Day the Lagos House was inaugurated....as the only Igbo man pledges to impact his Constituency

Emeka Ibemere

It was on Monday, June 8, 2015 and the event was the Proclamation of the 8th Legislative Assembly and the venue was at the Lagos State House of Assembly Complex, Alausa, Ikeja, Lagos State.

Before the inauguration, Clerk of the House, Ganiyu Abiru, in his welcome address, apologized for the postponement in the inauguration date, from June 4, to June 8, 2015. Abiru explained to the new lawmakers that the business of lawmaking is a serious one and requiring the best of attention to sustain the legacies already laid by the last Assembly.

Lagos State governor, Akinwunmi Ambode, inaugurated the Eighth Session of the Lagos State House of Assembly, urging the newly elected members to put Lagos residents and the state at the centre of their 8th State Assembly.

The 40-man House, now headed by Mudashiru Obasa, has 32 members from the All Progressives Congress (APC) and eight on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). During the inauguration, Ambode reminded the 40-lawmaker House that the task ahead of them was huge and would be demanding.

Ambode inaugurated the House relying in accordance with 1999 constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and tasked the lawmakers for corporation adding that his administration would be relying on their support in line with the standard exhibited by the past Assembly.

The governor assured the legislators of his commitment to ensuring that all policies of government were legitimized by the House, even as he is bound to work, collaborate and respect their views and opinions irrespective of the party that they represent.

Ambode said while the government must recognise the principle of separation of powers, as a cornerstone of the presidential system of government, it is significant to also recognise the imperatives of interdependence among the three arms of government. 

“We shall have our moments of deferring opinion and views, however, when such occur; it must always be resolved quickly and in the best interest of our people. As the electorates’ servants.”

He reminded the lawmakers to always allow the opinions of the people count.

“It is in this regard that I urge you to maintain close relationship with your constituencies. This is the only way that their aspirations can be gauged and harmonised into laws and policies”

“A great opportunity beckons on our state and our party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), providing leadership at the centre. As you already know, President Muhammadu Buhari, during his campaign tour in Lagos, promised the collaboration and support of the Federal Government in ensuring that Lagos remains a viable commercial hub.

“I intend to take advantage of this opportunity and also engage the Federal Government on very pertinent issues that have valuable interests to the ordinary people of Lagos state. Dear members, our time is already counting, we need to get down working and giving our people the very best service we can offer. The people of Lagos deserve no less,” Ambode said.

After the governor’s address, Mudashiru Obasa, the lawmaker representing Agege I Constituency, was immediately nominated for the seat of Speaker. Olanrewaju Osun, Lagos Mainland II constituency moved motion for the nomination of Obasa and was seconded by Sola Giwa, Lagos Island II.

Prior to his becoming the speaker, Obasa was the consensus candidate of the APC lawmakers and he emerged after a mock election held before the inauguration. With none other nomination on the floor, Obasa was invited to accept the nomination, which he did before he took oaths of office and that of allegiance and was presented as the Eighth Assembly Speaker.

 Other principal officers were also elected and sworn into office. Deputy Speaker is Lagos Assembly returnee, Wasiu Sanni-Eshinlokun, Lagos Island I Constituency. Rotimi Abiru, Somolu II Constituency, Chief Whip and Deputy Chief Whip, Omotayo Oduntan, representing Alimosho II Constituency, The lawmaker representing Ikorodu I Constituency, Sanai Agunbiade and his counterpart from Apapa II Constituency, Olumuyiwa Jimoh were elected Majority Leader and Deputy Majority Leader, in that order.

 Meanwhile, the elections for the seats of Minority Leader and Deputy Minority Leader were postponed for the next sitting. Obasa in his acceptance speech, said it was an honour to have been elected as Speaker, being the pinnacle that any state legislator can aspire. He said the task before him and his 39-member was to keep Lagos working, for which they could not afford to fail.

 “Our ultimate success will be seen when Lagos keeps working. Our people do not want excuses. I therefore call on Governor Akinwunmi Ambode to unleash cooperation with us in the interest of Lagos that is more prosperous and safer.

