The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Mudashiru Obasa

  • Executive, legislature ‘ll work together from May 29, say Sanwo-Olu, Obasa

    LAGOS State Governor-elect Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu and House of Assembly Speaker Mudashiru Obasa have promised that the executive and the legislature would work together from May 29.

    Sanwo-Olu and Obasa both spoke at the opening of a four-day Induction workshop for 9th Assembly members-elect of the Lagos State House of Assembly yesterday at the Golden Tulip Hotel, Festac, Lagos.

    The Theme of the event is: “Responsive representation and quality legislation as prerequisites to good governance.”

    Sanwo-Olu expressed delight that he attended the “epoch-making event”, promising to work with the Ninth Assembly to achieve the goal of governance.

    Read also: Forum to Sanwo-Olu: give us exco slots

    The governor-elect stated that the topic of the workshop has put everybody on the rightful platform, “especially as the populace have elected all of us from the APC to represent them”.

    He stressed that as the representatives of the people, the executive and the legislature must ensure good governance, proper and adequate representation.

    “You will not only be engaging yourselves, but you will also be thinking deep on how to represent your people well based on the trust.

    “We are not the most intelligent, but the people chose us. You will spend the rest two days for quality discuss so that the people would begin to feel the impact of our discussions so that you will represent them well.

    “I am excited because I will be working with people that have excelled in their chosen professions, with the Clerk and the staff of the Assembly, I believe that we will work together and put in proper perspective the responsibilities of the legislature.

    “We have different responsibilities, but we are in office to achieve a common goal. I want to appeal to us that we will be seeing a government that understands the importance of the legislature,” he said.

    Sanwoolu emphasised that he had worked with the Assembly in the past as he had the opportunity to present the budget of the state as the Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning on two occasions.

    He promised to ensure that “we fulfill our campaign promises to the people and the political class would see that they have not made any mistake in putting us in offices.

    “I will need your support and anything that you need to work properly without any fear would be put on the tables. It would not just be work, work, work, but what are the things that we could do together to make the whole thing work better.

    “I believe that Lagosians and Nigerians would be better off for the training session you are going through now,” he said.

    To Obasa, while there is separation  of power and fusion of power, the cooperation between the executive and the legislature had just started.

    He promised that the Assembly would work with the executive for the benefit of the people.

     

  • Lagos Assembly seeks passage of Electricity Reform Act by National Assembly

    Lagos State House of Assembly has urged the National Assembly to expedite action on the passage of the Electricity Reform Act 2018.

    It also called on the Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola, to order Eko and Ikeja Distribution Companies (DISCOs) to phase out metering system and provide pre-paid meters to Lagos residents.

    This followed a motion moved by some lawmakers in the Assembly at plenary on Tuesday.

    The motion reads: “The House resolves to call on the National Assembly to amend the schedule two of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to allow states and local governments to generate electricity.

    “The National Assembly should expedite action on the Electricity Reform Act 2018.

    Read Also: Buhari beats Atiku in Lagos State

    “The House calls on the Minister of Power and the National Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) to call on Eko and Ikeja DISCOs to desist from taking transformers away from consumers over nonpayment of bills.

    “The minister and NERC should ensure the distribution of prepaid meters to consumers and the Consumer Protection Agency should ensure that the rights of consumers in Lagos State are protected.”

    The Assembly Speaker, Mudashiru Obasa, emphasised the need for the Federal Government to allow states or local governments that can generate electricity to do so.

    Obasa added that concentrating electricity generation in the hands of the Federal Government, when there are no resources to do so, was wrong.

    He then ordered the Clerk of the House, Mr. Azeez Sanni, to write the National Assembly and the Minister of Power, Works and Housing on the resolution of the House on the matter.

  • Gridlock: Lagos Assembly calls for intensive traffic control by LASTMA

    Owing to perenial gridlock on Lagos roads, the State House of Assembly has urged Governor Akinwunmi Ambode to direct officials of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) and Vehicle Inspection Service (VIS) to intensify traffic control in the state.

    According to the Speaker, Hon. Mudashiru Obasa, the traffic situation in the state has become worrisome.

    The Speaker,  who raised the matter on the floor of the House during plenary yesterday, said it was the responsibility and duty of the state government to ensure free flow of traffic in the state.

    “This is one of the duties of LASTMA. We should call on LASTMA and Governor Akinwunmi Ambode to order the leaders of LASTMA to ensure free flow of traffic in the state.

