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Tag: Lawmaker

  • I was unlawfully suspended, says APC lawmaker

    I was unlawfully suspended, says APC lawmaker

    The lawmaker representing Ikwerre Constituency in Rivers State House of Assembly, Azubike Nwanjoku, has said he was unlawfully suspended by his colleagues, who are members of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    Nwanjoku, an All Progressives Congress (APC) member, who is also the president-general of Ikwerre Youth Movement (IYM) International, said yesterday in Port Harcourt that his alleged offence was opposing the war Governor Nyesom Wike declared against the Commander of the Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad (F-SARS) in the state, Mr. Akin Fakorede, a lawyer, calling for his transfer.

    The Ikuinyi-Owaji Ibani-led assembly, on December 4, suspended the APC legislator for alleged misconduct. Fifteen PDP lawmakers supported the suspension, while the two APC lawmakers in attendance voted against the decision. The house comprises six APC lawmakers and 26 PDP legislators.

    Nwanjoku said his constituents now live in fear of robbers, cultists, kidnappers and can no longer go to farm.

    He alleged that women were defiled on their farms on a daily basis, men were beheaded and youths were harassed, which he noted formed his position on the need for continued existence of F-SARS.

    The lawmaker said: “I stand firmly by my position, as published by The Nation of November 22 headlined: ‘Leave us out of petition on F-SARS.’ I inconsolably oppose the resolution of the house on the issue, which was premised on the malice of members, without due consideration of the feelings of their constituents.

    “While the resolution was passed, the Speaker was protected and escorted to and from work by men of the same police force, while his Andoni constituents were left at the mercy of crimes in the society. These expected police reforms I subscribe to, but I do not subscribe to #EndSARS. These reforms I support, but not the scrapping of F-SARS.

  • Lawmaker seeks constitutional roles for traditional rulers

    A lawmaker, Mr Victor Akande, called for constitutional roles for traditional rulers to accelerate peaceful coexistence and national development.

    Akande, who represents Ojo Constituency I in the Lagos State House of Assembly, made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos.

    The lawmaker spoke during the conferment of a chieftaincy title on him as the Otunba Amo Eto of Ojokoro by Oba Rilwan Oluwalambe of Ojokoroland in Lagos.

    NAN reports that Akande’s wife, Olaide, was also made the Yeye Amo Eto of the area.

    According to him, the constitutional roles for the traditional institutions will also allow the royal fathers to effectively contribute to development in the society.

    “As political office holders, we are going back to our communities and become subjects of the traditional institution, so we should respect the institution while in office,’’ he said.

    He, however, urged traditional rulers to refrain from begging politicians for money to be relevant in the society.

    “They should do what is right at all times and guide our traditional institutions jealously.’’

    Akande, who is the Chairman, House Committee on Central Business District (CBD), also urged the constituted authorities to respect royal institution by preserving the cultural heritage.

    He said the roles expected to be played by the traditional institutions under democratic setting were been underestimated.

    Akande said Nigeria had not achieved sustainable development because government had not effectively harnessed potential of the traditional institutions.

  • Leadership Award: APC, Assembly, others greet Osun lawmaker

    The Osun State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has congratulated the lawmaker representing Obokun State Constituency in the House of Assembly, Olatunbosun Oyintiloye, for winning the Most Outstanding House of Assembly Member in Nigeria Award.

    The awards ceremony was held at the Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Centre in Abuja on December 2.

    The award acknowledged Oyintiloye’s contributions to law-making for good governance and community development.

    A congratulatory message in Osogbo, the state capital, by Osun State APC’s Director of Publicity, Research and Strategy, Kunle Oyatomi, said: “First, this award stands Osun high in the country’s quality legislation category and, secondly, raises hope for youth participation in the legislative arm of government.

    “For a young first-timer legislator to win that award speaks to the dedication and diligence of Oyintiloye. It sets a remarkable example for youths, who may be interested in the legislative process of the future.

    “The party celebrates your achievement and feels proud that despite your being new in the House of Assembly, you have set a record within two years of participation to clinch the Most Outstanding House of Assembly Member in Nigeria Award. This is a sign of better things to come. The party urges you and other members of the Osun State House of Assembly to keep the Omoluabi flag flying.”

     

  • Lawmaker to empower 300 with ICT skill

    A lawmaker, Rasheed Makinde has flagged off a six-month computer literacy training programme.

    It is aimed at grooming 300 Information Communication Technology (ICT) savvy individuals.

    Makinde, who represents Ifako Ijaiye II constituency at Lagos State House of Assembly, said the population of jobless youths posed grave challenge for the country.

