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Tag: Speaker

  • Lawmaker’s wife donates to expectant mothers

    Lawmaker’s wife donates to expectant mothers

    Wife of the lawmaker representing Ojo Federal Constituency, Mrs  Aishat Obasa has called on mothers to always take good care of their children.

    She spoke while donating baby items to mothers undergoing ante-natal at Ojo Primary Health Centre.

    Mrs Obasa said:” Prior to  my husband’s election, I have been visiting orphanages and hospitals during the month of ramadan, it is a season to give to the people and don’t forget that givers never lack”

    She thanked the mothers for accepting her donation.

    The Matron of the health centre, Mrs M.A Folarin praised Mrs Obasa’s effort in remembering the less privileged in the community.

    “This is not the first time she is visiting, it is routine for her during Ramadan season. Maybe the difference now is the new position her husband occupies and that has made her to contribute more compared to her donations in the past “ Mrs Folarin said.

    The coordinator of Enaife Foundation, a non governmental organisation, Mr Badmus Adams, who was also at the ocassion assured residence of Ojo of an adequate and healthy attention.

  • Lagos Speaker consoles Mamora

    Lagos Speaker consoles Mamora

    Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly  Mudashiru Obasa has condoled with a former Speaker of the Assembly, Senator Olorunnimbe Mamora, on the death of his mother.

    Mrs. Elizabeth Mamora died on June 17. She was 93.

    Obasa described the late Mrs. Mamora as a woman of virtue, who inculcated in her children godliness, hardwork and honesty as exemplified by the qualities of the former Speaker.

    “No matter how old one’s parent is at the point of death, one will still mourn because nobody can play the role parents play in the life of their children and that is why at this sober period, we have to sympathise with our own Senator Mamora and the entire family on the loss of mama.

    “For the Mamora family, it is better to celebrate mama’s life rather than mourn her  because she had led a good and fruitful life as exemplified in the children she left behind,” Obasa said.

    He said: “Mama was a good Christian mother ,who taught all her children how to live in the way of the Lord and strive to excel.”

  • Speaker calls for rededication

    Benue House of Assembly Speaker  Terkimbi Ikyange, has called on Muslims to rededicate themselves to the virtues of Ramadan – love, peace and tolerance.

    Ikyange enjoined them to live together in peace with people of different faiths.

    The speaker said the Holy month offered a wonderful opportunity for the adherents of the religion to be closer to God.

    He said the period would regenerate their souls, urging them to shun acts capable of tarnishing the name of the Islam.

    Ikyange said this year’s  Ramadan had come at a very critical time that a new government was about to settle down in the face of economic and security challenges.

    He appealed to Muslims to offer special prayers for  Governor Samuel Ortom’s administration to enable it surmount the teething problems militating against its quick take-off.

    The speaker said the promise of change by the new government could only be realised if Benue people rededicate themselves to God.

    Ikyange promised to enact good laws to aid the much needed change.

  • My emergence as speaker divine, says Dogara

    My emergence as speaker divine, says Dogara

    House of Representatives Speaker Yakubu Dogara yesterday attributed his election to divine intervention.

    According to him, he lacked the resources to fight for the position adding that the greatest challenge the country faces is bad leadership.

    He urged followers to support and pray for leaders who mean well for the development of the nation.

    Dogara spoke at a Thanksgiving church service at the Church of Christ in Nations (COCIN) Centre in Tafawa Balewa, Bauchi, his home state.

    It was his visit home since his election as speaker on June 9. On Saturday, he visited Emir of Bauchi Alhaji Rilwan Sulaiman who prayed for the quick release of the Chibok girls who were abducted from their school dormitory more than one year ago.

    He said: “God sent angels who made it possible for me. This is because in terms of resources and connection, there was no way we could possibly deliver this project.”

    The Speaker thanked the people for their support and prayers and reminded them that it is God’ command in the Bible for them to pray ceaselessly for all leaders irrespective of differences.

    He added: “The biggest challenge we have in this country is lack of credible leadership because if there is no leader, everything around us decays, but if we have good leadership, I believe Nigeria will be greater.

