Obasa Is World Class, Says Ayantayo

By Afolabi Ayantayo
Commissioner 1, Lagos House of Assembly Service Commission

It has now dawned on critics, pseudo analysts and the entire political hoi polloi what many of us have been saying about the person of Mudasiru Obasa, Rt. Hon. Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly. To the glare of us all, we are witnessing the career of a precocious student of political history rising to a level unprecedented in the annals of politics not only in Agege but Lagos State as a whole.

The Conference of Speakers of State Legislatures just elected our own unassuming Muda, brother, friend, associate, colleague and consequently, leader of the Agege political class to the position of Chairman of the Conference of Speakers of State Legislatures in the federation.

It is trite and petty for a political gladiator to flaunt his/her meagre political accolades in the face of subordinates and the less fortunate as some are wont to do, but Mudasiru Obasa is in a class of his own. Brilliant but preserved, intelligent but calm, wise but considerate, imbued with knowledge and wisdom, Obasa is your ideal political mentor and an inspiration to political actors old and young.

As Nigeria's democracy waxes and strengthens towards maturity, it is not unexpected that political actors with sharpened wits and organizational dexterity will be emerging to claim the saddles of leadership in their various domains and help steer the course of the nation towards utopia. The age of young, vibrant, astute and visionary leadership has emerged all over the world and young men of exemplary characters are claiming the positions that is rightly theirs. Nigeria is not an exception and Mudasiru Obasa is one of the aforementioned.

Born and bred in Agege, a suburb on the northern fringe of Lagos, Nigeria's economic capital, the Speaker actually cut his political teeth quite at an early age, in the early nineties during the days of SDP and NRC the only two constitutional parties then, emerging as a delegate of the SDP in his ward in the old Agege Local Government, a tenuous and tedious process demanding rigorous house to house campaign to mobilize supporters to queue behind you in an open election for party positions popularly referred to as Option A4.

The experience has since guided and aided him to emerge first as a councilor of the same ward in the current dispensation beginning in 1999 via a multiparty constitution, on the platform of the Alliance for Democracy (AD). 2003, and he emerged as member, representing Constituency 01, Agege Local Government in the Lagos State House of Assembly, a position he has occupied since then and which eventually catapulted him to the acme of the House, the Rt. Hon. Speaker.

The people of Agege are still basking in the euphoria of having a Speaker from their downtrodden enclave and counting enormous benefits derived therefrom when other Speakers of State Legislatures across the nation, at the culmination of their conference held between Friday 3rd and Sunday 5th voted Rt. Hon. Mudasiru Obasa as Chairman,  Conference of Speakers of State Legislatures in Nigeria.

The Agege township has erupted into an euphoria of jubilation since the announcement of Obasa as the federation's Head Speaker. It is now talk of the town as the good news resonates deep into the heart of the town, for, to be Speaker is one thing, to be Speakers' Speaker is another.

Within the scope of reengineering the fortunes of this country, Speakers of State Legislatures have important roles to play as heads of an important arm of government in their states. Thus, their status and powers can be harnessed for the future of the country. For example, in amending the constitution, sponsoring bills and formulating policies that will better the lot of their electorates. Indeed, the bastion of governance falls within their purview as they can make or mar the programs of their various governors.

The Speakers can, on their own, foist blueprints of good governance on their governors and even by extension the National Assembly and the Federal Government. An example is education. For any meaningful progress to be made in our quest towards national development, education must be made a priority for all citizens. The Federal Government, has over the years failed at presenting a policy that will guarantee that the Nigerian child has access to quality education irrespective of his/her background. This failure has hindered our progress since independence. Citizens cannot contribute anything to national development if they're not adequately equipped to do so, and this can only be ensured through attainments of knowledge in various fields at the tertiary level.

The Universal Basic Education being touted by the Federal Government is outdated as it cannot go deep enough to prepare anyone for today's educational requirements. Even our universities are inadequately funded for prerequisite researches and seminal publications for standard teaching. The Conference of Speakers may take a look at this and make it a litmus.

All who have studied Rt. Hon. Mudasiru Obasa can attest to the fact that the Conference could not have made a better choice to lead it. Self-made, intelligent and optimistic, Obasa is a World Class material and all these qualities are what his colleagues must have seen in him before unanimously electing him to lead them. Having known our man for many years I'm sure this is a burden he can carry easily due to his clinical efficiency and faithful dedication to duties and assignments.