    “LASTMA officials should stop folding their arms, while motorists and okada riders do whatever they like on the roads. Any official that fails to perform his or her duty should be sanctioned. We need to take adequate steps on this,” he said.

    The Speaker also ordered the clerk of the House, Mr. Azeez Sanni to write the family of the LASTMA official, Adeyemo Rotimi that was killed by an officer of the Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad (FSARS), Joseph Oki in Iyana Ipaja area of the state in November 2018.

    He added that that the House Committee on Transport should pay a courtesy call on the family of the deceased.

    “Something must be done about the gridlock all the same. The LASTMA officials are paid salaries. We know that this is Yuletide period, but we must ensure that there is free flow of traffic in the state.

    “We will write the Governor to call on LASTMA and VIS to ensure free flow of traffic on all our roads in Lagos State while motorists should also obey traffic laws.

    “We sympathize with LASTMA for losing one of their personnel, and we want the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice in the state to initiate a process of compensation for the family of the deceased,” he said.

    It will be recalled that a police inspector attached to the Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad (FSARS), Ikeja allegedly shot dead an official with the Lagos State Transport Management Authority (LASTMA) while controlling traffic on Wednesday 28, November, 2018.

    Read Also: LASTMA officials as endangered species

    Sources said that the LASTMA official, named Adeyemo Rotimi, was shot dead at Iyana Ipaja area of Lagos.

    The LASTMA official was shot dead when he challenged the policeman, identified as Joseph Oki, for disobeying traffic rules.

    The victim, popularly known as ‘Baba Ibeji’, had stopped the police inspector who was driving a cream coloured Highlander jeep with registration number plate LSR 277 BJ to allow free flow of traffic.

    It was gathered that the LASTMA official reportedly scolded the policeman for flouting traffic rules.

    According to sources, the policeman, who felt insulted by Adeyemo’s warning, allegedly pulled a pistol and shot the LASTMA official in the eye, killing him on the spot.

    In his contribution to the matter, the Chief Whip, Hon. Rotimi Abiru (Shomolu 2) advised that residents of the state should behave themselves on the road.

    Abiru stated that the vehicles on the roads are not all owned by the government, adding that this is ember period and that there are more activities in Lagos.

    Also contributing, Hon. Bisi Yusuf (Alimosho 1)  said that the manhour lost on the road is much. “We should appeal to the state government to return the power of LASTMA because they cannot arrest traffic offenders now. The way LASTMA officials are killed on our roads is inhuman.

    “Just three weeks ago, a LASTMA official stopped a vehicle that was going on one way, then a police officer shot the LASTMA official at close range. The state government should give LASTMA power as it happens in others places. They have been subjected to serious humiliation,” he said.

    The Leader of the House, Hon. Sanai Agunbiade stated that it would be proper if the letter of condolence was handed over to the family of the deceased LASTMA official by the Chairman of the House Committee on Transport.

    He said that the FSARS officer, who shot the LASTMA officer should be sanctioned post humously. “We should demand on behalf of the LASTMA family that died that the police should compensate members of his family,” he said.

  • Lagos Assembly tasks Ambode on menace of drug abuse

    calls for aggressive campaign

    Lagos State House of Assembly at plenary on Monday passed a resolution calling on Governor Akinwunmi Ambode and relevant stakeholders to embark on aggressive campaigns against the menace of drug abuse.

    The resolution was sequel to a motion moved by Hon. Desmond Elliot who represents Surulere constituency 1.

    In the motion titled ‘Need to Curb the Menace of Drug Abuse Among Youths in Lagos State’ Elliot said the adverse effectsl of hard drugs on youths and the society is huge and that there is need to check the trend.

    According to him, youths have formed the habit of using drugs  to get high, perform better in certain situation and to change their perception of reality or for other purposes.

    The drugs, he said includes cocaine, heroin, cannabis, India hemp and seemingly harmless drugs over the counter like cough syrups with codeine, rubber, gum, septic tank fumes, urine concentrates, Colorado, skushi, loud and kerosene gas.

    The motion reads in part, “The House is aware that youths now abuse a combination of these substances with two popular drugs; tramadol and codeine which are commonly used for the treatment of cough and severe pains.

    “The House is concerned that those mostly involved in this practice are unqualified pharmacists, nurses and road side hawkers selling to these young people who consequently commit sexual crimes and other violent acts.

    “This House is worried that this abuse has damning and adverse health effects, which include mental disorder, liver cirrhosis and many socioeconomic consequences like school dropout cultism, armed robbery and other related crimes in the state.

