30th April, 2015
Eromosele Ebhomele
Lawmakers-elect for the Lagos State House of Assembly, western Nigeria, have pledged to make life better for the residents of the state when the eighth session of the Assembly commences in June.
Some of the lawmakers said they are grounded enough to continue to lift the state above the common standard of excellence when the session begins.
Speaking with Assembly correspondents shortly after receiving his certificate of return on Wednesday, Moshood Olanrewaju Oshun, a ranking member of the House returning to represent the people of Lagos Mainland Constituency 2 for a third term, thanked God for the victory at the polls and added that the Assembly would consolidate on previous achievements in order to make Lagos the envy of Nigeria.
“If you know the Lagos State House of Assembly, we always perform beyond common standard of excellence.
“It is about standard, it is about bringing development to the people. Even when we were 40 members of the same party, there were still disagreements, but it is all about moving the state forward. We sometimes disagree to agree,” he said while promising that the House would continue to cooperate with the government of Akinwunmi Ambode for successful governance in the state.
On whether he was still running for the post of the Speaker of the Assembly, Oshun said that God is in charge of everything, and that he is qualified to vie for the position as a ranking member of the House.
He said that to be the Speaker, one must consider three basic things, which he said include God, one’s political party and the support of one’s colleagues in the House.
Oshun emphasised his commitment to his constituents and Lagos residents, adding that as usual, he would continue to operate an open door policy.
Another member of the House representing Epe Constituency 1, Tobun Abiodun, thanked his constituents for the opportunity to serve again.
“I expect that we would have a more robust Assembly with new ideas. The people should be expecting greater things to come,” he said.
Chairman of the House Committee on Information, Publicity and Strategy, Segun Olulade, said the House needed an experienced lawmaker to continue from where Adeyemi Ikuforiji would stop as Speaker.
On his part, Deputy Chief Whip of the Assembly, who has been re-elected to represent Shomolu Constituency 2, Rotimi Abiru, condemned the violence that almost marred the election in some parts of the state and commiserated with the families of those that lost their lives.
Gbolahan Yishawu from Eti Osa Constituency 2 while speaking on the position of the Speaker that is allegedly zoned to Lagos Central and his interest, said that everything depended on his colleagues in the House.
He disclosed that he had some to initiate in the eighth Assembly while calling for support from residents for the lawmakers.
Immediate past council chairman elected to represent Lagos Mainland Constituency 1, Adekanye Oladele, said though a new comer, he would ensure he contributes his best to lawmaking, assist in eradicating unemployment, and eliminate poverty among his people.
Thirty-two lawmakers-elect on the platform of the All Progressives Congress, APC, and eight on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, got their certificates.