated for a realistic budget to grow the Nigerian economy rather than borrowing indiscriminately.

    The lawmaker, who made this observation during a chat with newsmen at the Assembly, noted that a balanced budget that meets expected projection should be the norm to address the current challenges in the nation’s economy.

    He reiterated that instead of finding a way out to meet satisfactory budget performance annually, the country should make a realistic budget in line with expected revenue, saying instead of struggling “why don’t you have 60 percent projection ab initio.”

    Yishawu reasoned that instead of borrowing from outside the country, the policy should be tilted in favour of borrowing within the system. He said: “we can borrow for instance from the pension fund. With this, we can easily manage the system within ourselves.”

     

  • Lawmaker empowers widows, others

    Member representing Awka North and South Federal Constituency, Hon. Chukwuemeke Nwogbo, yesterday distributed various items worth several millions of naira to widows, youth and women in the area.

    The various items Nwogbo distributed at a constituency/ town hall meeting held at the Capital City Primary School, Awka yesterday included 34 pieces of tricycles known as Keke Napep, six wheel chairs and several walking sticks, 20 sewing machines, 30 pieces of Corona grinding machines, 160 bags of rice, 1000 pieces of unbranded wrappers and undisclosed amount of cash.

    Nwogbo, who is also chairman, Justice Committee in the House of representatives explained that the occasion serves as a gathering point to meet and interact with the electorates from his constituency.

    “This meeting is a feed- back to my constituency, to tell them what I have done and what I intend to do in the future,” he said, even as he promised to extend further assistance to indigents citizens of the community.

    He informed that he has executed some projects including completion and donation of class room blocks for Capital City Secondary School , Awka, provision of 14 hand pump boreholes to various communities, rural electrification of Urum, Amanuke and Awba-Ofemili, etc, in addition to rehabilitation of Nkwo Amenyi market.

     

  • Journalists honour lawmaker

    Chairman, Committee on Information, Strategy, Security and Publicity of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Hon. Segun Olulade was recently honoured with an award by the Crime Reporters Association of Nigerian (CRAN) for his efforts at ensuring that peace reigns in his Epe constituency.

    According to the CRAN team, the award is in recognition of the laudable efforts of Olulade in the attainment of a peaceful, humane and crime-free society especially in his Epe Constituency II of Lagos State where he facilitated the deployment of some men of the Rapid Response Squad (RRS) to curb the menace of armed robbery attacks in the area.

    The team of crime reporters, which comprised Mr. Victor Akindele of the Nigerian Pilot Newspaper, Mr. Femi Akinkungbe of the Leadership Newspaper and Mr Taiwo Jimoh of Nigerian Compass, maintained that Olulade has been very outstanding in his contribution to security and crime reduction in Lagos State and Nigeria as a whole.

    Receiving the award, Olulade said that the award has afforded him an opportunity to re-dedicate himself to the security of lives and properties of the people, while also promising to further bring security issues to the front burner on the floor of the Lagos State House of Assembly.

     

  • Lawmaker, residents lament as erosion unleashes horror onAnambra communities

    Lawmaker, residents lament as erosion unleashes horror onAnambra communities

    Inhabitants of Ekwusigo Local Government Area, Anambra State are in deep sorrow over the menace of erosion in the area. Besides claiming many buildings, two brothers in Urumabiam in Ozubulu, Ignatius Igwemadu and his younger sibling, were said to have died as a result of the menace.

    At press time, many other buildings were under the threat of being submerged by erosion, causing residents to cry out to the Anambra State governor, the Federal Government and donor agencies to come to their aid.

    The House of Assembly member representing the area, Hon. Paully Onyeka, who was in tears when he visited the communities, told The Nation that his people were in serious trouble.

    In a chat with our correspondent, 74-year-old Ichie Ezekwem Ezeana, said Ihembosi community alone had about 14 erosion sites. He said: “We’re appealing to the government to come to our aid. We don’t want to lose more lives before they come. They should come and help us. We are dying in Ekwusigo.”

    At Ibolo erosion site in Oraifite, a mansion erected by 76-year-old Pa Onyejiaka Anazodo is at the verge of being submerged. Already, the perimeter fence has been consumed by erosion while septuagenarian Anazodo was in tears.

    “If the menace finally takes my building, I do not have any place to run to with my family,” he lamented.