    “With prayers, the quality of leadership we have will improve and if it improves, the quality of our lives will equally improve.

    He said his emergence as speaker is a clear sign that northern Nigeria is becoming united more than ever before.

    He said it was an act of God when the Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, from the same Tafawa Balewa Local Government Area of Bauchi state, where he comes from, became Nigeria’s first and only Prime minister in the first republic, Dogara said but for divine intervention, his emergence as the fourth citizen in the country would not have been possible.

    “This victory we are celebrating here today wouldn’t have been possible without your support. Apart from the support from our brothers from other political zones’, support.

    “The North at a time searched for leadership from other parts of the country because, we were divided. My emergence with the support of all people of different tribes and religions in Nigeria, showed that we’re beginning to come together as a region and Nigeria will be better for it.”

    “For God to have returned to this region and pick someone here is an indication that there is a new dawn for this region.”

    Executive Secretary, Tertiary Education Fund (TETFUND), Prof. Suleiman Bogoro, said Dogara’s victory is history made in grand style.

    He described the Speaker as a man of faith who believed he was going to occupy a prominent position in the country, he added that “if we ever thought that someone from this land would work against the emergence of Dogara as Speaker, he was a liar because God made it possible.

    “The said that can anything good come out of Nazareth? Something good has come out of Zaar land,” he said.

    Guests at the Thanksgiving service included former Plateau State Deputy Governor Paulline Tallen, former Chairman Christian Association of Nigeria, Bauchi state, Rev. Shiabu Byal and Supreme Court Justice Bitrus Tsammani, among others.

  • How LP beat Accord to Minority Leader, by Oyo Speaker

    Oyo State House of Assembly Speaker Michael Adeyemo has said majority of the 32-member of the Eighth Assembly chose to suspend the rule of the House to allow a Labour Party (LP) candidate  emerge as Minority Leader.

    Adeyemo, who spoke to The Nation at the weekend, said the lawmakers did so to throw the position open.

    The House is made up of 18 members of the All Progressives Congress (APC), eight Accord and six LP members.

    Olagunju Ojo defeated Olalekan Olagunju to emerge the Minority Leader.

    He scored 21 to beat his rival’s nine.

    Political observers had expected that Accord would produce the Minority Leader having produced higher minority  lawmakers.

    The development attracted some criticism.

    But Adeyemo said the constitution allows suspension of any rule of the House to allow a majority decision sail through.

    He said: “There is no controversy. People decided to go with what we have in the House rule, forgetting that the same rule makes provision for the suspension of any rule for you to do certain things.

    “If you want to do certain things, you suspend the provision of the House rule that will stop you from doing it.

    “Election of principal officers of the House is the business of the members of the House either from the majority or the minority. All members will participate.

    “So, when it comes to the issue of election of minority leader, our rule says it should be from the minority party with the highest number of members but a member raised a motion that the rule  be suspended.

    “Why? They wanted the whole thing to be thrown open. So, what we did was in accordance with the rule of law.

    “All members approved the suspension of the House rule and we went for voting. And the members decided who should be the Minority Leader.”

    Adeyemo also promised that the Assembly would surpass the record of the Seventh Assembly as members have agreed to work together, irrespective of their political affiliations.

  • Senator cautions Imo Assembly new speaker

    Senator cautions Imo Assembly new speaker

    A socio-political crusader in Imo State, Ikenna Samuelson Iwuoha has congratulated the new Speaker of Imo State House of Assembly, Hon. Iheanacho Ihim (Onwa) on his elevation as the Speaker of Imo State House of Assembly.

    Samuelson described Dr. Acho Ihim as a grassroots politician who has re-integrated himself back with the mainstream political leaders across the state.

    Iwuoha, who played a major role that stopped Hon. Ihim from emerging Speaker on June 7, 2011, which eventually saw to the emergence of former Speaker Benjamin Uwajumogu, however, cautioned the new speaker on the kind of aides he would recruit to pilot the affairs of the 6th Assembly.