    “The House called on the Chairman, Task Force on Environment and Special Offences (Enforcement) Unit to carry out strick enforcement against sale of drugs by road side hawkers,” he said.

    Read Also: Ambode urges association to support govt’s programme

    “The House called on the Pharmaceutical Board to direct its members to restrained from selling drugs particularly those that required prescription over the counter without prescription from qualified physicians.”

    The lawmakers also called on other relevant authorities to wake up to their responsibilities and address issues relating to the sales, distribution circulation of the said drugs and other ones.

    Attributing lack of good parenting as responsible for aggravation and proliferation  of hard drugs among youths, Hon. Bisi Yusuf, (Alimosho 1 constituency) said many had been sent to their early graves because of drugs.

    Hon.Segun Olulade (Epe constituency  2) who seconded the motion, commended the prime mover and urged the House to call on Ambode to expedite action in signing the Mental Health bill into law and ensure the implementation to curb the effect of hard drugs.

    Hon.Adefunmilayo Tejuoso (Mushin constituency I), said the issue should not be taken with levity, saying that the government needed to look into the activities of chemists (licence and unlicensed).

    The Majority Leader,  Hon. Sanai Agunbiade described  drug abuse among youths as “a big threat to the nation”, calling for apprehension of drug addicts and engaging them in Community Service.

    While Speaker, Hon. Mudashiru Obasa,  called on artistes to collaborate with the government in the campaign against drugs, urging legislators to embark on advocacy in their respectively constituencies.

    While supporting aggressive campaign and sensitization on the ills of taking hard drugs, Obasa however warned against indiscriminate closure of shops.

  • Lagos Assembly denies planning to impeach Ambode

    Lagos State House of Assembly has denied the rumour going round, both in the social media and regular media, that it was planning to impeach the Governor of the state, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode.

    Speaking at plenary on Monday, the Speaker of the House, Hon. Mudashiru Obasa said that there was no truth in the rumour.

    Obasa revealed that he had received telephone calls and enquiries from prominent members of the public over the alleged impeachment moves against Ambode.

    According to him, Solidarity Group of Nigeria and a faction of the APC in Lagos State, led by Mr. Fuad Oki had been insinuating that the lawmakers in the state threatened the Governor to open the state treasury for them, and that they threatened to impeach him if he failed to do so.

    “We are not embarking on any impeachment process against the governor now. If there would be an impeachment, it would be from the governor and if there would not be any need for impeachment, it would be from him based on his actions.

    “Even at that, impeachment is constitutional, so many speakers, senate presidents, presidents and others have been impeached all over the world. So, nobody can threaten us if it happens because we are representatives of the people.

    “We don’t need the wailers to guide us in performing our duties. It is not out of place for us to do our job,” he said.

    The Speaker added that if there was going to be an impeachment, It would be done in the open, but that there was nothing like that for now, adding that the people would know if any impeachment against the governor would happen.

    He however, promised that the Assembly was working with the governor to ensure peace and development in the state.

    This was corroborated by the Majority Leader, Hon. Sanai Agunbiade, who stated that the constitutional procedure for impeachment does not harbour secrecy, adding that members of the public would know if it would happen.

    It will be recalled that the Assembly last week ordered the 20 Local Governments and 37 Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) in the state to direct the operators of Private Sector Participation (PSP) involved in refuse clearing in the state to go back to work.

    The House had also disowned Visionscape that was contracted by Ambode to take over refuse clearing job in the state from the PSP Operators over one year ago.

    It was added that the state government would have to return all the money they have paid to Visionscape and that the heaps of refuse all over the state was an indication that the organisation lacked the capacity to do the job.

  • Lagos Speaker urges prayer for peaceful 2019 elections

    Lagos State House of Assembly Speaker Mudashiru Obasa has called on the citizens to continue to pray for peaceful general elections next year.

    Obasa urged the people to desist from actions and utterances that could negatively affect the country’s peaceful co-existence.

    The Speaker’s admonition was contained in his statement to Nigerians on the celebration of the country’s 58th Independence Anniversary yesterday by his Chief Press Secretary, Musbau Rasak.

    “It’s a very crucial period in Nigeria and as we move towards the 2019 general elections. I want to call on Nigerians to continue to pray for peace to reign before, during and after the elections.

    “We must also eschew violence and avoid actions and utterances that can breach public peace. We must promote measures and programmes that will enhance the unity of this country.

