The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Rep

  • Rep petitions NHRC over soldiers’ invasion of Benue community

     

    For about an hour yesterday, a member of the House of Representatives representing Makurdi/Guma Federal Constituency of Benue State, Dickson Tarkighir, narrated how some soldiers allegedly invaded a community in his constituency at night and destroyed it.

    Tarkighir was at the Abuja headquarters of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) with some leaders from the affected community – the North Bank 2 – in Makurdi Local Government Area, to present a petition to the commission and seek its intervention.

    The lawmaker wrote and read a petition to those present before presenting it to the NHRC’s Executive Secretary, Prof Bem Angwe.

    He said the night raid was the fallout of a disagreement between some indigenes and a soldier, identified as Private Innocent Okoro.

    Tarkighir said: “On the night of August 14, some soldiers from the NASME Barracks in North Bank 2 of Makurdi Local Government Area embarked on what they called a reprisal attack on the community. This so-called reprisal attack was triggered by an altercation earlier in the day between a soldier, PTE Innocent Okoro, and three other young men over a lady.

    “The reprisal attack carried with it the hallmark of a lawless society as soldiers showed their disregard for civil authority in the pursuit of ‘justice’ and descended on a community in the night, beating up the residents and commuters as they also set ablaze over 200 cars, shattering the glasses to over 100 houses and about 150 other cars they did not have the time to set ablaze.

    “This sordid act lasted up till the early hours August 15. Left in its aftermath were charred remains of burnt cars, hundreds of injured residents in hospitals, shattered windscreens of cars, punctured tyres of vehicles, broken windows and doors to residential apartments and a community in tears,     wondering what wrong they had done.”

    The lawmaker said his decision to petition the NHRC was informed by the alleged impunity by the soldiers, which he said showed “very clearly, a demonstration of utter disdain by a few misguided soldiers towards the capacity of our democratic institutions to tackle challenges for which essence they exist”.

    He added: “This is a worrying tendency that needs to be nipped in the bud before it overwhelms democracy.”

    Tarkighir urged the commission to “cause a full investigation into the remote and immediate causes to the violation of human rights, as it were, by the soldiers and to ensure the prosecution of all culprits as well as compensation for the victims of the dastardly act”.

    Angwe hailed the petitioners for expressing their grievances rather than taking the law into their hands.

    He said: “I wish to state, on behalf of NHRC, that we will investigate this petition. There is no policy on the part of the Federal Government of Nigeria to condone the violation of the rights of any Nigerian by any agency of the government. There is no policy put in place by the hierarchy of the Nigerian military for the violation of the rights of any Nigerian.

    “With the commitment expressed today by the military to subject itself to the nation’s Constitution and to all civil authorities, the NHRC will request the full cooperation of the hierarchy of the military to ensure that the perpetrators off this alleged violations are not only identified but are also punished.”

    Angwe said his commission would ensure appropriate compensation, after ascertaining the veracity of the allegation and the extent of damage.

     

  • Osun ’ll soon be out of cash crisis, says Rep

    A member of the House of Representatives Alhaja Ayo Omidiran, has predicted that Osun State will soon be out of its economic crisis.

    She said with the beginning of implementation of the communiqué of the stakeholders’ conference held on August 10, in Osogbo, the state is set for an economic turnaround.

    The conference was organised by the Osun Legislators’ Forum and attended by public office holders and civil servants.

    Top players in the organised labour and private sector also attended, the event, where decisions on the way forward were taken.

    Mrs. Omidiran, who represents Irewole Federal Constituency, was one of the prime organisers of the conference.

    She said Governor Rauf Aregbesola has started to implement the meeting’s outcome.

    “The idea behind it was for us to bring the ideas together so that the state can harness its resources to continue to move forward. We were happy the governor supported it and put all the government machinery behind it. We are confident the outcome will positively influence the state,” Mrs. Omidiran said.

    Osun is one of the states badly hit by the financial crisis that followed the drop in oil prices, which adversely affected the cash flow into the nation’s treasury.

    The state is just clearing the backlog of salaries to its workers.

    The communiqué of the conference read by the representative of the labour unions at the meeting, Mr. Richard Afolayan Oyegbami, recommends that:

    * government should plug the loopholes in the way revenues are collected;

    * Osun people must pay taxes and rates before being compelled to do so;

    *the need to review the cost of governance, particularly to ascertain accurately the recurrent expenditure.

    *government should embrace public private sector partnerships in agriculture, mining and tourism;

    *government should patronise competent local contractors to deepen the state’s economy; and

    *parents should contribute a token to augment the free education programme.

