The Nation Newspaper

Tag: representatives

  • Representatives Niger South needs

    Representatives Niger South needs

    SIR: Niger South Senatorial district of Niger State comprises of eight local governments, namely; Agaie, Bida, Lapai, Edati, Gbako, Katcha, Lavun and Mokwa. The zone is not only endowed with vast arable land, but, endowed with abundant human resources. Just as Nigerians are clamoring for bold changes on good governance, the good people of zone are not left out in this quest. They deserve a better deal so that this democracy works for everyone, not just the elites and special interests.

    The role of a lawmaker in a democratic system of government is too vital to be left in the hand of incompetent people. Since return to democracy in Nigeria in 1999, the zone has lagged behind in good governance due to the nature of legislators we continue to elect to represent us. The zone’s graceful decline can be arrested if we have lawmakers that can defend and prop up the interest of the electorates. The district today faces lot of challenges; our schools look more like abandoned farm houses and abattoirs’, our road networks are more like death traps. Presently, Agaie-Katcha-Baro, Bida-Agaie-Lapai-Lambata, Katcha-Bida, Bida-Doko, Bida-Lemu-Zungeru, Lapai-Gulu-Muye and Bida-Minna roads are nothing but death traps.

    Our zone has lived through a time of torment in the hand of incompetent representatives at both the state and National Assembly; and 2019 general election is a golden opportunity for healing. It’s imperative that a mandate be given to honest aspirants with track and unblemished records armed with knowledge in the public and private sector in order to meet the yearnings and expectations of the electorate.

    We cannot afford more false promises, slogans, theatrics and fool’s gold. We have become too desensitized to the horrendous metrics that define today’s Nigeria. Our zone deserves lawmakers humble enough to see leadership not as an entitlement but as a privilege. We want lawmakers who would curb the growing power of pockets of special or quack interests, which so often conceal their self-serving agendas behind a facade of fist-in-the-air patriotism and unfulfilled promises.

    The 2019 general election should not be about political party we belong to; it shouldn’t be about the personality or connections, it shouldn’t be about the wealth or influence of the aspirant, it shouldn’t be about aspirant’s closeness to the government, it shouldn’t be about being an anointed candidate; but the integrity, idea, vision, know-how, charisma, ability and the experience of individuals seeking to lead and represent us.

    We want to have faith again; we want to perceive the evidence of good governance in every nook and cranny of the zone. We want to be proud again and we just want the truth again. The verdict is therefore ours to either choose to rebuild our future in other to develop our zone, by voting the right candidates or sustain the legacies we will inherit; incompetent representatives, unfulfilled promises and disappointments.

     

    • Ibrahim Muye Yahaya,

    Muye, Niger State.

  • Rivers rerun: Nobody can impose representatives on Rivers, says Wike 

    Rivers rerun: Nobody can impose representatives on Rivers, says Wike 

    Rivers State Governor Nyesom Ezenwo Wike has said the state is too big for anybody to impose representatives on the residents.

    The governor said the people should be allowed to elect their representatives.

    Wike spoke yesterday at Saint Paul’s Anglican Church in Port Harcourt, the state capital, during a People’s Democratic Party (PDP) dedication service to begin the campaign for the rerun/supplementary election.

    The governor urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to be neutral in performing its duty during the rerun and ensure that the will of the people prevails.

    He said: “This election will prove whether INEC is ready to conduct free and fair elections in Nigeria.”

    Wike said the PDP remained committed to violence-free polls, adding that the party’s opponents should play within the rules of engagement.

    He said: “What causes violence during elections is when the umpire wants to manipulate, rig or write results. We will resist any attempt to write results.

    “The PDP will not be involved in anything violent, but we will not allow anyone to steal our votes. We will protect our votes and make sure that the people’s mandate is declared.”

  • House of War (sorry, Representatives!)

    There is a Yoruba saying: a sheep that schmoozes with dogs is fated to gobbling faeces.

    With the latest scandals in Yakubu Dogara’s House of Representatives, Yusuff Lasun, Deputy Speaker, is finding that out the hard way: with Abdulmumin Jibrin’s allegation that Speaker Dogara and his management team are virtually buried in sleaze, and the “lafun” (yam flour) of that alleged corruption, allegedly streaking down Lasun’s mouth!

