Kunle ADELABU
Traditional rulers, political leaders and representatives of critical sectors in Ikorodu division area of Lagos State, Southwest, Nigeria, have pledged to ensure that the forthcoming General elections in 2019 in the division would be credible and violence-free.
The residents made this pledge at the Ikorodu Contituency I venue of the 4th edition of the Lagos State House of Assembly’s Constituency Stakeholders’ Meeting held at Ai Royal Hotel hall in Aga, Ikorodu.
The stakeholders, who represented the traditional institution, political parties, transport unions, market men and women, artisans, security agencies, electoral body and national orientation agency among many others, took turns to unequivocally stated that they would do everything possible to ensure violence-free and credible elections come 2019..
This year’s edition of the Constituency Stakeholders’ Meetings was themed, “Towards A Peaceful And Credible Elections”.
The Chief Host of the Stakeholders’ Meeting in Ikorodu Constituency I, Hon Sanai Agunbiade,who is the Majority Leader of the Lagos State House of Assembly and the lawmaker representing Ikorodu Constituency I, in his keynote address, stated that the theme, “Towards A Peaceful And Credible Elections”, is to further the commitment of the leadership of the Assembly for good governance.
“The theme is in furtherance of the unflinching commitment of the leadership of the House, under the Speakership of Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Ajayi Obasa, in ensuring that our people have meaningful representation through good governance”, Hon. Agunbiade stated.
He listed the aims of the Constituency Stakeholders’ Meeting as ensuring the right of individuals in enthronement of government; equal access to every citizens in public service in the state and local council level and ensuring conducive environment for credible elections in 2019 among others.
The lawmaker stated that the House of Assembly is raising discourse on peaceful and credible elections because of its concern for the 2019 general elections.
“You may wonder why my colleagues and I have chosen this theme for this year’s stakeholders’ meeting. It is because of our concern for the peaceful conduct of the 2019 elections.
“In view of this, we, your representatives, wish to enjoin you, our leaders, members and supporters of political parties and groups, to assume the responsibility of conducting ourselves in a way that will promote peace and unity of purpose during and after the elections.
“The electoral process is one of the most important features of democracy with voters as the major stakeholders”.
According to Hon. Agunbiade, the electorate must have confidence in the process for them to participate as this makes government itself to be responsible and responsive to the needs of the people.
“We urge religious leaders and parents to contribute to the success of the elections by preaching against violence in any form, before, during and after the elections.
“Community leaders are, hereby, enjoined to embolden our people to always take advantage of their constitutional right to vote as contained in Section 77 (2), 132 (5) and 178 (5) of the 1999 constitution (as amended). It is the responsibility of every member of a community to encourage eligible members in their various communities to collect their Permanent Voters Card (PVC) and mobilize others to participate in the coming general elections.
Speaking on the performances of the Lagos State House of Assembly since the last edition of the Constituency Stakeholders’ Meeting, Hon. Agunbiade stated that the House had reviewed and amended old legislations and also initiated new ones.
He added that the House had also considered 41 new bills and passed 30 into law which are effectively addressing various challenges.
“Please be informed that since the last Stakeholders’ Meeting in year 2017, we have continued to improve on our law making drive and process by reviewing and amending the old legislations and initiating new ones where necessary, to meet current needs.
“To date, we have considered forty-one (41) bills and passed thirty (30) into Law which are effectively addressing various challenges and developmental activities in the state. The bills so far passed into Law since the last Stakeholders’ meeting are:
“Lagos State Cancer Research Institute of Law, 2017; Lagos State College of Nursing (Schools of Nursing, Midwifery and Public Health Nursing) Law, 2017; Yoruba Language Promotion and Preservation Law, 2017; Lagos State Cooperative College Law, 2017; and Lagos State Customary Court (Amendment) Law, 2017;
Others are, “Lagos State Electric Sector Reform Law, 2018; Lagos State Transport Sector Reform Law, 2018; Lagos State Teaching Service Commission Law, 2018; Lagos State Awards Scheme Law, 2018; and Lagos State Pension Reform (Amendment) Law, 2018.
“Some other bills are at different stages of legislative process.
“Through these laws, we have been able to demonstrate the commitment of this House of Assembly to the improvement of lives of the people and protection of properties in the State. The evident impacts of these are the on-going construction, rehabilitation and reconstruction of roads and other infrastructure across the State namely; the Ikeja and Tafawa Balewa Square (TBS) BRT Bus Terminals, pedestrian bridges; disbursement of reasonable funds for youth empowerment by the Lagos State Employment Trust Fund, equipping of the Lagos State Neighborhood Safety Corps with operational vehicles; completion of Ayinke House at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, Ikeja, and other on-going projects across the State.
“The laws, coupled with our vibrant representation, have continued to inspire other governments across the Federation and beyond. For these, the House of Assembly and Members have received several awards in recent times. Indeed, the Rt. Hon. Speaker, in addition to these awards, has also received numerous international awards and was equally elected as the chairman of the Conference of Speakers of Nigerian Legislatures in recognition of our deep democratic achievements. We are committed to sustaining the House as being above common standards of excellence.
“It is also worthy to mention that the House issued various resolutions and attended to petitions geared towards ensuring good Governance and peaceful coexistence among the citizens of the State.
His Royal Majesty, Oba Kabir Shotobi, the Ayangbure of Ikorodu,in his own remarks, commended the Lagos Assembly for setting the pace for others in the country.
“In Nigeria, Lagos State House of Assembly remains the most vibrant and promising. This shows that we have good leadership steering the ship of the House led by Hon. Mudashiru Obasa and our own son, Hon. SOB Agunbiade, who is the Majority Leader of the House.
“We have witnessed the beginning of this stakeholders’ meeting through which the Assembly formulates and plans its representative activities.
Hon. Sunday Olajide, Chairman of the Appropriation Committee, Ondo State House of Assembly, in his contribution, stated that:
“We are happy to be here to learn how the Lagos State House of Assembly is bringing about effective representation to its people.
“We came to study how the Lagos legislators are getting the legislative work done, especially in the area of impactful representation by getting the electorate involve in the legislative processes.
Otunba Waliu Daini, the State Vice Chairman and Ikorodu branch Chairman of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), while also speaking at the event, assured that their members are peace loving people who are going to conduct themselves well before, during and after the elections.
He charged INEC officials to ensure that people are duly captured in the ongoing CVR exercise and also given PVC.
Alhaja Risikat Allison, the Iya-Oloja General of Ikorodu division, in her own remarks, pledged the support of the market men and women in Ikorodu towards credible and peaceful elections in 2019
She also called for the decentralization of CVR exercise to prevent dissenfrachisement of many residents.
The representative of the Central Development Committee (CDCs) and Community Development Associations (CDAs) in Ikorodu Constituency I, called for the creation of new polling booths in newly developed areas.
He also called on the electoral body to ensure that CVR process is taken closer to the people.
Mr Ogunmosunle Sanmi, the INEC Resident Electoral Officer in Ikorodu division,while speaking at the forum stated that the exercise is a Continuous Voters Registration exercise which is still going to continue after the present window closes.
He also stated that Ikorodu division is second in terms of daily capturing of new PVC registration after Alimosho and added that INEC has provided them with new machines to make their job easier and faster.
He equally said that the CVR has been decrentralised and that their team are presently in Ikorodu West where they have successfully captured three major locations.