  • Rep want FG to rehabilitate bad roads

    The House of Representatives on Wednesday urged the Federal Government to immediately commence palliative measure to rehabilitate the bad portions of the Ikorodu-Shagamu and Ikorodu-Ijebu Ode roads.

    This followed a motion moved by Barrister Jimi Benson (APC – Ikorodu federal constituency) which was unanimously adopted. Benson said that the roads are in a pitiable condition and that motorists were passing through harrowing experience.

    The lawmaker said that the Federal Road Maintenance Agency (FERMA) had abandoned the two inter-state roads in spite of several efforts to get the federal government to hearken to the yearnings of millions of road users over the years.

    He said that most sections of the international highways were failing thereby creating hurdles and gully-like potholes at various sections of the road. The legislator noted that the situation had resulted to vehicular break down, traffic gridlock and encourages driving against traffic which has brought untold hardships on car owners and commuters.

    According to Benson, “the Ikorodu-Shagamu and Ikorodu-Itokin-Ijebu-Ode highways connecting Lagos and Ogun State from two different angles are vital trunk ‘A’ roads that are of vital economic importance to the citizens of the two states in particular, and Nigerians who occasionally ply the roads in general.

    The roads constructed over forty years ago have been in deplorable state, efforts at rehabilitating them had been half-hearted and produced poor quality work; and this is one of the 17 roads and bridges across 15 states approved by the Federal Executive Council on December 3, 2014, at over N430.5billion with the assertion that N21 billion as at then was available to kick-start the projects.

  • Shock as Rep withdraws motion to probe treatment of Nigerians by foreign companies

    The House of Representatives was denied the opportunity of intervening on the reported inhuman treatment Nigerians working in some foreign companies operating in Nigeria were subjected to.

    A motion to address the issue entitled: ‘Urgent need to curb unwholesome practices of Chinese, Indian and Lebanese companies in Nigeria, was withdrawn by the sponsor, Segun Adekola (PDP, Ekiti).

    To the surprise of some lawmakers, who were prepared for the debate, Adekola took the leave of the House to withdraw the motion.

    The motion was listed third for debate on the Order paper yesterday.

    In accordance with House rules, the Speaker, Yakubu Dogara granted the request.

    In his argument of the motion, as contained on the Order paper, the lawmaker said a media report on an incident at Wempo where it was alleged that a Nigerian worker’s head got smashed by a faulty machine at Wempo called for concern.

    The lawmaker regretted that incidents of nonchalance to Nigerian workers’ welfare is rampart with foreign companies operating in the country, with less than impressive action from relevant authorities.

    He argued that some of the foreign companies have little regard for the safety of their workers, many of whom had died or got maimed in the work place due to gross negligence by the companies managements.

    As stated on the Order paper, the lawmaker expressed concern that some of the foreign companies act with impunity by subjecting their workers to degrading working conditions and a near absence of safety measures in flagrant disobedience of Nigerian Labour laws.

    In his prayers, Adekola wanted the House to mandate the Committee on Labour, Employment and Productivity, when constituted to investigate the incident at Wempo and other unwholesome practices of foreign companies operating in Nigeria with a view to bringing an end to the unhealthy trends.

  • Rep hails Dogara

    The lawmaker representing Ojo Federal Constituency, Mr Tajudeen Obasa, has hailed Speaker Yakubu Dogara for his role in settling the House of Representative’s crisis.

    In a statement yesterday, the lawmaker urged him not to depart from his noble ways that ensured his constituents voted for him as speaker of the eight assembly.

    “For progress and development, there must be peace. It takes the grace for a leader to be magnanimous in victory. Shifting ground doesn’t mean a person is weak, it simply means collectively we can achieve the task of nation building by ensuring smiles are put on the faces of Nigerians irrespective of creed, cradle or calling.

    “Politics is a game of interest, it must not be played from the angle of do- or-die approach; no matter the crisis, there is always a political solution to curtail it,” he said.

    Obasa urged his colleagues to support the leadership of the House in building a formidable legislature that would be focused on the yearning of Nigerians.

     

  • Rep decries ‘marginalisation’ of Southeast

    Rep decries ‘marginalisation’ of Southeast

    The member representing Ehime Mbano, Ihitte Uboma and Obowo constituencies of Imo State in the National Assembly, Chike Okafor, has condemned the exclusion of the Southeast in the appointment  of principal offices of the House of Representatives.

    Addressing reporters at the weekend in Owerri, the Imo State capital, the lawmaker urged the All Progressives Congress (APC) to address the continued neglect of the zone to engender the genuine spirit of Federal Character.