    It’s all an allegation, of course, even with Jibrin, former chairman, House Committee on Appropriations, making quite a road show of the submission of his “evidence” to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), and urgently calling on Dogara and team to be unhorsed.

    Ah, it was only virtually yesterday that Lasun emerged accidental deputy speaker, no thanks to the rebellion of the n-PDP faction of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), against the party’s preferred candidates for House posts.  Lasun, though no member of n-PDP, got sucked into the plot by landing the House No. 2 position.  He balked at the party’s suggestion to vacate that position, apparently preferring a new alliance of pock to old ties that thrust him to the fore.

    Well, from what Jibrin is alleging, it would appear Lasun is bang in the vortex of the alleged corruption, involving the Dogara management, which Jibrin is swearing, by the second, to expose.

    Well, Hardball again restates: Jibrin’s are mere allegations, even if grave ones.  But until those allegations are proven with facts, we’ll watch as events unfold.

    Still, there is no denying the fierce war in the House.  If the allegations are true, and can be proved, and conviction obtained, then it would have been a worthy war — not because there would be losers and winners, but because the national legislature, at last, would be on its way to shedding its notorious image as alleged house of graft.

    For too long, the National Assembly under Bukola Saraki as Senate President and Yakubu Dogara, as House Speaker, has somewhat projected itself as some less-than-noble counter-weight to the Buhari Presidency’s anti-graft crusading.

    The Jibrin expose, if true, would therefore appear a not unwelcome meltdown, which nevertheless should be very good for the polity.

    This is why the EFCC should act with despatch on Jubrin’s evidence.  It should examine it and get to the root of the matter.

    By doing that, it should charge those who have prima facie case to answer; and diligently prosecute the case to secure conviction.  But by the same despatch, it should clear the name of those falsely accused, so that they can concentrate on their job of law-making.

    But the fierce war may yet consume many!  If along the line Deputy Speaker Lasun is cleared, he should have earned the respect of every fair-minded compatriot.  Inasmuch as we should not tolerate sleaze in our public places, we should not assume every public official is a rogue.  That would be political nihilism too costly.

    But if he is found wanting, well, he should get his due comeuppance.  In that way, the short-term “lafun” of temporary office would have caused him a diarrhoea, or maybe political cholera, which could be politically fatal!

    Meanwhile, let the war continue — until every felon, or even putative felon, is flushed out of that honourable House.

  • Buhari, APC Reps to meet on Monday

    Buhari, APC Reps to meet on Monday

    President Muhammadu Buhari will meet members of the House of Representatives elected under the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) at the Presidential Villa, Abuja on Monday.

    The meeting was confirmed to State House correspondents on Sunday by the Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu.

    The meeting, he said, would hold at the new Banquet Hall by 5pm.

  • Ex-lawmaker for House of Representatives

    A chieftain of the Urhobo Youth Forum for Change (UYFC) and former Niger Delta militant Isreal Akpodoro has declared his support for President Goodluck Jonathan’s bid for a second term in office.

    The diminutive ex-militant declared: “President Goodluck Jonathan is our sole candidate in Urhobo land.” He made the declaration in Asaba, the Delta State capital last Wednesday.

    Akpodoro noted that the President had tried his best at moving the nation forward, adding that Nigeria is a complex society.

    According to the Urhobo-born ex-militant, President Jonathan, has proven that development was not impossible in the country citing infrastructure, agriculture, power, education, peace and security as those areas the Jonathan led-Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) administration excelled beyond the “imagination of the ordinary Nigerian.”

    The Urhobo youth leader argued that the Jonathan government has done well in his revenue drive for the country. He cited the Ugborodo Gas Project in Delta State as a milestone, which only a leader with vision and mission can initiate and establish.

    Akpodoro urged the feuding host communities to give peace a chance, adding that the project was capable of removing idle youths from the streets.

    He said the project is big enough to cater for the needs of all the stakeholders. The Urhobo youth leader called on fellow ex-militant leader, Chief Government Ekpemupolo and Chief Ayiri Emami, to enter into peaceful dialogue on how best to resolve the issues impeding the official take-off of the project.

  • Freshers elect representatives

    Fresh students of the Nigerian Institute of Journalism (NIJ) in Ogba, Lagos, on Thursday elected new representatives for their classes.