    Iwuoha specifically advised Hon. Ihim to do away with the former Speaker’s senior aides if he does not want the rain to beat him. Iwuoha mentioned the name of the former Chief of Staff, Mr. Kodichi Anamekwe and others like Mr. Emeka Ahaneku, Mr. Godson Amadikwa, Mr. Kingsley Ndubueze, Mr. Dan Orji, Mr. Ugwu and Mr. Ifeanyi Nwannenna etc. as people which Hon. Ihim should stay away from, if he intends to make any meaningful impact as speaker.

    While Kodichi Anamekwe defrauded the Assembly of Funds running into hundreds of millions of naira through fictitious and fraudulent supply of diesel (AGO), computer accessories, ghost workers, award of road contracts, financial assistance scam and burying of several charms allegedly prepared with new born babies and aborted babies at the Imo Assembly compound, Emeka Ahaneku defrauded the Assembly of funds running into tens of millions of naira through the general duties department of the office of the speaker.

    Through this department, Emeka Ahaneku signed off millions of naira for former Speaker’s sister Chidinma Uwajumogu’s non-governmental organisations – Development Initiative for African Women (DIFAW) and Development Initiative for African Youths (DIFAY).

    Also, Ahaneku brought down or reduced the number of media correspondents at the Imo State House of Assembly from 36 to only 16, thereby inflicting untold hardships on correspondents. He was stealing the sum of N300,000 from the correspondents stipends on monthly basis and so many other fraudulent activities.

    All these information are with EFCC and force headquarters. Emeka Ahaneku is a serial blackmailer who operates with pseudo names (fake names) such as Amaefula Amadi, Chinonso Obi, Ikenna Obioha and most recently Barrister Chikodi Amadi etc.

    He uses these names to blackmail people of integrity and credibility. He recently blackmailed the Deputy Governor, Prince Eze Madumere, with the name Barrister Chikodi Amadi accusing him of interfering with Assembly matters. The rest of Godson Amadikwa, Kingsley Ndubueze, Dan Orji, Ugwu, Ifeanyi Nwannenna etc are members of the Ihitte/Uboma cabal that saw to the desecration of the office of the speaker. Anything that has a beginning must have an end.

    Samuelson pointed out that the names he mentioned above including Speaker Uwajumogu should be held responsible for the various deaths that occurred at the Speaker’s office between 2011 and 2014.

    The social crusader finally advised Hon. Ihim to make use of aides from among the Acho Ihim Campaign Organisations and credible people across the state.

    “Ihim must not allow the rain to beat him and the only way to avoid the rain from beating him is to do away with Kodichi Anamekwe, Emeka Ahaneku, Godson Amadikwa, Kingsley Ndubueze, Dan Orji, Ugwu, Ifeanyi Nwannenna etc.

    Political leaders should advise Hon. Ihim better because I am ruthlessly serious. I want him to succeed in Jesus Name, Amen,’’ Samuelson concluded.

    The new Deputy Speaker Hon. Ugonna Ozuruigbo was also congratulated by the social crusader.

    Iwuoha has further cautioned the new Speaker of Imo State House of Assembly, Hon. Ihim over the alleged plan to retain senior aides of the former Speaker, Hon. Benjamin Uwajumogu.

    Samuelson maintained that retaining those boys by Dr. Ihim would mean inheriting Uwajumogu’s problems, battles and troubles as he would not sheath his sword against the office of the Speaker.

    He has therefore pleaded with the Clerk of the House, Chief Chris Duru and the other honourable members, including political and religious leaders to talk sense into Hon. Ihim so that he would not make the mistake of inheriting Uwajumogu’s problems by attempting to retain any of those senior aides whose names he listed.

    Few days ago, Samuelson had congratulated the new Speaker on his emergence but strictly cautioned him never to retain Uwajumogu’s senior aides over their criminal, fraudulent and occultic tendencies including his battles with the office of the speaker.

