Politics

President-elect is not looking for a ‘rubber stamp” NASS, says Senator-elect Oshiomhole

Published

1 year ago

March 8, 2023

The President-elect, Sen. Bola Tinubu is not looking for a rubber stamp National Assembly but a robust one.

Senator-elect, Adams Oshiomhole, Edo North Senatorial District stated this while speaking with newsmen at the presentation of certificate of return to Senators-elect in Abuja on Tuesday.

”Our president-elect looks forward to a senate that would contribute to the development of the country.

”I will not be part of the legislator for the powerful but to the countrymen,” he said.

Oshiomhole, a former National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), said he had been been the voice of the people as a textile union activist, NLC President, and Governor of Edo , even in his choice of projects.

“I will be part of the senate that legislates for the good people of our countrymen, not for the powerful, by making sure that what we do in appropriation will be such that Nigerians get value for money.

“It is expected that the executive is powerful but does not have absolute power, so it will not be subject to legislative check.

“We are not there for the allowance. There are couple of things that can be done differently so that the renewed hope of our party can be translated into reality.

“Even the president-elect will not look forward to a rubber stamp assembly but the one that can help to contribute to knowledge.

“Nobody has absolute knowledge but working together and negotiating to have a win-win formula that will contribute to the dividends of democracy,” he said.

Oshiomhole also said that the 10th Senate would work for economic growth, robust GDP that would rely on power reforms.

“The current problem we face in the power sector was because it was meant to favour friends and relatives, who knows nothing about power.

“Now we have to find the courage to deal with a system that makes citizens pay bills for power they did not consume, which for me is fraud.

“Government must protect its citizens, and customers must be protected otherwise all the energy spent to vote for a few guys enjoy does not worth my while.

“ There are couple of things we have to do differently.”

Oshiomole said that the 10th Senate would also look into the issue of petroleum products.

“We still see long queues and each time I see the queues I feel agitated because I fought against these obnoxious policies when I was the President of NLC.

“We must take a radical action to ensure that the petrol we consume is refined in Nigeria.

”I will not go to the senate to lament but make laws that would be enforced,” Oshiomhole said.

Headline

I’ll Turn Ondo Into Another Lagos, Says Wale Akinterinwa Ahead Of APC Primaries

Published

3 weeks ago

April 3, 2024

Gift Oyekunmi

Wale Akinterinwa, a governorship hopeful on the platform of All Progressives Congress (APC), says he will turn Ondo into another Lagos, the country’s commercial capital, if elected governor.

The Ondo APC governorship primary election is scheduled for April 20 while the state-wide election will be held on November 16.

Speaking during his official declaration at the ruling party’s secretariat in Akure, the state capital, on Tuesday, Akinterinwa said he will make Ondo an industrialised state.

The governorship hopeful who had worked in Lagos civil service, said he would utilise the natural resources in the state to attract investments.

“We will turn Ondo into another Lagos state in terms of development because we have what it takes, in terms of coast. We must ensure that the port comes alive and that will be a game changer,” Akinterinwa said.

“But, beyond that, we also have the landmass and ought to be an agrarian state. So, we are going to take agriculture to the next level while we encourage and support the local farmers.

“We will also attract investors who will invest in agriculture so that we will be exporting finished products. We will not just be producing for the table but we will be producing for export.”

On security, Akinterinwa said his economic initiatives would get most youth employed and lead to reduction in the rate of insecurity in the state.

“For security, part of our challenges today is because today is because we have many unemployed youths. So, Amotekun founded by our late governor, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu and other South West governors will be strengthened so that with appropriate security in place, we can have development,” he said.

Headline

Why I Ignored Labour Party National Convention — Peter Obi

Published

3 weeks ago

March 30, 2024

Gift Oyekunmi

Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Labour Party for 2023 elections has declared his stance on the recent national convention of the party that saw Barr Julius Abure emerge as Julius Abure emerge as national chairman.

Addressing Nigerians on X Space hosted by Parallel Facts on Friday, Peter Obi said he ignored the convention because the party leadership under Abure failed to do wide consultation with key stakeholders of the party before embarking on the said convention.

The former Anambra Governor emphasised the need for the right thing to be done to salvage the party, adding that he is more passionate about building a new Nigeria than building a new Labour Party.