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Tag: Mulikat Adeola-Akande

  • Sambo, Ihedioha, other House leaders meet at Aso Rock

    Sambo, Ihedioha, other House leaders meet at Aso Rock

    Vice President Namadi Sambo on Thursday met behind closed doors with the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Emeka Ihedioha and some leaders of the House at the State House, Abuja.

    Crisis erupted on Thursday when members of the National Assembly were prevented from entering the National Assembly premises by the Nigeria Police Force.

    Among those at the meeting with the vice president are the House Leader, Adeola Akande and Deputy House Leader, Leo Ogor.

    They declined to speak with State House correspondents at the end of the meeting.

  • I want to be Speaker, says Adeola-Akande

    I want to be Speaker, says Adeola-Akande

    The Majority leader of the House of Representatives, Mulikat Adeola-Akande, has said she wants to become Speaker next year.

    She lost the slot to Aminu Tambuwal in a keen contest at the inception of the House in 2011.

    Adeola-Akande, who was at the national secretariat of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to obtain nomination form for the 2015 election, boasted that the PDP would defeat the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the Southwest.

    She said: “As you know, the electoral process has started and PDP is selling its form and for me to be here, that means I am interested in contesting for a seat in the House of Representatives.

    “I definitely want to be the Speaker if given the opportunity and if it is zoned to the Southwest.

    “The PDP suffered a major setback in the last election in the Southwest, but now the efforts we are making are apparent.

    “As you can see, we won in Ekiti State and that means all the members will be coming from PDP this time.

    “In Oyo State, even if we don’t have a governor, we have five members from there and the number will double now.

    “We don’t have any in Ogun State also but a lot of members who defected are coming back.

    “We have Ondo State, where Governor Olusegun Mimiko has joined the PDP.

    “So automatically, all the seven members from Ondo will become PDP.

    “I think the so-called losses are now gains for us.”

    Adeola-Akande, who is serving her second term, said she does not see anything wrong in having her people supporting her third term bid.

  • Chibok abducted girls: Rep, Southwest PDP women seek spiritual assistance

    Chibok abducted girls: Rep, Southwest PDP women seek spiritual assistance

    Majority Leader of the House of Representatives, Hon. Mulikat Adeola Akande, on Saturday led scores of female members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) across the six states in the South West geo-political zone to Ibadan where they offered prayers seeking for divine intervention for the immediate release of 234 Chibok girls who were abducted by insurgents about three weeks ago.

    They also prayed for those who lost their lives in the Friday’s second Nyanya bomb blast in Abuja.

    The parley, which was originally the fourth meeting called under the auspices of South West Women Forum (SWWF) of the women wing of the party under the leadership of Adeola Akande, saw the mothers uniting in prayers for the administration of President Goodluck Jonathan in waging a successful war against the insurgents.

    Not only that, the women who were later empowered by Adeola Akande with cash and material benefits as part of her on-going empowerment programmes, also prayed for the immediate release of 234 Chibok girls who were recently abducted by the insurgents.

    The lawmaker said, “As mothers, grandmothers, aunties, sisters, we feel the pain of those affected and pray for the immediate release of the girls kidnapped. And on Nyanya blasts, I wish to call on all Nigerians to condemn all the perpetrators of these crimes against our nation. I pray God bring an end to the reign of terror in the land just as we want Him to grant the present administration victory over these enemies of our nation.”

     

  • ‘Political terrain challenging for women’

    House of Representatives Majority Leader Mulikat Adeola-Akande has said the nation’s political terrain has been challenging for women.

    She also said Nigerian women could only secure 32 of the 469 seats in the National Assembly in 2011.

    The lawmaker noted that the percentage of elected women in the National Assembly to men is about seven per cent.

    Mrs Adeola-Akande, who spoke in Abuja at a roundtable with some reporters on the forthcoming conference on: The Nigeria Women Strategy Conference.

    She urged political parties in the country to pay more attention to the 35 per cent Affirmative Action for women in politics.

    The roundtable was attended by another member of the House, Betty Apiafi, some leaders of non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and experts on women affairs.

    Mrs Adeola-Akande said: “There is no doubt that the political terrain has been challenging for women. This is evident in the last elections of 2011, where only 32 women were elected into the nation parliament out of 469 members; a figure, which depicts just seven per cent representation.

    “However, we have had significant and laudable milestones recorded through such women who have weathered the storm in the face of daunting challenges thrown up by the dynamic of our political structure. The country has benefited from the contribution of these few women in governance.”