  • Ikpeazu greets Abia Speaker, others

    Abia State Governor Okezie Ikpeazu, has congratulated the new Speaker and Deputy Speaker of the sixth House of Assembly on their victories.

    In a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Godwin Adindu, Ikpeazu wished the Speaker a successful tenure as they work to ensure a vibrant and dynamic legislature for Abia State.

    The governor felicitated with the members and urged them to perform their duties in the interest of the electorates.

     

  • Why we elected first-timer as Cross River Speaker, by lawmaker

    Fresh facts have emerged on why a first-time lawmaker, Aniekan Ukoh, was elected Speaker of the sixth House of Assembly of Akwa Ibom State.

    Ukoh’s emergence has been generating negative reactions after the Assembly failed to agree on two other lawmakers with requisite experience for the position.

    But one of them, Imeh Okon, has said the emergence of Ukoh, who represents Ibesikpo Asutan, was for political exigencies.

    Okon said: “Myself and another person were interested in being the Speaker. But at the end of the day, someone, who wasn’t in the picture, was picked as the Speaker. That’s because of the exigencies of the time. We were all satisfied.

    “The important thing is that we want the Assembly to be stable; we wanted a House that will serve the people, not necessarily who the Speaker or his deputy is.

    “Order 6, Rule 2 (1) of the Standing Order of Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly provides that preference shall be given to members with cognitive legislative experience. It is a parliamentarian convention all over the world because, for one to perform effectively, he must have experience.

    “But then, there was a clamour for Uyo Federal Constituency that, even though the speakership was zoned to Uyo Senatorial District, that within Uyo Senatorial District, you have some federal other state constituencies.

    “There was a clamour for sub-zoning, like Itu Federal Constituency has a serving senator and Etinan Federal Constituency has a party chairman. But there was nothing for Uyo Federal Constituency.

    “There was the clamour that what was left for Uyo Senatorial District should be given to Uyo Federal Constituency. So, we had to agree so that we could move forward.”

    The lawmaker also disagreed with the insinuations that the new Speaker lacks the capacity and experience to lead the Assembly.

    Okon noted that since Ukoh had served as a lawmaker at the local government level, he had acquired enough legislative experience to succeed as Speaker.

    He assured that the older members of the Assembly would support him to ensure that the House remains focused and independent.

    On the allegation that former Governor Godswill Akpabio bribed some lawmakers to elect Ukoh, Okon said the insinuation was laughable.

  • Garba elected Speaker of Jigawa Assembly

    Alhaji Idris Garba, member representing Jahun Constituency in Jigawa House of Assembly, has emerged the new Speaker of the sixth Assembly.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports on Wednesday in Dutse that Alhaji Ahmed Garba of Hadejia Constituency was elected Deputy Speaker.

    In his acceptance speech after swearing in other members, Garba said during the inauguration of the Assembly that his emergence as the speaker was an act of God.

    The speaker enjoined his colleagues to cooperate and support him in the task ahead.

    He said that all members of the assembly must work together in unity to deliver dividends of democracy to the people.

    He thanked the people for electing them as their representatives and pledged not to disappoint them.

    According to him, the sixth Assembly, under his leadership would be vibrant and active in making laws that would provide succour to citizens of the state.

    Garba said that the Assembly would partner with other arms of government in ensuring peace, stability and progress of the state.

    NAN reports that the inauguration of the sixth assembly was witnessed by Gov. Muhammad Badaru, the Deputy Governor, Alhaji Ibrahim Hassan, and traditional rulers in the state.

  • Dogara: what my emergence as Speaker means

    House of Representatives Speaker Yakubu Dogara has described his emergence as an assertion of independence of the legislature.

    He said the legislature has run out of excuses to deliver dividends of democracy to Nigerians.

    “What has been demonstrated here today is the resolve of Members of the House to assert the independence of the legislature as a co-equal arm of government.

    “My dear colleagues, by electing me as Speaker you have demonstrated to the world that our legislature is living up to the dreams and aspirations of our founding fathers.