    “As parents and citizens, we must be vigilant and be watchful of friends our children and wards associate with. We must be vigilant of events in our environment and make sure we report suspicious characters and groups to security agencies in order to nip crimes in the bud.

    “As youths, we should not allow ourselves to be used as agents of violence. We should not give in to unscrupulous elements in the society, who will want to take advantage of our vulnerability to cause mayhem and disturb public peace,” Obasa said.

  • Obasa denies social media report on moves to impeach Ambode

    Says relationship with Governor remains cordial

     

    Against speculations especially in the social media on impeachment mive by the Lagos State House of Assembly against Governor Akinwunmi Ambode, Speaker of the Assembly, Hon. Mudashiru Obasa has said there is nothing of the sort by the House.

    Speaking through his Chief Press Secretary, Razak Musibau,  Obasa said there is no iota of truth in the rumour.

    Report had appeared on some social media platform on Tuesday  that the Speaker wrote the Governor not to go ahead with the plans to buy the nomination form of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to re-contest his seat for second term.

    Read Also: No rift with Tinubu – Ambode

    The Speaker was alleged to have told the governor not to re-contest or risk being impeached if he goes ahead with the plans.

    Musibau however, said the relationship between the governor and speaker remain “smooth and solid”.

    “This is political. Lot of information are being circulated here and there but there is no iota of truth in the report. The relationship between the Governor and Speaker is smooth and solid,” Razak said.

  • NASS invasion: Speakers’ Chairman commends Osinbajo’s intervention

    Chairman, Conference of Speakers of State Legislatures of Nigeria, Mudashiru Obasa has commended the acting President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, for his timely action on the invasion of the National Assembly by the men of the Department of State Security (DSS) on Tuesday.

    Obasa reacted to the invasion in a press statement describing it as sacriligeous and inimical to the growth of democratic values and ideals.

    Obasa who is also the Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly described Osinbajo’s action as very timely which has not only succeeded in cooling the already heated polity but has also brought credibility to the Federal Government both at home and abroad.

    “The acting President has acted timely and this has confirmed that the Presidency has no hand in the invasion of the National Assembly. This has brought credibility to the government and show its sincere commitment to rule of law and justice,” Obasa said.

    Read Also: N’ Assembly siege unacceptable – Osinbajo

    Obasa condemned the invasion describing it as a desecration of the sanctity of the Parliament. “The action of the DSS is condemnable because it’s a desceration of the sanctity of the Parliament. But the acting President has restored the pride of the Parliament through his timely action,” he said.

    The Chairman of the Speakers Conference further reiterated that he and his colleagues had warned in the communique issued at the end of their meeting in Lagos at the weekend that the Nigeria Police and in essence other security agencies should be more professional and apolitical in the discharge of their constitutional responsibilities by desisting from invading and occupying legislative houses in the country.

    “This invasion, coming barely 48 hours after our meeting, is sacrligeous and inimical to the growth of democratic values and ideals because the Parliament is the anchor on which Democracy stands. Any attempt to desecrate it, will have negative lasting impact on democracy,” he said.

    Men of the DSS invaded the National Assembly and prevented staff and lawmakers from going into the complex early yesterday morning.

    Professor Osinbajo in a swift reaction ordered the sack of the DSS Director General, Lawal Daura for what the Presidency described as unathorised action.

  • Tanker Fire: Lagos Assembly to review traffic law

    Movement of long vehicles to be restricted

    Lagos State House of Assembly has called on Governor Akinwunmi Ambode to restrict the movement of long vehicles in the state to between 9pm and early hours of the day.

    Moving a motion on the matter with reference to the petrol tanker accident that claimed lives and properties along Otedola Estate bridge on Lagos-Ibadan expressway in Berger area on Thursday 28th June, 2018, the Leader of the House, Hon. Sanai Agunbiade called for a review of issues surrounding movement of trailers in the state.

    The Motion was moved by 14 members of the House.

    The House urged the Governor to direct the State Commissioner for Transportation, Hon. Dipo Lawanson to ensure that long vehicles do not ply the roads in the state until 9pm.

    “The House observed that the fire incident around Otedola Estate Bridge on Thursday 28, June led to avoidable deaths of several people and destroyed many properties.

    “We noticed that the incident was caused by recklessness on the part of the driver, overspeeding, drinking of alcohol amongst others.  It is also observed that many of the drivers do not have driver’s license and many of the vehicles are not road worthy,” he said.