    He said programmes like this (ICT training) can equip the youths to have a grip of their lives and curb social vices traceable to youths’ idleness.

    “The training covers desktop publishing, graphic and web design application. The youths’ development is at the heart of our political focus because they take the largest chunk of our population and we need to take care of them,” Makinde said.

    Ojokoro Local Council Development Area Chairman Hameed Tijani urged all stakeholders to help youths attain the highest heights.

    “Dedication is key and they can make their contributions towards our nation’s economic development because the world is evolving.

    “Your creative ability is important, ability to think out of the box and impact your world positively. I urged you not to use the knowledge for fraud,” Tijani said.

    Leader of the Ojokoro LCDA legislative house Abdul-Azeez Kolawole, said: “This gesture is what we have been agitating for. We at Ojokoro are all against the old ways of empowering the youths, whereby you ask people to come for solar energy training for just a day; that to me is not an empowerment but extortion.  This is the type of programme we want and will give our total support.”

    Ojokoro Community Development Committee Chairman Alhaji Hamzat Azeez, praised Makinde for the initiative.

    “We have a representative so committed to the yearnings of the people and our youths, you know there is problem of unemployment everywhere and skill acquisition is a bail out poverty.

    “Makinde is packaging this programme which is really going to help our youths to acquire skills, for them to be about to establish on their own.”

     

  • Lawmaker to empower 300 with ICT skill

    A lawmaker, Rasheed Makinde has flagged off a six-month computer literacy training programme.

    It is aimed at grooming 300 Information Communication Technology (ICT) savvy individuals.

    Makinde, who represents Ifako Ijaiye II constituency at Lagos State House of Assembly, said the population of jobless youths posed grave challenge for the country.

    He said programmes like this (ICT training) can equip the youths to have a grip of their lives and curb social vices traceable to youths’ idleness.

    “The training covers desktop publishing, graphic and web design application. The youths’ development is at the heart of our political focus because they take the largest chunk of our population and we need to take care of them,” Makinde said.

    Ojokoro Local Council Development Area Chairman Hameed Tijani urged all stakeholders to help youths attain the highest heights.

    “Dedication is key and they can make their contributions towards our nation’s economic development because the world is evolving.

    “Your creative ability is important, ability to think out of the box and impact your world positively. I urged you not to use the knowledge for fraud,” Tijani said.

    Leader of the Ojokoro LCDA legislative house Abdul-Azeez Kolawole, said: “This gesture is what we have been agitating for. We at Ojokoro are all against the old ways of empowering the youths, whereby you ask people to come for solar energy training for just a day; that to me is not an empowerment but extortion.  This is the type of programme we want and will give our total support.”

    Ojokoro Community Development Committee Chairman Alhaji Hamzat Azeez, praised Makinde for the initiative.

    “We have a representative so committed to the yearnings of the people and our youths, you know there is problem of unemployment everywhere and skill acquisition is a bail out poverty.

    “Makinde is packaging this programme which is really going to help our youths to acquire skills, for them to be about to establish on their own.”

     

  • Rivers Speaker denies reception of police request to produce accused lawmaker

    Rivers State House of Assembly Speaker Ikwunyu Iwaji-Ibani has denied receiving any letter urging him to make available a member of the House of Assembly for interrogation over an alleged membership of an armed robbery gang.

    Ibani made the denial following a publication by The Nation that a suspect alleged that the lawmaker is a member of his criminal gang.

    The speaker said: “My attention has been drawn to a publication in one of the national dailies, of October, 9 2017, titled “Law maker is member of my gang, alleges robber”.

    “In the report,  one Justice Oti (aka High Tension),  who is a suspected notorious kidnapper,  robber and murder, alleged that a lawmaker in Rivers state House of Assembly is a member of his gang.

    “The publication also stated that the Police High command if the state command had written to the Speaker,  House of the state House of Assembly, Ikwunyi Owaji -Ibani to release the  law maker for  interview,  by the Federal Special Anti-robber  Squad(F-SARS), headed by Mr.  Akin Fakorode.

    “I am addressing this press statement for record purposes. In the first place,  as Speaker, Rivers State House of Assembly,  it is the standard norm that if any member of Rivers state House of Assembly is needed by any security agency for interview or interrogation,  the agency that is so responsible will write through the DO,  who is a security personnel from the Nigerian police and is resident in Assembly complex.

    “He is the person that will then inform the Speaker that a member is needed for intorragtion or interview by the police or the Department of State security(DSS), or any other security agency.

    “But as I speak to you now (yesterday),  there is no letter, there is no invitation letter from the Police High command,  either from the commissioner of Police,  or any divisional police headquarter,  asking the Speaker,  Rivers State House of Assembly to release any member,  who is involved in any form of criminality.