“I want to assure you all that the doctrine of separation of power will be our watchword; as the foundation for the principle of checks and power. Never shall we encroach on the powers of Judiciary or of the Executive. So, we expect that our legislative boundaries shall be respected. We will collaborate with members of the Executive Council, when constituted,” the Speaker said.

The cynosure of all event was Honourable Jude Emeka Idimogu; the only South Eastern man in the Lagos State House of Assembly who hails from Imo State and is representing Oshodi/Isolo Constituency 11 at the Lagos State House of Assembly.  Idimogu was cynosure of the event because his election attracted attention and interest

He was among the honourable members inaugurated on Monday by the Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwumi Ambode. In a chat with select journalists in Lagos, he speaks on his plans for the people of his constituency and how he intends to function in the house coming from an opposition background.

According to Idimogu, having been inaugurated as a member of the Lagos State House of Assembly, he is set to bring his wealth of experience as a private sector-driven entrepreneur into governance.

“Of course, my plans for my people, by the grace of God are to give them the dividends of democracy. However, you know that we are lawmakers and not executives. Primarily, we are going to ensure that we make good laws that will benefit Lagos residents as a whole and in particular my people in Oshodi/Isolo Constituency 11 and also do what we call oversight functions and quality representation”, he added.

“I want to assure the people in my constituency that the effort they made to put me here will not be in vain. I am going to collaborate with them; it is not going to be one-man show. I shall work with my colleagues in the house whenever there are issues. Really, my area is backward in terms of essential amenities. I hope to collaborate with the executive to ensure that we effect the necessary changes. They will see improvement by the special grace of God with the support of my colleagues”.

As a non-indigene coming from an opposition political party, Hon. Idimogu said he will try and deliver on his promises adding that every Lagos residents deserved dividends of democracy. 

“You see, in the house, we do not talk about parties. In the house, we are one family and our concern is essentially to deliver on our electoral promises. We do not talk about APC, PDP or any other party. All we talk about is what to do; we do to ensure that Lagosians enjoy the dividends of democracy”.

“That is our primary concern. Even when issues come up, it does not the party you come from, it does not matter, what is important is to be able to work and corporate with your colleagues and see how you can resolve it”.

“If you relate very well and lobby them, and there is the need for you to actually sponsor a motion that you that will be for the benefit of the entire state and your constituency in particular, I believe with their support, you will have your way. So it has nothing to do with party affiliation or tribe”.

In not relenting, Idimogu said his message to his constituency was that very soon, they would find out that they did not make a mistake by voting his into the House for nothing.

“I will do my very best to change positively, the course of my constituency. I will also ask them for their prayers and I will use this opportunity to express my profound gratitude to them for their support. We have commenced today and by the grace of God, it has started counting”.

As a new entrant into the business of lawmaking, the newly sworn-in lawmaker, said before their tenure expires in the next four years, he would try to make a difference by contributing his quota to improve on the work of the 7^th

“I shall work hard with my colleagues to ensure that we improve on what the 7th Assembly did, we are now the 8th assembly that have come, and we are going to work together. I have always said it, that it is not a one-man show. We are 40 in number. All of us have resolved to work together as a team to promote Lagos State”, he explained.

“We want Lagos State to keep on working and improve on what it is as at today. It is our duty. But remember, we are not the executives but we will work with them and we will also work with the Judiciary too. As to the question you asked me, there would definitely be a difference during our tenure and by the time our tenure would have ended, my people will see the difference and they will believe that they did not make a mistake voting me into the house”.

For the youths, he promised that youth empowerment must come their way.

“Now we have adjourned, my job has started and I must find time to liaise with them. It is not just standing and saying you will do this and that. We will meet and talk. But again, it depends on the resources available, we will do those things that are more paramount and will impact lives. Whatever dreams they want to achieve on their own, they must trust God and by His grace, they will achieve it”.

On why he decided to contest election in Lagos State instead of his state of origin, Idimogu said he has been fully in Lagos since 1989, and has huge businesses investments in Lagos.

 “Moreover, more people know me here in Lagos than in my village and town in the East, because I only go there occasionally. What also gives me the courage is that I’m married to a Yoruba woman, so, I’m a detribalise Nigerian and I believe I can deliver in my constituency, Oshodi/Isolo II.