POLITICS
Shettima assures fraternal bond between executive, legislature
Vice President Kashim Shettima has assured Nigerians of continued fraternal bond between the executive and the legislative arms of government.
Shettima gave the assurance when he declared open a two-day retreat for the leadership of the 10th National Assembly (NASS) in Ikot Ekpene, Akwa Ibom on Friday.
The vice president said that President Bola Tinubu remains committed to safeguarding Nigeria’s democracy.
Shettima also assured the leadership of the National Assembly of Tinubu’s avowed commitment to entrenching democratic ideals and values through collaborative partnership with all arms of government.
He said the unrivalled democratic credentials of Tinubu, which include legislative experience, would continue to rub off on his governance style.
This, he said especially as it borders on respect of the rule of law, adherence to separation of powers as well as deference for constitutional rights.
Shettima described the composition of the Federal Government as well as the leadership of the National Assembly as historical, unique and a major pathway to Nigeria’s unprecedented development.
This, he said, was more so that the expectations of Nigerians would be met regardless of the present challenges.
“For the first time in our history, all the elected heads of our branches of government are produced by the hallowed halls of the National Assembly.
“For the first time in our history, the heart of the executive branch of our government is serviced by the alumni of the National Assembly.
“Both the Chief of Staff and the Deputy Chief of Staff to the President are proud alumni of the National Assembly. The Secretary to the Federal Government is one of us.
“We cannot, therefore, afford to go to war. Not because we are going to overlook each other’s transgressions, but because you are going to engage with those who know the gravity of your work and would never take you for granted.”
He said given the composition of the National Assembly, it has become emphatic that ranks are closed in the bid to give unprecedented service delivery and democratic pact to the Nigerian people.
“There’s no place in this country where you can find a fraternal bond as enduring as the ones that bind the members of the National Assembly.
“From converging on Abuja to water the dreams, debate the needs, and mitigate the fears of this diverse nation, we have forged friendships that defy the stereotypes of our differences.
“Term after term, election after election, old and new members return and exit, but the burden of managing a diverse nation has ensured that we cannot afford to tread the path of divisions.”
He further reiterated the need for national cohesion, saying it has become non-negotiable if the country’s potential must be fully harnessed and tapped for prosperity and generality of all Nigerians.
“You have a President and a Vice President who are one of you and recognise the sacrifices you make.
“President Tinubu has, with utter certainty, reassured us that we are not in government to go to war with the National Assembly. We are here to collaborate and march towards shared values.
“Governance is a collective responsibility, not a personal endeavour. Our most significant achievements were attained through cooperation and harmony.
“This is what we seek from you because we are brothers and sisters in pursuit of a country that serves all of us.
Shettima described the NASS as a complete spectrum of human experience.
“This is where you will witness eloquent testimonies of your colleagues in defence of reason.
“This is where you will witness profound debates that will dismantle your age-long assumptions. But, in the end, you will realize we are all bound by our fidelity to the ideals of democracy.”
Earlier, President of the Senate, Sen. Godswill Akpabio, said that the retreat was the beginning of the rejuvenation and a time of reflection and deliberate planning that would determine the direction of legislative efforts.
“We have a huge responsibility as the National Assembly leaders, as the guardians of democracy, it is our responsibility to set the legislative agenda, make sure that our venerable institution runs smoothly.
“Our neighbours are watching us, and they turn to us for leadership and action. We therefore have a chance to establish a strong future direction during this retreat, which is more than just a gathering of leaders.”
Also, the Director-General of the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies, Prof. Abubakar Sulaiman, thanked Tinubu for his continued support and deepened respect for legislative independence and harmony.
He said the institute remained committed to working with the 10th NASS in improving legislative governance.
Notable guests at the event include Gov. Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom, former Senate Presidents Ayim Pius Ayim, David Mark, Ken Nnamani and Ahmed Lawan.
Others were the Head of Mission, Embassy of the Republic of Germany, Mr Johnnes Lehne and all Principal leaders of the National Assembly.
JUDICIARY
Kogi Governorship Tribunal Adjourns Indefinitely Pending Completion of Election Materials Inspection
From Joseph Amedu, Lokoja
The Governorship Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Kogi State has adjourned pending the completion of inspection of election materials by the Social Democratic Party.
At the resumed hearing, the SDP said the INEC was cooperating with the inspection of materials as granted by the order of the Tribunal, but sought for more time.
Recall that the Tribunal had ordered INEC to issue certified copies of electoral materials on the November 11 off-cycle election in the state to the SDP within 48 hours.
It also ordered INEC to allow SDP’s forensic experts to examine some electoral materials.
The materials include Bimodal Voter Accreditation System and result sheets for Adavi, Okene, Okehi, Ogori-Magongo, Ajaokuta, Lokoja, Kogi and Bassa Local Government Areas.