    “I stand here to say it again so that the public should be able to know that as Speaker,  Rivers state House of Assembly,  we follow all standard procedure as members of Rivers State House of Assembly, and as one who heads this institution,  I believe that as law abiding citizen outside the office we occupy,  that if other agencies of government seeks assistance  that we should oblige because we owe our people and this nation a duty to do so.

    “l’m refuting in clear terms that the office of Speaker Rivers state House of Assembly has not received any correspondence  from the office of the commissioner of Police,  or any other  security agency,  asking or requesting for the release of a member of Rivers State House of Assembly alleged to be involved in any criminality. This should be noted.

    “Let me inform everyone that we will continue to be law abiding, and if there is need,  where there is request,  we will not hesitate to do so.”

  • Rivers lawmaker is a member of my gang, alleges ‘robber’

    Rivers lawmaker is a member of my gang, alleges ‘robber’

    A suspected notorious kidnapper, robber and murderer, Justice Oti, aka High Tension, has alleged that a Rivers lawmaker  is a member of his gang.

    Oti, an indigene of Odisama in Ahoada East Local Government,  who was born on March 7, 1993, admitted being a member of Icelander cult, saying he killed 15 members of a rival Greenlander cult.

    He said yesterday in Port Harcourt that he killed because members of Greenlander killed over 15 Icelander members.

    Oti, who embraced the amnesty offer of the Governor Nyesom Wike administration, said he did not completely surrender his arms and ammunition, adding that  Greenlander members never submitted their guns, but only deceived members of the amnesty committee by surrendering sticks.

    The suspected kidnapper, who was arrested in Bauchi State, said he killed people during reprisals.

    He was, however, silent on the roles played by the Rivers lawmaker in his gang.

    Oti said when his deputy,  Lucky aka Iron, was killed by the rival cult and his head was cut and taken away, with the Greenlander members threatening to also kill him, he escaped to Bauchi State after hiding his AK-47 rifle and ammunition in his village.

    The police command has written to the Speaker of the House of Assembly, Ikuinyi-Owaji Ibani, to release the Rivers lawmaker for interview by the Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad (F-SARS), headed by Mr. Akin Fakorede.

    The letter, obtained through a source close to Police Commissioner Zaki Ahmed, was dated October 9, with the command indicating that it was investigating cases of kidnapping and murder in Ahoada East Local Government involving Oti and members of his gang.

    It also indicated that inviting the Rivers lawmaker was to facilitate the command’s investigation, with the Speaker asked to release the lawmaker for interview with the commander of F-SARS on October 12  at noon.

    The legislator was contacted for his reaction through his mobile line, from 6:44 pm., but he did not pick his calls. An SMS sent to him was not responded to last night.

    Ahmed said his command had zero tolerance for crimes.

    Also paraded yesterday was Blessed Francis, a 20-year-old 200 level Geology student of University of Port Harcourt (UNIPORT), who was arrested in Port Harcourt for alleged burglary and robbery, barely three months after another UNIPORT undergraduate, Ifeanyi Dike, was arrested for alleged ritual killing. He is still standing trial.

    A gang of an alleged three gun-running youths, comprising two ND-2 students of Rivers State Polytechnic, Port Harcourt, Frank Nwaaknma, 22, from Ibaa, Emohua Local Government and Ujie Francis, from Obudu in Cross River State, was  also arrested.

    The third member of the gang, Chigozie Junior Koro, 32, from Ogbakiri in Emohua Council said  he and Nwaaknma only wanted to assist Francis (Ujie) to sell for N100,000, a pistol he claimed to have picked during a communal clash in his village, with a promise to give them N10,000, before they were nabbed by the police.

    A 27-year-old suspect, Daniel Okpougo, an indigene of Edoha in Ahoada East Local Government, who was arrested with ammunition, alleged that High Tension (Oti) killed his uncle and he travelled to Patani in Delta State to buy bullets to avenge his death, before he was arrested on East West Road.

    Others held for crimes include Loveday Opi, an indigene of Egbema in Ogba/Egbeme/Ndoni Council and Sunday Didia, who hails from Egbeda in Emohua Local Government, both in Rivers State, as well as Kingsley Ofomata from Imo State, John Elvis, an indigene of Auchi in Edo State and Chimankpa Ukomwa from Orlu in Imo State.

  • Stop cutting roads, lawmaker warns companies

    A member of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Mrs. Adefunmilayo Tejuoso, has condemned the nonchalant attitude of people to government property and continued misuse of state or national assets to achieve selfish gains.