    According to him, the traditional ruler of the community, Igwe Daniel Udoji, had made several representations to the state government, all to no avail.

    The erosion problem began in the area in 1996. But, according to Chukwulobe Ifeanyi, another indigene from the area, it was compounded by Consolidated Construction Company (CCC) when it was working on the Onitsha-Owerri Road.

    He said: “The construction giants failed to direct the erosion to Ekulo river. So, all the water from Ichi, Ifite, Oraifite is channelled to this place. If left unchecked, by the next rainy season, this area will be swallowed and many lives will be lost. Numerous buildings will also collapse,” he said.

    The erosion menace in Ekwusigo has cut off some of the major roads linking different villages and communities, like Awo and Ifite. A student of Saint Paul University, Ufondu Emenike, said the Awo road linking Ifite was motorable until the rainy season began this year.

    Also, at Uruokpalamilo village in Ozubulu, the erosion has consumed the building of one Gabriel Asuzu. The site is believed to be the longest erosion site in the entire West African sub-region.

    The building of Ikechukwu Asuzu is also at the verge of being swallowed by the erosion site, which measures about four kilometres. According to 56-year-old Madam Catherine Mbaonu, it began about 15 years ago, and since them, no help has come to the people from any quarters.

    Another indigene of Ozubulu, Anaeto Echezona, told The Nation that the people of the area are not safe anymore, adding that some members of the affected communities had started relocating to other communities.

    He said: “We are dying in this area. We need somebody to rescue us from this problem. The people of the communities no longer feel comfortable in their own land.”

    Some of the erosion sites are man-made; like the sand excavation centre at Egbema Ozubulu, which is five feet deep. Others are natural disasters.

    The Vice President General of Ozubulu Development Union (ODU), Chief Goddy Ulasi, said the Urumabiam erosion site had been there for 20 years. He said most of the people in the area had fled for dear lives to other places.

    “This erosion has cut off brothers, sisters and relatives from one another. Urumabiam village is no more. We have suffered in this place. People can no longer communicate with their neighbours. This has become unbearable to us,’’ he said.

    Hon. Paully Onyeka, representing the constituency, told The Nation that it is unfortunate that communities that had been living in harmony have been separated from their neighbours by erosion.

    “Our Governor, Mr. Peter Obi, I believe, did not know that there is problem here because I know that he is an environment-friendly governor. If he had been aware of this, he would have done something about it.

    “We cannot continue this way. Nobody knows what the future holds for these people. Every community in Ekwusigo has at least 10 erosion sites.

    “We have over 40 erosion sites in the entire Ekwusigo Local Government Area. Therefore, this place should receive priority attention. It has not been a palatable sight in Ekwusigo.

    “We want to bring it to the notice of the state and federal governments as well as international donor agencies. Before now, Anambra had been inundated with erosion stories at Oko, Nanka and Agulu. But today, it is Ekwusigo.

    “This zone should be declared erosion disaster area. All the erosions in other areas combined are not as bad as that of Ekwusigo. We seriously need help from every quarter,” Onyeka lamented.

  • Police arrest two suspects for murder of Kano lawmaker

    Police arrest two suspects for murder of Kano lawmaker

    Two principal suspects have been arrested by the Kano State Police in connection with the weekend killing of Alhaji Danladi Isa Kademi, a lawmaker in the Kano House of Assembly.

    He belonged to the opposition All Nigerian Peoples Party (ANPP). The late assembly member was buried yesterday in his Kademi home town.

    The Commissioner of Police, Mr Ibrahim K. Idris said one of the two suspects has a strong case to answer.

    “We have two suspects in our custody right now, and I must tell you that one of them is a principal suspect. From the facts we have in our files, he has a case to answer,” he said.

    “We are still interrogating the suspects; and more arrests could be made. Our assurance is that within a short period of time, we will get to the root of the matter. Investigation is still on-going; what we cannot tolerate is to allow the case swept under the carpet no matter who is involved,” Idris said.

    Idris also added that for now, Police are working on the theory of assassination, going by information at their disposal.

    Alhaji Danladi who was shot dead by unknown gunmen at his Guest House in Hotoro Muradi was, yesterday according to Islamic rites.

    The Chief Imam of Kademi, led the funeral prayers for the repose of the deceased, also prayed Allah to grant the family members the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.