    “You are leaving a legacy of an accountable, autonomous, focused, progressive and united House capable of playing its role as the stabilizing force in our polity. We have shown once again that this is a House of the Nigerian people.

    “After 16 years of unbroken experiment in Constitutional democracy, it is right to say that the Nigerian legislature has come of age. The House continues to remain the repository of the democratic hopes and ambitious of our people. This is a truly representative Chamber that can be relied upon to rise to the occasion when duty calls.

    “It should be noted that we are heirs, to a long tradition of a House where debates are robustly undertaken, where radicalism flows as an institutional prerogative. We continue to be the bulwark for the defence of the rights and privileges of the “common man”. We shall continue to champion the rights of the weak and poor. We shall continue to be the anchor for the wellbeing of our people.

    After the euphoria of today comes the difficulties of tomorrow. We take office at a period in our history when the morale of our people are at its lowest ebb. We take office when our economy is in shambles, when the living conditions of Nigerians are in poor shape, when infrastructures are nonexistent or at best decayed. Our people are no longer safe in their homes .We face a debt crises once again.

    “We are in a period of great social and political malaise. Provision of basic necessities of life for our people are becoming increasingly difficult. Long fuel lines, high cost of living, and epileptic electricity supply or in most instances complete darkness has become the order of the day.

    “The health needs of the majority of our people are not being met. Extreme poverty still envelopes a large percentage of our population. For too long, Nigerians have suffered degradation and neglect. The list is endless.

    “It will be unfair to say that efforts have not been made by our past leaders to solve all these problems. Quite to the contrary ,a lot of progress has been made in many fields. But it appears as if we have not done enough, as the  problems still remain.

    “We are poised to use our new office to wage a mortal combat with the cancer of corruption, incompetence, insecurity, bad governance and infrastructural decay. We shall wage an unrelenting legislative war on insecurity, unemployment, poverty, lack of power supply, educational inadequacies, health problems and social decay.

    “We hope that our best will be good enough. I pledge to you my colleagues and Nigerians that we will play our part in this new opportunity offered us by Nigerians to recover our nation from the clutches of hunger, poverty, disease, social, economic, political and infrastructural quagmire.

    “It is now our responsibility to fashion out the legislative instruments that will lead to Nigeria’s renaissance. Let the word go forth from here that it shall not be legislative business as usual again in Nigeria.

    “We, as a parliament can only justify the confidence of our people by keeping faith with our duties of Law making, Representation and Oversight of the Executive arm of government. However, inspite of our responsibility for checking and balancing the Executive , good governance can only be effected when all arms of government are working in harmony and partnership to bring about the CHANGES voted for by Nigerians on March 28, 2015.

    “We shall cooperate and work harmoniously with the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to deliver on the mandate given to us by Nigerians,” he said.

    He also unveiled a legislative Programme of Action and a legislative compass to guide his actions in office in the document.

    “We further pledged that the 8th House of Representatives will concentrate on legislation that will bring the changes required and voted for by Nigerians. Legislative measures that will tackle the issue of endemic unemployment crises; insecurity of lives and property; poverty alleviation; health and education; Endemic Corruption; electricity and Energy crises; General infrastructure decay etc. We shall work closely and speedily to pass legislation that will tackle these matters.”

    “We also propose to introduce the following: Sectoral debates on various aspects of the Nigerian economy are some of the legislative measures we would introduce.

    “This proposal envisages that the House will designate specific legislative sitting days or weeks in its calendar specifically for discussion on various problems facing the nation.

    “Such identified themes, sectors, areas or problems include  –  Unemployment, Health, Education and Social Services; Power/Energy Sector, Oil and Gas, Science and Technology; Commerce and Industry;  Transportation; Telecommunications; Agriculture; Mining; Manufacturing; Diversification of the Economy, Finance, Corruption, Security Matters, Infrastructure etc.

    “We expect that these debates will lead to crafting of new laws or amendment to existing ones or indeed make recommendations on how to better manage the economy.

    “We shall fine-tune this document and present it to the entire House for debate, amendments and adoption as soon as we commence legislative duties.”