Our prayers to the Almighty is for this exemplary son of Agege to continue to wax stronger. We pray for more accolades and higher positions for him and many other aspiring sons and daughters of Agege Kingdom. As usual, we know the higher Mudasiru goes the more he helps others to also climb the ladder of attainment. God Almighty, on this we thank Thee while still looking forward for more to come.

The Essence Of Politics Is To Give Back To Society - Ambode

…Urges Lawmakers Not To Be Clogs In The Wheel of Progress

 AgegePulse Magazine

Lagos State Governor, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode on Friday evening urged lawmakers across the country to eschew all acts that can constitute clogs in the wheel of progress based on party differences, saying the whole essence of politics is to serve the people and give back to the society.



Speaking while declaring open the Second Quarterly General Meeting of Conference of Speakers of State Legislatures in Nigeria held at Lagos House in Alausa, Ikeja, Governor Ambode said politicians across party lines must be constantly reminded that the essence of politics which is also enshrined in the Constitution is the protection of lives and property and welfare of the people.

 

He said it was gratifying that in the wake of movement of people across political parties in recent times, speakers of the 36 State Houses of Assembly in the country were in Lagos to discuss issues of national importance, just as he expressed optimism that the lawmakers would come up with further measures to deepen democracy and advance the welfare of the citizenry.



According to the Governor, “As politicians, we must ensure that the electorate continues to believe and trust in the principles of equity and the rule of law. No arm of government must be a clog in the wheel of progress on the basis of partisan differences and that was why I said that it is very significant that irrespective of our party lines, irrespective of what has happened, we are still here to find a common-ground to discuss national issues that relate to autonomy, that relate to State Police and that is the message that we have been sending in the last three and half years.



“The whole essence of us being called politicians is to be able to give service to our people. When we do the road, bridge or the hospital, it does not ask whether you are PDP or APC neither does it ask whether you are Ibo, Hausa or Yoruba before you can climb on the Third Mainland Bridge.



“So, the whole essence is to ensure that we give back to our people and like I would always say and always agree, there are only two reasons why we are in this business of politics which are also enshrined in the Constitution – protection of lives and property and welfare of our people and so no matter what strategy or path or geographical landscape we use, what is important is that we should be able to achieve those two objectives and I believe strongly that this conference and meeting will focus on those objectives and ensure that we are able to arrive at something very lucrative to our people,” he said.



He said no arm of government can exist without the other, and as such, there must be collaboration and mutual understanding across party lines for effective governance to take place.



“Legislature is vital to the sustenance of democracy. Its stability, equity and economic prosperity through the effective performance of legislative duties and oversight functions cannot be overemphasized.



“There is no arm of government that can exist without another. So, it is very clear in our mind that there is need for collaboration, mutual respect and understanding across party lines for effective governance to take place,” Governor Ambode said.



While commending all the Houses of Assembly for the role they have been playing to ensure good governance and deepen democracy in the country, the Governor also congratulated them on the newly assented law granting financial autonomy to the Legislature and also the Judiciary, saying the development would further guarantee the independence of the two arms of government in line with the principle of separation of powers.



He said before the new law was passed, the Lagos Assembly had been enjoying financial autonomy, which according to him, had also been responsible for the high-capacity delivery of services by his administration since inception, adding: “As you move round our State in the course of this meeting, you will appreciate the modest achievements we have recorded as a result of the harmonious relationship that exists between the executive and the legislature in Lagos State.”   



Speaking earlier while leading his colleagues on a courtesy visit to the Governor, Speaker of Lagos State House of Assembly, Mr Mudashiru Obasa said they were at Lagos House to inform the Governor of the fact that 36 Speakers across Nigeria were in Lagos to deliberate on key issues of national development including financial autonomy and State Police.



Obasa specifically thanked the Governor for his huge support which made the hosting of the meeting possible, as well as the harmonious atmosphere for Executive-Legislative relationship in the State.



Also, Chairman of the Conference and Speaker of Kebbi State House of Assembly, Mr Ismaila Kamba commended Governor Ambode for the massive infrastructural development across the State, saying the name of the Governor had been written in gold in the history of governance in Lagos.



“Anywhere you are in this country, you know the effort the Governor is making in building bridges, building roads and enhancing security. We are aware the Governor has further bought hardware of security so that this centre of excellence will continue to live and answer its name as the centre of excellence,” Kamba said.