    He said contrary to beliefs that the party failed in the zone, APC faithful contended against formidable forces at the risk of their lives to ensure that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) did not repeat the feat of 2011.

    “On Tuesday, July 28, the House of Representatives reconvened and the remaining principal offices were filled, marking the beginning of full legislative business.

    “You may recall that the Southeast APC had nominated me for the post of Deputy Majority Whip, a nomination that was accepted by the presiding officers. But as you already know, the final position is that the Southeast is the only zone that is excluded from the leadership caucus while one zone occupies two plum positions. This is the first time we are having this scenario since 1999.

    “On principle, I accept the outcome of that session in good faith and sincerely congratulate the leadership.

    “However, in view of the realities in the process of constituting the leadership, I am constrained to plead with our party to review its definition of inclusiveness and rethink its perception and treatment of the Southeast.

    “If our ideology of leadership involves, even in the minutest, the integration of every section of our country, then our pontification on Federal Character should go beyond lip service and rhetoric to the practical embrace of every section in the spirit of the change we have promised.

    “The national leadership of our party should not continue to place the Southeast on the fringes in the scheme of things. As far as the Nigerian project is concerned, every region must count if we must get it right,” Okafor said.

  • Rep calls for legislation against abandoned projects

    Rep calls for legislation against abandoned projects

    A member of the House of Representatives representing Oyo Federal Constituency Afijio, Atiba, Oyo-East and Oyo-West  Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi, has called for legislation for the completion of all abandoned projects scattered across the country.

    Moving a motion on the floor of the House, Adeniyi said top on the list of such projects include the dualisation of Ibadan/Oyo/Ogbomoso/Ilorin highway that links the South-West with the North, which is about 70 percent completed, but abandoned at the Oyo/Ogbomoso axis.

    While lamenting the high rate of accidents on the highway, the lawmaker said, “Many people are at a loss as to why the much- publicised rehabilitation work on the road has not been completed, thus resulting in increased road carnages and fatal casualties.”

    He urged the federal government to immediately order the contractor handling the project back to work, adding that it should also provide adequate funding for the quick completion of the project.

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) legislator also called for the completion of abandoned Erelu water project.

     

  • Why lawmakers should respect party supremacy, by Rep

    The lawmaker representing Oyo federal constituency, Prince Akeem Adeyemi, has said  members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the National Assembly must abide by party supremacy to aid development.

    According to the Oyo prince, who spoke in Oyo town after a stakeholders’ meeting, added that the party’s interest must supercede any other interest, except in few cases.

    He said: “The ugly incident at the National Assembly is unfortunate. Why would ambition divide us at a time we are supposed to be seen as change agents? We all contested under the platform of the party and by doing so, we have indirectly pledged to abide by all its directives. Without discipline, the party will crash.

    “However, it has happened. What we need now is to move forward. It must not be allowed to fester because we have suffered for long as a nation. Nigerians would be at the receiving end except we reconcile ourselves.  But to prevent future occurrence, every stakeholders must be called to a stakeholders meeting where all the lingering issues would be ironed out.”

    Adeyemi urged major stakeholders in the party to sheath their sword and move forward in the interest of the nation, reminding them of the sacrifices they made before the merger became fruitful.

     

  • Ekiti APC Rep escapes assassination

    The home of the House of Representatives member representing Ekiti South Federal Constituency 1, Dr. Ifeoluwa Abiose Arowosoge, was attacked by unknown gunmen in the early hours of Friday.

    The suspected assassins arrived the federal lawmaker’s house located at Ajowa area of Ado-Ekiti about 4.00 am but couldn’t find their target at home.

    Arowosoge’s wife, Oluwayemisi and other members of the household were held hostage by the hoodlums who kept asking for the whereabouts of the head of the family.

    Arowosoge described the attack as a “reign of gunshots” which created panic in the area but thank God that no member of his family was killed even though his wife was taken to a hospital for the beating she received from the assailants.

    The gunmen mercilessly beat the wife of the All Progressives Congress (APC) federal lawmaker insisting that the woman must produce her husband after which they ransacked the house in search of Hon. Arowosoge.

    They announced their arrival with gunshots and attempted to gain entry through the back door which couldn’t be broken.They forced the door which led to the staircase through which they gained access to the upper floor of the two-storey building.

    Narrating his ordeal to journalists, the House of Representatives member who was in Abuja at the time of the attack said he received distress about 4.30 am from his wife informing him about the attack.

    Arowosoge explained that he called the  Ekiti Commissioner of Police and the Director of the Department of State  Security Services but he could only reach the latter.