    Dignitaries at the funeral were the Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso; the immediate past governor of the state, Malam Ibrahim Shekarau and his former Deputy, Alhaji Abdullahi Tijjani Gwarzo; Alhaji Salihu Sagir Takai, who was the ANPP gubernatorial flag bearer in the last election and the Chairman of the ANPP, Alhaji Sani Hashim Hotoro.

    Others were the Speaker of the State Assembly, Alhaji Gambo Salau; the House Majority leader, Hon Hamisu Cidare; commissioners and top government functionaries.

     

     

  • Gunmen abduct Ogun lawmaker’s wife

    Four gunmen yesterday abducted Mrs. Folashade Onademunre, the wife of an Ogun State House of Assembly member, Mr. Samson Onademunre.

    Mrs. Onademuren, whose husband represents Ijebu North East on the platform of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), was said to have been kidnapped at Ijebu–Ode, about 1:30pm.

    The Nation learnt that she was kidnapped with a woman described as her friend and taken to an unknown destination in an unmarked white Opel Astra car while inspecting work on her husband’s site.

    The suspected kidnappers have not contacted Mrs. Onademuren’s family.

    It was gathered that her abductors may have been on her trail, and upon sighting her on the site at Lewu Street, Obalende, Ijebu- Ode, they swooped on her and forcibly took her away.

    Police spokesman Olumuyiwa Adejobi, who confirmed the incident, said some hoodlums carried out the act, adding that the Commissioner of Police, Mr. Ikemefuna Okoye, had visited the scene to strategise on how to rescue Mrs Onademuren.

    He said the police were investigating the matter.

    Adejobi urged the public to assist the police with information that could lead to the woman’s rescue.

  • Lawmaker seeks curriculum review

    National Assembly (NASS) House Leader Mulikat Akande-Adeola has called for a five-year periodic review of school curriculum. She also advocated increase in funding and entrenching indigenous culture in the curriculum to prevent cultural decay.

    She spoke at the 2012 Festival of Arts organised by Funtaj International School in Abuja.

    Akande said: “Everything needs to be revised on a five-yearly basis in the curricula. As things are improving, we will begin to see what the children need to grow. If the curricula in schools, even in the universities have inclusions like skill acquisition, technical training, a lot of people won’t be looking for white collar jobs, people will begin to do things on their own.”

    She praised the school management for promoting indigenous culture apart.

    “It’s a big deal for our children. A lot of them don’t know how to speak their language again. So, when they perform like this, they begin to appreciate their culture. It is something some of them can take, live and build on.”

    She said it is important to entrench local languages in the school curricula because some of the schools don’t consider it important.

    Principal of Funtaj School, Mr John Monger said that the festival of arts is significant to the school following observations that Nigeria’s cultural values are ebbing away.

    According to him, the reasons are that most students find it difficult to be identified with their true origin, and many cannot even speak their native languages; hence it is important for children to know their origin.

    Monger said: “It (event) is an opportunity where the students show their culture in different parts of the country which I think it’s mostly important for a country like Nigeria.

    “I come from a country where our culture has almost thinned out. The culture of England has disappeared over years. I say again to the people of Nigeria that their culture is very important and I think in events like this, the languages, and the dance keeps the country strong.”

     

  • Lawmaker seeks police protection

    A  lawmaker in the Edo State House of Assembly, Hon Kabiru Adjoto, has called for protection by the police over alleged plans by some persons to assassinate him.

    Adjoto alleged part of the plans was to plant a remote control bomb in his office at the House as well as use a petrol tanker to overrun his vehicle along Ewu-Agbede road.

    This was contained in a petition the lawmaker wrote to the Assistant Inspector General of Police in charge of zone 5.

    Adjoto said persons have also been hired by an ex-lawmaker to spray his vehicle with bullets and in the process kill him.

    He said the plans were to be carried out between October and December 2012.

    The lawmaker representing Akoko-Edo Constitency I said he escaped an attempt by a six- man gang to kidnap him in May at Ikakumo village in Akoko-Edo local government area.

    He said he fled into the forest and abandoned his vehicle after which he trekked to his village through bush paths.

    According to him: “Youths from my village followed me to the scene but did not meet them.

    ‘’They (kidnappers) didn’t touch any of the documents and the money I had inside my car, but all the doors of the car were open.”