    The set, which was divided into two streams, National Diploma 1A and 1B, had the election coordinated by the Students’ Representative Council, SRC.

    Obatobi Bada emerged the governor, while Peace Morrison became the deputy governor. Ekanem Idara was elected as Social Director and Daniel Chikwendu, Sport Director for ND 1A.

    For ND 1B, Chidinma Ubani emerged governor, Christian Oparanugo, deputy governor, while Samuel Taliba, Kafayat Aliyu and Taiwo Owoyemi were elected Social Director, Welfare Director and Sports Director respectively.

    Obatobi, appreciated his colleague for giving him the chance to serve them, vowing to ensure their welfare was attended to all time.

    He said: “I appreciate my colleague for having trust and electing me as their governor. I promise to do my best and contribute my quota to the glory of this class.”

    Chidinma promised to do her best to serve her colleagues and ensure their academic objectives are achieved.

    Advising the students’ leaders, the Chairman, Students’ Representative Council, Dayo Oladiti, urged them to act in accordance with the regulation of the school and use their position to inform students about the management’s activities to ensure peace in the school.

  • 2015: ‘People ‘ll decide their representatives’

    2015: ‘People ‘ll decide their representatives’

    Edo State Deputy Governor Dr. Pius Odubu has said only the people would decide their representatives in next year’s general elections.

    He said just like the All Progressives Congress (APC) had always done, the people would be given the opportunity to decide who would represent them in elective positions.

    Odubu spoke when he hosted the Minority Whip of the House of Representatives, Mr. Samson Osagie, in Benin City at the weekend.

    The lawmaker said his visit was to inform the deputy governor of his aspiration for the Edo South ticket.

    Odubu said Osagie was one of the many aspirants for the position.

    He said the party would provide a level-playing field for the aspirants.

    The deputy governor added: “My message is clear. Many have come and many more will come for this same purpose, but the party will provide a level-playing field for all of them.

  • ‘Our representatives have failed us’

    The indigenous people of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) under the auspices of Greater Gbagyi Development Initiatives (GG-DIN) and the Original Inhabitant of Abuja have described the Senator representing the FCT in the National Assembly, Senator Phillip Aduda and the House Representative member, Hon. Isah Dobi as a disappointment to the people of the FCT. .

    On a peaceful protest march to the palace of the Chief of Garki, Dr, Usman Ngakupi, the houses of Senator Aduda, and Hon. Dobi, over 70 members of the community expressed their grievances against those representing them at the National Assembly who, they said have failed to protect their interests at the National Assembly, adding that their non-quality representation has caused them immense suffering, shame and humiliation in the hands of government.

    On getting to Senator Aduda’s residence, the protesters were informed that he was not in town. They had to proceed to the residence of Hon. Dobi who told them to meet him at Nigeria Turkish Nile University along Airport Road.

    However, when they got to the university, they realised that Hon. Dobi had deceived them out of his residence and switched off his phones.

    Prince Gimba Gbaiza, the Coordinator of GG-DIN who led the protest march, said the people are claiming responsibility for the gridlock at the popular Kubwa-Zuba Expressway, after the unannounced demolition of Alugu-Lungu Village inside Gwarinpa Estate, adding that they are tired of the humiliation and threats to lives from the government of the FCT as their representatives at the National Assembly have failed to represent the interest of the people that elected them.

    “What is the primary duty of Senator Philip Aduda? What is the primary duty of Zaphania Jisalo and Isah Dobi? What is the primary duty of the area council chairmen? Since the issue of what happened at Lungu Village came up and the protest at Kubwa Expressway, none of them has volunteered to visit there and find out what really happened and to see what to do.

    “They have disappointed us. That is why we have come to tell Phillip Aduda, Zaphania Jisalo and Isah Dobi that they have disappointed us. They should know that the primary duty of lawmakers is to make laws that would benefit their constituencies. We have written more than four letters to Senator Aduda seeking to have audience with him, but he refused to grant us audience.

    “What is the problem? Each time we have a problem, we write him he does not respond. We have told him to have an interface with his constituency for us to discuss how to develop the indigenous people of the FCT. He has failed us. We are not going to condone the problem of collecting our ancestral land with anybody any longer.  We are going to take our possession by force,” he said.