…ex-Minister Maryam calls for 35% affirmative action for women
…Bogoro laments low level of education, insecurity in North
…Nigeria normalising oppression as a way of life -Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed
By Taiwo Oyewole
The Factional Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Dr. Kabiru Taminu Turaki, a former vice presidential candidate of Labour Party; Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed and former boss of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund TETFund, Prof. Suleiman Bogoro, have charged the National Assembly to entrench good governance to fast track the nation’s development, saying that the legislative arm of the government must save itself from being a stooge in the hand of the executive.
The call was made at the second Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed Colloquium marking the 68th birthday of the Governor held at the Sir Ahmadu Bello International Conference. Turaki who was a guest speaker said that Nigerians should demand a quality legislature that adds value to the lives of Nigerians.
Speaking on the theme: “The Nigerian Senate: Yesterday, Today, and the Future of Representative Legislation” Turaki said “as far as legislation in this country is concerned, the attention should not be on legislation, the attention should be on quality legislation. Because every day, none has been turned out of the National Assembly. Every day legislation is made, but the question is, are these legislations ones that fundamentally affect the life of the common man in this country?
“Are these legislations ones that are intended to add quality positively to the life of Nigerians? Are these legislations ones that will attack, for instance, the problem of hunger, problem of unemployment, problem of poverty, problem of insecurity that we’re facing today? It is known that when a legislative bill appears before the National Assembly, and here I’m not restricting myself to the Senate alone, maybe one of the less matters of agitation, and then it will be forwarded to the National Assembly,” he said.
Also, the Chairman of the event, Bogoro urged Nigerian leaders to provide quality representation to Nigerians amid rising insecurity, low level of education and poverty particularly in Northern Nigeria. The former Executive Secretary of TETFund argued that past leaders were known for selflessness, quality service and unity.
According to him, insecurity and lack of access to healthcare are troubling Nigeria. “What are the elements that contribute to insecurity? Of course, lower levels of education and capacity also play a role. I heard the discussion today, and I see the deliberations of this great assembly as an opportunity to reflect on our reality. I am asking the distinguished representatives that gathered here to reflect on the problem of relative stagnation and underdevelopment in our country.
“As leaders, we must take responsibility. I believe it is not as if we lack the resources to make a difference. If we proceed in the right way, it will certainly make a difference. We must therefore look critically at how we have managed our resources and leadership over the years. We remember that, at the time some of our leaders were elected, there were high expectations about what they would achieve. But in some cases, they left behind commitments and obligations that their families and successors had to settle.
“This should remind us that leadership carries responsibilities that go beyond the period in office. What we do today has consequences for the people we leave behind and for the generations that come after us,” he said.
Moreso, the former Vice Presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) Datti said that Nigeria needs help to save itself from normalisation of oppression and injustice. “Nigeria needs leaders that could end injustice. Prophet Muhammad asked us to help the oppressor and the oppressed; we could do this by stopping him from oppression. “Now oppression is getting into the DNA of Nigerian leaders and accepting oppression is getting into the DNA of Nigerian people. We need leaders that will stop it” he said.
Also, a former Minister of Women Affairs, Hajiya Inna Maryam Ciroma, called for the enactment of 35 percent affirmative for women after several appeals. She argued that women are major contributors to electoral successes in the country from campaign to the poll. She lamented that women and youth are always being pushed back from decision making and appointments.
A former Senator who represented Bauchi North, Sen. Adamu Muhammed Bulkachuwa lamented that over the years, senior citizens act which was signed into in 2018 has been effective after the assent of President Muhammadu Buhari.
Former Governor of Niger State, Muazu Babangida Aliyu, Director-General of NILD, Prof Abubakar Suleiman, former Minister of Youth and Sports Hon. Solomon Dalung among others were in attendance.