    The Ilawe-Ekiti born politician disclosed that policemen arrived his house about one hour after the hoodlums had left describing the attack as an “assassination attempt”.

    “I suspected assassination and the attack is from the ruling PDP. You will recall that they attacked the home of the Speaker and they attacked the homes of other House of Assembly members and other APC party leaders.

    “They beat my wife and they told her to produce her husband and the beating continued despite the fact that she kept on begging them.

    “In fact, she said she was ready to give them the ATM card and the access number for them to withdraw from her account but they kept asking for me.

    “I came from Abuja this morning and I was told the CP had just left my residence.”

    Arowosoge expressed dismay with the recent turn of events in Ekiti State  with the incessant case of politically-motivated attacks, urging Governor Ayo Fayose and Police Commissioner Taiwo Lakanu to be alive to their responsibilities as the chief security officers of the state.

    The State Police Command, however claimed the attack on the APC federal lawmaker,”was a clear case of robbery”.

    The  spokesman of the command, Mr Victor Babayemi disclosed that the gunmen had earlier robbed a hotel located within the vicinity of the lawmaker’s house.

    Babayemi revealed that the gunmen robbed people at the hotel of their money and valuables before storming the lawmaker’s residence.

    His words: “If they had come to kill him, the assassins would make sure he was around before carrying out the act.

    Then, they would not have collected money or asked for the ATM to withdraw money. I don’t think they were hired killers,”he said.

  • The bickering Edo Speaker and Rep

    Edo State House of Assembly Speaker Uyi Igbe has had enough of playing at the home front. After eight years at the  State Assembly, Uyi wants to move up.  His target next year is to become a member of the National Assembly. He is aiming for a seat at the House of Representatives. His obstacle against realizing this dream is the lawmaker representing Oredo Federal Constituency, Razaq Bello-Osagie. They are both seeking the All Progressive Congress (APC) ticket for the same office. This has spoilt the relationship between the two men. As a matter of fact, they have started calling each other names.  Both men now seldom greet each other at public functions.

    Igbe stirred the hornet nest last weekend during his formal declaration to contest for the seat, which Bello-Osagie is seeking a second ticket.  Igbe had made a veiled reference to projects facilitated by Bello-Osagie as projects executed by the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).

    Igbe said those who have represented the constituency at the lower chamber of the National Assembly failed to attract federal projects and were laying claim to projects executed by the NDDC.

    According to him, “I have noticed with dismay that nothing really has happened in Oredo Federal Constituency and we want to attempt to change that. I think is time for us to do something about it to engage the federal government.’’

    Bello-Osagie fired back, saying the only project he facilitated from the NDDC was the construction of a four blocks of 16 classrooms at Eyeanugie Primary School because of the poor state of the school.

    He cautioned Edo speaker against engaging in campaign of calumny and said it was regrettable that the Speaker does not understand the workings of government.

    His words:  “It is how much you are able to do, the skill you are able to put in the process to attract more, that makes you a better representative. People cannot use their own yardstick as a basis for measuring the performance of other people. If Hon. Uyi Igbe believes his own score card would be used in assessing me, I think that would be a misnomer. I have delivered on my promise, I do not know about him.

    “The people gave me this mandate. I appreciate this mandate and the least I can do is to see how much I can attract from Abuja to my constituency because politics is about the up lifting of our people and the development of our environment.”

    He took reporters on tour of some other projects facilitated by him and they included and ICT centre at Imaguero College, a 1.15 MVA Electricity Injection Sub-station and a health centre at Umegbe village, solar powered street lights and boreholes across the 12 wards of Oredo.

    Umegbe is among the over 42 villages in metropolitan Oredo Local Government that lacked access to basic social amenities such as school, health centre, electricity and good road. Bello-Osagie said he was moved to build the health centre after the head of Umegbe community died while being taken to Benin Central hospital for minor ailment.

    He said:  “The community has a plethora of problems, water, road and electricity. I was told of how a community head died while being taken to the hospital. I had to build a health centre for them. Following to the needs assessment, we discovered that electricity is a big problem here. We have been working with it for the past two years with the relevant MDA which is the Federal Ministry of Power and I am happy to report that the contract has since been awarded. Work started a couple of weeks ago.

    “The intention of the project is to improve the distribution and of course to enhance power in this area. What we are doing is to find out what they are doing. I go to visit projects I facilitated. I go at night to see if the solar power street lights are working.”

    For the speaker, he can tell all that to the marines. It sure is getting interesting and the last word has certainly not been heard about this matter. These men’s fight may not stop even after a winner has emerged.

    For now, our last word is: let the best man get the job. And please, no violence.