The tribunal ruled on Saturday in Lokoja that the SDP requested the materials to prove its case in the petition it filed against the victory of the All Progressives Congress (APC) at the election.
Chairman of the tribunal, Justice Ado Birnin-Kudu gave the order following two ex-parte motions filed on Nov. 19 by the SDP and by its governorship candidate, Alhaji Muritala Yakubu-Ajaka.
Justice Birnin-Kudu at the resumed hearing adjourned pending when the inspection of materials would have been completed.
Lead counsel to the petitioners, Mr John Adele (SAN), had earlier told the court that efforts to obtain certified copies of materials used in the six local government areas from INEC had been fruitful, except for some hitch, leading to delay in meeting with the 48hours.
The SDP and Muritala Yakubu are challenging the victory of APC and its candidate, Alhaji Usman Ododo at the election petition tribunal.
Usman Ododo won the election with 446,237 votes, while his closest rival, Yakubu-Ajaka got 259,052 votes.
POLITICS
Kogi Guber Tribunal Adjourns Indefinitely Pending Completion of Election Materials Inspection
From Joseph Amedu, Lokoja
The Governorship Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Kogi State has adjourned indefinitely pending the completion of inspection of election materials by the Social Democratic Party (SDP).
At the resumed hearing, the SDP said the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) was cooperating with the inspection of materials as granted by the order of the Tribunal, but sought for more time.
It could be recalled that the Tribunal had ordered INEC to issue certified copies of electoral materials on the November 11 off-cycle election in the state to the SDP within 48 hours.
It also ordered INEC to allow SDP’s forensic experts to examine some electoral materials.
The materials include Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and result sheets for Adavi, Okene, Okehi, Ogori-Magongo, Ajaokuta, Lokoja, Kogi and Bassa Local Government Areas.
The tribunal ruled on Saturday in Lokoja that the SDP requested the materials to prove its case in the petition it filed against the victory of the All Progressives Congress (APC) at the election.
Chairman of the tribunal, Justice Ado Birnin-Kudu gave the order following two ex-parte motions filed on Nov. 19 by the SDP and by its governorship candidate, Alhaji Muritala Yakubu-Ajaka.
Justice Birnin-Kudu at the resumed hearing adjourned pending when the inspection of materials would have been completed.
Lead counsel to the petitioners, Mr John Adele (SAN), had earlier told the court that efforts to obtain certified copies of materials used in the six local government areas from INEC had been fruitful, except for some hitch, leading to delay in meeting within 48 hours.
The SDP and Muritala Yakubu are challenging the victory of APC and its candidate, Alhaji Usman Ododo at the election petition tribunal.
Usman Ododo won the election with 446,237 votes, while his closest rival, Yakubu-Ajaka got 259,052 votes.
From Kunle Idowu, Ogun
The Oyo State House of Assembly on Wednesday requested the state governor, Mr Seyi Makinde, to grant the State School of Basic Midwifery at Kisi full autonomy for enhanced efficiency.
The House’s request was necessitated by the need for the employment of more medical personnel, particularly in the state’s Oke-Ogun area.
The request followed a motion by Mr Waliu Salami, titled “An appeal to Gov.
Seyi Makinde under Omititun 2.0 to approve Oyo State School of Basic Midwifery Kisi as an autonomous and full-fledged institution in continuation of efforts to fill the medical personnel gaps in Oke-Ogun and Oyo state at large”.The House noted that available facilities and infrastructure at the institution in Kisi was enough to justify the call to grant the school the required full autonomy.
It added that it has taken cognisance of the qualified and employable graduates produced by the school.
Since its establishment in 2016, the graduates are yet to be productively engaged as trained professionals, the House noted.
The House said the Oyo State College of Nursing and Midwifery was established through the enactment of Oyo State College of Nursing and Midwifery Law, 2005.
This was to, among other things, train student-nurses who provide nursing care for the citizenry in rural and urban areas either at primary, secondary or tertiary levels of healthcare settings in the state.
While presenting the motion, Salami disclosed that since inception the College has trained millions of qualified nurses and midwives in Nigeria to fill the medical personnel gaps experienced in the health sector.
“Since inception, the school has graduated qualified and employable sets of graduates as midwives, making the state proud professionally in places of work nationwide and globally.
“The school trained midwife-students of Oyo State College of Nursing and Midwifery with qualified personnel.
“It is therefore justifiable that with the presence of the facilities and infrastructure on ground, the School of Basic Midwifery Kisi has what it takes to be an autonomous and full-fledged medical institution,” Salami added.
After deliberating on the motion, the House urged the executive arm of government through the Ministry of Health and Oyo State School of Nursing to put the necessary machinery in place.
It said this would be for the metamorphosis of the school into an autonomous and full-fledged medical institution.
The House said this would be in continuation of the institution’s efforts at providing qualified and employable medical personnel in the state and country as a whole.
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