    While commending the Lagos State Government for the rapid response to the incident, the movers of the motion urged the state government to sanction any long vehicle owners that does not obtain necessary papers and ensure road worthiness of their vehicles.

    Agunbiade stated that it was worrisome that long vehicles are parked on Ikorodu Road indiscriminately considering the consequences.

    The House used the opportunity to call on the state Governor to direct the Commissioner for Transportion to provide regulations for the types of vehicles that would ply Lagos roads based on their year of purchase.

    Agunbiade added that the state government should direct all owners of long vehicles to go for insurance policies provide places to park the vehicles and ensure that they follow the regulations of the state government.

    “We also want to call on Governor Ambode to direct the Chief Justice of the state, Justice Olufunmilayo Oke to set up mobile courts to handle cases involving long vehicles.

    Read Also: Lagos APC to Lagosians: get your PVCs ready

    “The House calls on the Minister of Power, Works and Housing to repair the roads in the state and provide weigh bridges for the vehicles,” he said.

    The Speaker, Hon. Mudashiru Obasa suggested that the state Commissioner for Transport should meet with the insurance companies so that the policies would be done properly.

    “The state government should discuss with the insurance companies so that the policies would be original and not fake.

    “Our traffic law should be reviewed to reduce loss of lives on our roads. If the Otedola Estate incident had happened at night, the casualty would have been minimal,” he stated.

    Also speaking on the matter, Hon. Yinka Ogundimu said that the state government should call on the Commissioner of Police, Mr. Edgal Imohimi to be up and doing to ensure that the vehicle owners obtain insurance policies.

    He said that the policies should be regulated by the police so that the efforts of the government would not be wasted.

    The motion was also supported by Hon. Bisi Yusuf, who said that a similar incident was averted in Alimosho Area on Wednesday, adding that the matter should be taken seriously.

    The Speaker subsequently directed the Clerk of the House, Mr. Azeez Sanni to write to the government on the matter.

    Meanwhile, the House has set up a committee to review the mid-year expenditure of the Ministries, Parastatals and Agencies (MDAs) in the state.

    The Committee is to be headed by Hon. Gbolahan Yishawu, while members include Hon. Abiodun Tobun, Hon. Yinka Ogundimu, Hon. Jude Idimogu, Hon. Bisi Yusuf, Hon. Moshood Oshun, Hon. Nurudeen Saka-Solaja and Hon. Adefunmilayo Tejuosho.

    The committee was directed to submit its report within two weeks and a half.

  • June 12: Lagos speaker hails Buhari, says Tinubu laid foundation

    The Speaker, Lagos State House of Assembly, Mr Mudashiru Obasa, says declaration of June 12 as Democracy Day has vindicated age-long agitations by some Nigerians for same.

    Obasa made the assertion in Lagos in a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Mudashiru Obasa, on Thursday.

    He praised President Muhammadu Buhari for the declaration on Wednesday.

    “This is because it was the day that Nigeria had the freest, fairest and most peaceful election.

    “It was June 12, 1993 that gave birth to what we are enjoying today as democracy.

    “I want to congratulate the president, his vice, the APC and Nigerians in general for this honour on the martyr of Nigerian democracy, Chief MKO Abiola,” he said.

    Read Also: June 12 Democracy Day: Triumph of over injustice – Kokori

    Obasa also hailed Chief Bola Tinubu, the National Leader of APC and a former Governor of Lagos State, whose administration declared June 12 a public holiday in Lagos State.

    According to him, Tinubu believes in the sanctity of the June 12 mandate.

    Obasa also commended Tinubu for naming the former Marwa Gardens in the state after the late Abiola to immortalise him.

    “It was also Asiwaju Tinubu who named the Press Centre at the Alausa Secretariat after the late Bagauda Kaltho, the News Magazine correspondent killed by the Abacha junta during the struggle for democracy.

    “Therefore, our national leader also deserves special commendation for his pioneering efforts at getting official recognition for June 12, Chief MKO Abiola and other icons of democratic struggle in the country,” Obasa added

    Buhari announced that June 12 would replace May 29 as the Democracy Day.

    The president also gave posthumous award of Grand Commander of the Federal Republic (GCFR) to Abiola, the presumed winner of the June 12, 1993 Presidential Election, who died on July 7, 1998.

    Buhari also decided to confer posthumous GCFR to the late social critic and rights campaigner, Chief Gani Fawehinmi.

    NAN