    The lawmaker said the proposed conference, holding on February 17 and 18, would be non-partisan on how to “encourage more women to participate actively – quantitatively and qualitatively in politics in Nigeria”.

    She added: “One of the tested strategies for increasing women’s political participation has been the use of multiple platforms to galvanise women to participate in electoral processes. Early enough and in the run up to the 2011 elections, several initiatives, activities and events were organised, leading to unique results.

    “There was an increase in the number of female candidates; over 800 women made the primary election of their political parties.

    “There was a slight depletion in number but a rocket rise in the number and positioning of women in parliament and appointive post at all levels. This was a product of the synergy of action and collaboration between government, civil society and development partners.

    “The Nigerian women strategy conference is one of such galvanising activities that aim at an early collation of energy and strategy to further the potential for gains by women in Nigeria’s democracy and government structures.

    “The office of the first female Majority Leader of the House of Representatives seeks to link up with the work by all stakeholders for a robust conference that will harness and review initiatives, commitment and strategies towards the 2015 elections and beyond.”

    Mrs Apiafi said: “The issue of rape and violence against women seems to be getting out of control these days. We have done our best in the House to pass a bill to protect women against rape and violence. It is left to the Senate to pass the bill too. We should mount pressure on the Senate to do so.”

     

     

  • Political terrain challenging for women, says House Majority Leader

    Political terrain challenging for women, says House Majority Leader

    The Majority Leader in the House of Representatives, Hon. Mulikat Adeola-Akande, yesterday said the nation’s political terrain has been challenging for women.

    She also said women could only secure 32 of the 469 seats in the National Assembly in 2011.

    The lawmaker said the percentage of elected women in the National Assembly to men is about seven per cent.

    Adeola-Akande, who spoke at a roundtable with some journalists in Abuja on the forthcoming conference on: “The Nigeria Women Strategy Conference,” asked all political parties to pay more attention to 35 per cent Affirmative Action.

    The roundtable was attended by another member of the House, Hon. Betty Apiafi, some NGOs and experts on women affairs.

    She said: “There is no doubt that the political terrain has been challenging for women. This is evident in the last general elections of 2011, where only 32 women were elected into the Nation parliament out of 469 members; a figure, which depicts just 7% representation.

    “However, we have had significant and laudable milestones recorded through such women who have weathered the storm in the face of daunting challenges thrown up by the dynamic of our political structure. The country has benefited from the contribution of these few women in governance.”

    She said the proposed conference, holding on February 17 and 18 would be a non-partisan one on how to “encourage more women to participate actively – quantitatively and qualitatively in politics in Nigeria.”

     

    She added: “One of the tested strategies for increasing women’s political participation has been the use of multiple platforms to galvanize women to participate in electoral processes. Early enough and in the run up to the 2011 elections, several initiatives, activities and events were organized giving rise to unique results.

    “There was an increase in the number of female candidates; over 800 women made the primary election of their political parties.

    “There was a slight depletion in number but a rocket rise in the number and positioning of women in parliament and appointive post at all levels. This was a product of the synergy of action and collaboration between government, civil society and development partners.

    “The Nigerian women strategy conference is one of such galvanizing activities that aim at an early collation of energy and strategy to further the potential for gains by women in Nigeria’s democracy and government structures.

    “The office of the first female Majority Leader of the House of Representatives seeks to link up with the work by all stakeholders for a robust conference that will harness and review initiatives, commitment and strategies towards the 2015 elections and beyond.”

    In her contribution, Hon. Betty Apiafi, said the “issue of rape and violence against women seems to be getting out of control these days.

    “We have done our best in the House to pass a bill to protect women against rape and violence. It is left to the Senate to pass the bill too. We should mount pressure on the Senate to do so.”

     

  • APC Reps: House Leader, other key officials must go

    APC Reps: House Leader, other key officials must go

    Party writes speaker to assert its majority status

    A major crisis has broken out in the House of Representatives, with All Progressives Congress (APC) members demanding House Leader Mulikat Adeola-Akande’s removal.

    Some other principal officers should also step down, the APC Caucus will demand in a letter to Speaker Aminu Tambuwal.

    The 171 APC members in the House rose last night from a meeting in Abuja to demand their right to produce the House Leader – in line with constitutional provision on simple majority.

    A court restrained yesterday the House from tampering with its leadership. But the Reps said they were not bound by the order.

    The decision will not affect Speaker Aminu Tambuwal and Deputy Speaker Emeka Ihedioha, it was said.

    The APC members also vowed not to recognise Mrs. Adeola-Akande as the House Leader.

