Rt. Hon. Olakunle Oluomo, the new Speaker of the Ogun State House of Assembly has said that the essence of democracy is to allow for people’s participation, hence the 9th Assembly is poised to be people-centered in all its activities.
Oluomo, who disclosed this while fielding questions from journalists in Abeokuta on the 20 years of uninterrupted democracy in Nigeria, noted that it was through the aggregation of views and opinions of the people from the different strata of the society that the legislative arm would help to set agenda for government to meet the yearnings of the people.
According to him, the State Assembly before the commencement of its legislative business would harness the expertise of civil societies, professional bodies, trade associations and other stakeholders in drawing a long- term master plan aimed at setting institutional goal and actualizing same for the enactment of effective and quality legislations for the benefit of all sectors of the State economy.
He posited that for good governance to take its roots in the nation, the people must know their right, avoid vote selling and be ready to hold their leaders accountable, while seeking for more sensitization and orientation programmes with a view to ensuring a more conducive electioneering process that would prevent monetization the process and ensure quality representation and effective service delivery on the part of political office holders.
The Speaker underscored the need for the people, especially youth to be self-dependent by acquiring relevant skills and vocation that would earn them decent living rather than depending on crumbs from political office holders.
He opined that no progress could be achieved in the nation’s electoral process and voting patterns, if the youth choose to remain unemployed.
Oluomo, who canvassed for part-time legislature, assured that the 9th Assembly session would review the status of some laws including the State Security Trust Fund, Anti-land grabbing and related offences as well as So Safe Corps amongst others towards tackling insecurity and ensuring socio-economic development of the State.
Packaged by Hazeez Ayansola
