Politics
National Challenges and Opportunities: Government Should Do More – Ali Soyode.
…Pray for States and Victims affected by Crises.
A leading Presidential Aspirant in the 2019 General Elections in Nigeria, Mr. AIi Soyode, has called on the three Tiers of government to increase the level of security required for peaceful coexistence among its Citizens, emphasising that the primary responsibility of any government is the protection of lives and properties as enshrined in the constitution and on moral, cultural and religious grounds.
Ali Soyode who was reacting to recent developments in the country said more than 2000 people lost their lives over preventable conflict and issues such as communal crises, herdsmen/farmer’s clashes, gas explosion, lack of heath care facilities among other things.
Emphasising that economic loses from such impacts on any nation will affect her growth, earnings and investment drives.
While commenting on the recent killings in Plateau State, where hundreds were left dead, the aspirant, Mr. Soyode said the delay in creating immediate response by leaders is reducing the hope and security expected by the people.
Mr Soyode added that local people need their hope built positively and subsequently want the criminals responsible for the killings arrested and brought to book in a competent court of law.
Last month, armed bandits suspected to be herdsmen attacked the villages of Razat, Ruku, Nyarr, Kura and Gana-Ropp in Gashish District in Barkin Ladi Local Government Area of Plateau State, with about 86 people killed and various figures across other states been killed.
The states and federal government came under severe attack for not combating what has now become a major national problem..
Pointing to the economic losses that accrue from such deaths, Mr Soyode said more should be done by state and federal governments to bring back wholly the rule of law and ensure its full compliance as failure to do so would lead to more hardship for the ordinary citizens of Nigeria.
Mr Soyode, the former CEO of the largest black Television station in Europe BEN Television and the Commandant General of International Mentoring Corp, who joined Nigeria’s presidential race few months ago said: “All these can be avoided and curtailed if the people feels the leadership is there for them. It is unfortunate and saddening to read, watch or listen to news daily about the challenges and crises as there is always an opportunity to give peace a chance.
“Peace helps communities to build their economy, have better things of life, enjoy the structures provided by governments and make the compliance with the rule of law easier. We do not need the sad news daily facing us when we can all collectively do better to help build a nation which has all the necessary resources to be great.”
However, Mr Soyode commended the Nigeria armed forces for working with the resources available to them especially those in the frontline, noting that as more resources and welfare are provided, they should become more motivated and inspired to do more for the nation.
He added that there is the need to consider the state security option as several governors have complained of the lack of power to secure their domains.
“Let me appeal to the members of National Assembly, federal government and the leaders to see to the urgent need to protect all Nigerians. I am appealing to them to see to it that security is very pivotal and I believe this can be done within a period of three months because Nigerians need peace and peace brings in the capacity required for growth in business and investments.
He therefore used the medium to urgently call and invite all political office aspirants to a summit where the issue for peace, the values of electorate consideration and the importance of each candidate, their followers and parties to walk the path of keeping our nation united will be discussed and tabled with a resolution agreed at the end of it. This initiative of pledging to peace is on the back of his 2015, I Pledge Peace campaign in Nigeria.
Breaking: Speaker Obasa Debunks Allegation Of Spending N17b On Assembly Gate
The Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa, on Thursday described the allegation that the House spent N17 billion on the fixing of a gate as spurious and funny.
A self-proclaimed group, Lagos State Anti-Corruption Coalition, had accused the Assembly of spending the amount to construct a gate. The group also sought investigation of the claim.
Speaking at plenary, Dr. Obasa said the allegation stemmed from the fear of some people over 2027 which is still more than two years away.
Obasa further debunked the claim that the House spent N200 million on its recently organised 22nd thanksgiving service for staff.
“It is so funny. How much is the allocation of the Assembly in the whole year that we will decide to spend N17 billion on a gate? They even claimed that we expended 200 million on thanksgiving that did not hold.
“We are aware that at a period like this when we are approaching elections in 2027, we should expect such things. I think some people are scared and I don’t know why.
“This House did not and has not embarked on any such project. We are not that reckless. We had our thanksgiving last Friday and dignitaries from various parts of the State attended it,” the Speaker said.
Addressing further claims by the group about the alleged relationship between him and the chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ola Olukoyede, the Speaker denied attending the latter’s screening and confirmation by the National Assembly.
“They said that I was at the National Assembly when they were confirming the EFCC chairman. I want to believe that there are CCTV cameras at the National Assembly to identify those who attended the event. The press must have written about it too. So the group should do more to confirm if I was there.
“This is just to deny the allegations in the interest of the public and not the writers because the writers are not those we should be joining words with,” the Speaker said.
Earlier, the House, through its spokesperson, Hon. Stephen Ogundipe, had addressed the allegations noting that the Assembly bases its activities on integrity, transparency and accountability.
“It is ludicrous the claim about constituency intervention funds and constituency project funds and their handling by Speaker Mudashiru Obasa and Clerk of the House, Barr. Olalekan Onafeko as claimed by the group.
“One would have expected a self-acclaimed anti-corruption crusading group to do its groundwork before jumping across the fence with conviction that it hit a jackpot to malign an institution of repute in the name of politics.
“Simply put, the Lagos State House of Assembly does not have any such funds. The Assembly does not embark on constituency projects. Instead, once every year, the House holds stakeholders’ meetings simultaneously across the state where constituents have the opportunity to tell the lawmakers their expectations and make requests for the betterment of the state.
“These requests and expectations are compiled and sent to the executive arm of government for consideration as inputs in subsequent budgets. If this is what the group takes as constituency intervention or project funds, we are sure this explanation has given the required education, moreover, it is common knowledge that it is the responsibility of the Executive arm to execute such projects,” the earlier statement by Ogundipe read.
Eromosele Ebhomele
Chief Press Secretary to the Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly.
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