    A source at the meeting said: “Those of us in APC are now 171 in a chamber of 360 members. We met and decided to write the Speaker to invoke the relevant constitutional provision and rules to effect a change of leadership from the Majority Leader(House Leader) downwards.

    “We only require a simple majority of one or two members to effect a change of Majority Leader and other principal officers as the House may deem fit. PDP, APGA, Labour Party and Accord are about 150 members.”

    On the deputy speaker, the source, who pleaded not to be named, said: “We cannot ask the Deputy Speaker to step down because the Constitution says it requires two-thirds of members to take such a decision.

    “So, the Speaker will certainly get our letter on Tuesday (today) and read it on the floor of the House.”

    The resolution of the members of the party was the outcome of a short meeting at the National Assembly yesterday.

    The letter will insist on the removal of Akande-Adeola, Deputy Majority Leader Leo Ogor, Chief Whip Mohammed Isiaka Bawa and Deputy Chief Whip Mohammed Mukthar.

    Ihedioha is left out, “though with reservations”, a member said.

    The letter will also contain the request that all the emoluments and allowances accruing to the listed leadership members because of their offices be frozen until the leadership change is completed.

    The APC legislators also vowed not to recognise any bill, motion or argument that comes through the listed leadership members until the change is effected.

    Members who were alerted about the meeting through text messages began arriving at the National Assembly from 5:30 pm yesterday and by 6:30 pm the meeting, which was presided over by the opposition leader, Femi Gbajabiamila, was over.

    A member of the APC, who did not want to be named, said the letter was to abide by the rule of the House. He said: “According to the rule, we have to tell him officially, and he ( the Speaker) will call the Clerk to cross check and they will effect the changes.”

    On the court case, members cited the case of PDP National Secretary Olagunsoye Oyinlola, saying the PDP was also disobeying court cases. “ In any case, we have not even got the ruling,” a member said.

    Asked about the court injunction, the source said: “We have heard about it in the realm of rumours; let those who have it come to the House with a copy on Tuesday.

    “The question you should ask yourself is: Can the court stop the Legislature from functioning? What has become of the Principle of Separation of Powers?

    “We will not accept any Kangaroo injunction from anybody. We will respect the Judiciary, but we won’t allow anyone to interfere with our job.”

    Another member at the meeting said: “We learnt that they are planning to disrupt our proceedings on Tuesday; we are prepared for them.

    “We have made it mandatory for all our 171 members to make it to the chamber on Tuesday.”

    It was gathered that all the parties were seeking legal consultations last night. The areas of focus were sections 49, 50,and 56 of the 1999 Constitution.

    Section 49 says: “Subject to the provisions of this Constitution, the House of Representatives shall consist 360 members representing constituencies of nearly equal population as far as possible, provided that no constituency shall fall within more than one state.”

    Section 50 (1) reads: “There shall be –

    (a) a President and Deputy President of the Senate, who shall be elected by the members of that House from among themselves, and

    (b) a Speaker and a Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, who shall be elected b members of that House from among themselves.

    (2)  The President or Deputy President of the Senate or the Speaker or Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives shall vacate his office –

    (a) if he ceases to be a member of the Senate or of the House of Representatives, as the case may be, otherwise than by reason of a dissolution of the Senate or the House of Representatives; or

    (b)  when the House which he was a member first sits after any dissolution of that House; or

    (c) if he is removed from office by a resolution of the Senate or of the House of Representatives, as the case may be, by the votes of not less than two-thirds majority of the members of that House.

    Section 56 says: “ (1) Except as otherwise provided by this Constitution, any question proposed for decision in the Senate or the House of Representatives shall be determined by the required majority of the members present and voting; and the person presiding shall cast a vote whenever necessary to avoid an equality of votes but shall not vote in any other case.

    (2) Except as otherwise provided by this Constitution, the required majority for the purpose of determining any question shall be a simple majority.“

    Chairman of media and publicity Committee Zakari Mohammed confirmed that the House leadership will witness some shake-up from today.

    Mohammed spoke at the weekend in Kaiama, Kaiama Local Government Area of Kwara State, shortly after a meeting with some politicians in the council.

    The House spokesperson, alongside 34 members of the defunct new PDP, defected to the APC.

    He said that 10 other PDP members were set to defect to the APC.

    “As it stands today, as I talk to you now, we have (APC) 172, PDP is 167 and the rest which is 20 to 22 belong to the other parties.

    “We have about 10 members who are coming into the APC as soon as we resume on Tuesday, (January 21)”.