    Adjoto said he had received anonymous threat calls since he was declared winner of the House of Assembly election in April 2011.

  • Lawmaker, women lift community, flood victims

    Lawmaker, women lift community, flood victims

    A member of the Anambra State House of Assembly representing Aguata II State Constituency, Hon Ikem Uzoezie has constructed a library and teachers’ quarters at Town Primary School Igboukwu. The project cost N10m.

    Uzoezie has also empowered 220 women including widows, the destitute and less-privileged in the 11 wards of the constituency.

    Each of the beneficiaries received between N5, 000 and N10, 000 to support their businesses, even as he donated bags of rice and cartons of tin tomatoes, among other items.

    Uzoezie visited the headquarters of State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) in company of Igboukwu Development Union (IDU) led by Mrs Ngozi Dike, the traditional ruler of Igboukwu Igwe (Dr) Martin Eze and Chairman, Caretaker Committee of the town union, Nze Christian Okoli-Udeafor to donate relief items to flood victims.

    He disclosed that he has graded 10 kilometers of road from Isuofia to Umuona Road, Igboukwu to Ikenga to Ezinifite as well as Igboukwu-Nkwo Market by-pass Road.

    He urged that youths should work hard in any vocation or profession they find themselves to be able to succeed in life. They should not ignore the importance of skill acquisition centres already provided at various places in the 21 local government areas of the state.   The Igboukwu women and their supporters donated seven bags of rice, 200 tubers of rice , three bags of salt, four cartons of tin tomatoes , 10 cartons of noodles, two cartons of toilet soap, two bags of detergent, half carton of magi cubes and some quantity of fairly-used clothing items, among others.

    Receiving the items, the SEMA Executive Director, Dr Nwabufo Ijezie appealed to other communities to emulate them.

    They called for equitable distribution of the items donated. They prayed God to continue to comfort the flood victims, even as they commended Governor Peter Obi on his timely commitment to the welfare of the victims.

    Igwe Eze, who came with his wife Ego, in his remarks, noted that “the flood was caused by the reckless lifestyle of our people. We should have a change of attitude to ensure that water channels are not blocked while the Igboukwu woman leader, Mrs Dike encouraged them to take solace in God as He watches over the affairs of men.

  • Lawmaker, women lift community, flood victims

    A member of the Anambra State House of Assembly representing Aguata II State Constituency, Hon Ikem Uzoezie has constructed a library and teachers’ quarters at Town Primary School Igboukwu. The project cost N10m.

    Uzoezie has also empowered 220 women including widows, the destitute and less-privileged in the 11 wards of the constituency.

    Each of the beneficiaries received between N5, 000 and N10, 000 to support their businesses, even as he donated bags of rice and cartons of tin tomatoes, among other items.

    Uzoezie visited the headquarters of State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) in company of Igboukwu Development Union (IDU) led by Mrs Ngozi Dike, the traditional ruler of Igboukwu Igwe (Dr) Martin Eze and Chairman, Caretaker Committee of the town union, Nze Christian Okoli-Udeafor to donate relief items to flood victims.

    He disclosed that he has graded 10 kilometers of road from Isuofia to Umuona Road, Igboukwu to Ikenga to Ezinifite as well as Igboukwu-Nkwo Market by-pass Road.

    He urged that youths should work hard in any vocation or profession they find themselves to be able to succeed in life. They should not ignore the importance of skill acquisition centres already provided at various places in the 21 local government areas of the state.   The Igboukwu women and their supporters donated seven bags of rice, 200 tubers of rice , three bags of salt, four cartons of tin tomatoes , 10 cartons of noodles, two cartons of toilet soap, two bags of detergent, half carton of magi cubes and some quantity of fairly-used clothing items, among others.

    Receiving the items, the SEMA Executive Director, Dr Nwabufo Ijezie appealed to other communities to emulate them.

    They called for equitable distribution of the items donated. They prayed God to continue to comfort the flood victims, even as they commended Governor Peter Obi on his timely commitment to the welfare of the victims.

    Igwe Eze, who came with his wife Ego, in his remarks, noted that “the flood was caused by the reckless lifestyle of our people. We should have a change of attitude to ensure that water channels are not blocked while the Igboukwu woman leader, Mrs Dike encouraged them to take solace in God as He watches over the affairs of men.