10th NASS: Jide Akinyooye writes Osun federal lawmakers on suppressed Orolu state constituency and national development

Let me use this medium to congratulate all the twelve newly elected members of the National Assembly from Osun State on their successful inauguration into the 10th National Assembly. This is a beginning of another political history of Nigeria. Osun State has three Senators like other states and nine members of Federal House of Representatives.

It is pertinent to commend the immediate past Federal Legislators (Sen. Ajibola Bashiru & Hon. Olubukola Oyewo) who initiated efforts at reactivating the suppressed Orolu State Constituency at a time that the 9th National Assembly was about to wind down. Be that as it may, I would like to direct my attention to Senator Olubiyi Fadeyi Ajagunla, Senator representing Osun Central Senatorial District and Hon. Maroof Adewale Gangaria, representing Osogbo / Irepodun / Olorunda/ Orolu Federal Constituency of Osun State on the need to quickly address the injustice done to Orolu people and correct inappropriate composition of the present Osun State House of Assembly in accordance with the Constitution of Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Specifically, Osun State with (9) nine Federal Constituencies at present, has (26) twenty-six state constituencies instead of (27) twenty-seven as prescribed by section 112 & 91 of the Constitution. This illegality is still being courted simply because the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) created Orolu State Constituency as the 27th State Constituency but suppressed it.

Having said this, may I appeal to the conscience of the National Assembly that the referred section of Constitution that the Electoral Commission “shall have powers to create State Constituencies not less than minimum of times three or four of Federal Constituencies in a State.“ Therefore, it is expected that our Federal lawmakers should make it a priority to either engage the Electoral Commission to reactivate the suppressed Orolu State Constituency because it is a constitutional rights of the affected people of Orolu Local Government area or invoke other constitutional means through the act of Parliament.

It is also important to invite the attention of our Federal lawmakers to the need to resuscitate the moribund Osogbo Steel Rolling Mills acquired by Dangote Groups and Nigeria Machine Tools t owned by the Federal Government. These industries were originally established by the government in order to promote industrialization, and the neglect of these organizations is tantamount to colossal wastage and opportunity loss at the detriment of Nigerian economy.

Finally, it will be a pride for the people of Osun State if the Federal lawmakers can collaborate with their predecessors for appropriate briefs and get updated in the interest of effective continuity and progress.

I wish you an impactful legislative assignment.

Signed

Prince Jide Adelaja Akinyooye