BY TIMOTHY AGBOR, OSOGBO
The spokesperson for the Senate, Ajibola Basiru, on Thursday, said the National Assembly would have to revisit the rejected State Police Bill he initiated considering the level of insecurity pervading the country.
Basiru, Senator representing Osun Central Senatorial District, made this known while presenting his three years of stewardship in the upper chamber in Osogbo to multitude of his constituents.
Recall that the Senate Committee on Constitution Review had rejected the creation of State Police. So, members of the House of Representatives had shunned the issue.
But Basiru said reality on ground warranted the revisit of the issue of state police and expressed belief that the bill would be re-introduced in the wake of worsening insecurity.
The lawmaker, who is seeking a second term, listed quality representation, legislative interventions, area electrification, empowerment programmes, water projects, road rehabilitation, construction of schools among others as his scorecard and noted that he had achieved enough to get another mandate from the people of Osun Central in the 2023 general elections.
While speaking on his legislative strides, Basiru stated, “I have sponsored so many bills. One of the bills is the bill of state police but unfortunately, the bill was not allowed to see the light of the day at the review committee. But, happily enough, about 3 to 4 days ago, Northern Governors and stakeholders have said they are for state police. So, I believe we are going to reintroduce the bill with the new knowledge and reality that we need state police.
“I also introduced the Federal Medical Centre Osogbo bill which has been passed by the Senate and have been transmitted to the House of Representatives for concurrence.
Also, a bill in relation to separation of the electoral management body and political party regulation. Another bill is in relation to the centralisation of the Nigeria Police along zonal lines.”
Speaking further on his achievements since he was elected Senator in 2019, he said, “as you can see, pictures don’t lie. What we have done here shows a 30 minutes documentary on our achievements in the past three years. The documentary revealed quality representation in terms of our intervention in attracting capital projects to our Osun Central Senatorial District.
“We have attracted schools in nine local government areas; we have attracted agriculture entrepreneur centres, road infrastructure, empowerment and employment of our people. We have also facilitated employment of our constituents in federal government intervention in terms of small and medium scale empowerment loan for COVID funds intervention and engagement in special architecture.
“The documentary speaks for itself as to what we have been doing in the past three years.
We have been able to implement only 2020 and 2021 budget, by the time the implementation of 2022 budget is reviewed in this month, more will be given to the people of Osun Central Senatorial District,” he added.
In his remarks, Osun State Governor, Gboyega Oyetola said Basiru had performed well to earn second term in the Senate.
Represented by Taiwo Akeju, Commissioner for Political Affairs, Oyetola said, “Ajibola Basiru has done so well in the history of the National Assembly. As a first timer, he was given the position of the spokesperson of the Senate. He has done so well to deserve a second term and we are very proud of him.
Basiru is working together with the governor. As you can see, he was made the Director-General of his campaign council. They are working together to achieve the set goal of the state.
“We enjoin our supporters and party members to continue to support him so that he can be reelected, knowing full well that the election is on the same day with the presidential election.
The sons and daughters of Osun should come out massively to vote for him to continue the good works he has started in the Senate.”