    She said government was spending huge funds to fix a number of infrastructural facilities such as roads, which hardly lasted a year before they got damaged by people through abuse.

    Mrs Tejuoso, representing Mushin Constituency 1 in the Assembly, spoke at a constituency stakeholders’ meeting in Lagos.

    She noted that despite the state government fixing 114 roads across the state this year, many of the complaints of the people at the stakeholders’ meeting were on bad roads.

    Mrs Tejuoso said: “I can confirm to you that our roads are good. But our people must stop doing the wrong things with our road. Many people don’t respect government property. For instance, you can’t have tanker drivers parking on the road, repairing their vehicles and draining the oil and expect the road to be durable; it is going to cause wear and tear fast on that road.”

    She also condemned the practice of cutting the road by people and companies erecting telecommunication, electricity and water cables and leaving the place uncovered for a long time or haphazardly done.

    “We don’t need people dropping their refuse on the roadside; it is not only unhygienic, it causes a colossal damage to the road when it rains,” she lamented.

    According to the lawmaker, the suggestions and demands made in the previous two meetings by the people have been forwarded to the Executive arm of government, adding, “Most of the infrastructural projects, which are evident and visible across the state are the outcome of the 2015 and 2016 meetings.”

    She said the eighth Assembly has attended to over 600 petitions conclusively out of about 850 received.

  • Reps ‘ll promote unity, says Ondo lawmaker

    A member, of the House of Representatives, Hon  Bamidele Baderinwa, has said that the National Assembly will continue to make legislations that would promote the unity of the country.

    According to the lawmaker representing Idanre/Ifedore Constituency in Ondo State, the legislature played prominent roles in the nation building.

    Baderinwa, who spoke in his home town, Ero,  noted that lawmakers are duty bound to portray the interest of the electorate at the National Assembly.

    He emphasised that on resumption from the recess, they would be more energised and refreshed to deliver on the dividends of democracy to citizenry.

    His words: ”The moment we return from recess, we will be able to do more for our people that voted us and Nigeria will be better for it.

    “Let me assure you that we feel the pulse of Nigerians and we will ensure the Executive arm do the right things.”

    Baderinwa berated the situation where hate speeches to leadership have become the order of the day.

    He said: “It is not enough to start raining abuses on those at the helm of affairs, what they need is constructive criticism to aid them in their art of governance.

    “One need not take the leadership to the cleaner by embarking on hate speeches on electronic, print and social media to drive out points home.”

    The legislator noted that there are better ways of calling the attention of leaders to issues that bothered on the development of the country.

    He promised to continuously prioritise the interest of the people in his constituency.

    According to him, he would ensure that people in his constituency get the true value of dividends of democracy they craved for and not betray their trust.

  • Lawmaker hails Lagos Governor on renovation of schools

    Lawmaker hails Lagos Governor on renovation of schools

    Chairman, Committee on Education of the Lagos State House of Assembly Olanrewaju Ogunyemi has praised Governor Akinwunmi Ambode for the on-going renovation of schools and his achievements in the education sector in the state.

    Ogunyemi spoke yesterday during a tour by his committee of some of the renovated public schools in the state.

    The lawmaker said the committee members were impressed with the renovation and rehabilitation they saw.

    Schools visited by the committee included Model College, Meiran, Millennium Junior and Senior Secondary School, Egbeda, Estate Junior High School, Ifako/Ijaiye, and Dairy Farm Senior Secondary School, Agege.

    He said: “This government must be commended for their efforts. The governor has really done so much in the last two years, particularly in overhauling infrastructure in the education sector. I have seen schools that have been renovated and I give kudos to the governor because he has done very well.

    “What we have seen so far shows that there is so much hope for education in the state and I would say that the state of complete dilapidation of infrastructure in the schools has been turned around.

    “I must commend the governor and state the Ministry of Education ably led by the Deputy Governor, Dr. Oluranti Adebule for a job well done, and for monitoring the contractors to deliver a good job.”

    Ogunyemi also had kind words for the Mudashiru Ajayi Obasa-led state House of Assembly “for ensuring that the executive is closely monitored, for appropriating funds, for following up and monitoring to make sure that the fund expended is put to good use.”

    On the renovation work done at the Model College, Meiran, Ogunyemi said: “We visited the school over one year ago and we complained about the state of facilities there. The hostel accommodation, the toilets, the classrooms, the water system have improved.

    “The House of Assembly is happy that our governor is working and that the Ministry of Education is responsive to the observation of the House.

    “I think on the whole, we are pleased that our oversight function is yielding the desired results. We came and we spoke, while the government has responded.”

    The politician, who promised that the committee would pay regular assessment visits to the renovated schools, called for more support for the state government.