Date Published: 05/16/11

Mimiko tasks newly elected NASS members on need to legislate for the people

Ondo State Governor, Dr Olusegun Mimiko on Monday tasked the newly elected members of the National Assembly to always address the fundamental needs of the electorates in their legislative business so as to rekindle their hope in the nation’s democracy. The Governor stated this in his office during a courtesy call on him by the members-elect of the Senate and the House of Representatives from Niger, Bauchi, Borno, Kogi, Kwara and Plateau states, who were in Akure, the state capital as the centre of the southwest zone for a five-day induction workshop for the Federal lawmakers.

Dr Mimiko assured the lawmakers of his administration’s partnership in the areas of policies and enactments that would guarantee a better future for the country and rekindle the confidence of the
international communities in the political dispensation of the country.

He said: “We highly honoured, as government and people of Ondo state to have such distinguished Nigerians visiting us and we thank those who decided that Ondo State should be one of the states for this retreat. This is a rare privilege. I don’t know why they picked us but I guised it’s because we are perhaps the most peaceful state in Nigeria”.

“As you can see, we are peaceful, the atmosphere is peaceful, people are friendly, and we also have an uncommon combination of traditional culture and heritage. We also have a lot of tourist attractions that you will like to visit. We are the most peaceful Niger-Delta state in Nigeria. I hope you will find time to visit the south and see our long
coastal line” Said Mimiko.

The Governor further invited the Legislators to take time out to embark on a tour of “all the infrastructural developments that have taken place since our assumption of office in the state, especially in Akure the state capital. We are trying to revamp education, infrastructure, health, roads and employment generation for our youth.

“If you look at the National Merit Award winners, out of 60 since the inception of that award, 10 Ondo State indigenes have been the recipients of the award. This is perhaps one of the awards that have not been politicised in Nigeria, it is based on merit. This is evident that in terms of quality manpower, we are producing manpower services for the development of this nation”. “We will continue to partner with the National Assembly to re-engineer areas of our polity for the services of our people. Whatever anybody says, this last elections have attracted positive comments from the international community so there must be something about it that we have done right. Not perfect yet, but the perception of Nigerians is that, this 7th National Assembly, Nigerians can say these are the representatives of the people. I don’t mean to hurt anybody in the 6th assembly or whatsoever but this is the perception of Nigerians”.

Earlier in his speech, the leader of the team, Senator-elect Dahiru Awaisu Kuta representing Niger East, assured that the present National Assembly members would work tirelessly to justify the confidence reposed in it by the people of the country, stressing that all the members would work as a team irrespective of political affiliation. He however said that the choice of Ondo State for the retreat might have been due to its hospitality and peaceful nature, adding that the state is endowed with tourism potential and culture.