The Peoples Democratic Party in Oyo State has
described as ill-timed, the trip by the leadership of the Oyo State
House of Assembly to the United Kingdom.
The PDP said this in a statement by its Director of Media and Strategy, Mr. Morounkola Thomas, in Ibadan on Wednesday.
The party noted that the fact that the House leadership embarked on the trip at this time suggested it was insensitive to the plight of the people who are still counting their losses to the August 26 flood disaster in Ibadan.
It said, “The fact that the House leadership can organise the tour at this time has shown it to be insensitive to the plight of the people of the state who have not recovered from the flood disaster that hit Ibadan less than one month ago.
“The PDP notes with concern the fact that since the disaster happened, the House has not deemed it fit to convey a special session to provide legislative succour to the victims of the floods.
“What is more disappointing is the fact that none of the legislators from Ibadan has visited their constituencies to share in the grief.”
Arguing that the attitude of the lawmakers amounted to legislative recklessness, the party added that apart from the floods, the state was ravaged by cholera.
It also noted that visiting the UK about three months into the tenure of the Assembly showed that the Action Congress of Nigeria was insensitive to the plight of the people of the state.
However, the Press Secretary to the House, Pastor Lekan Kolade, described the PDP statement as ill-conceived.
“This is a party way of assessing issue. You will recall that the Speaker of the House was on lesser Hajj when the flood disaster happened. She had to cut short the trip and came back,” Kolade told our correspondent on the telephone.
He debunked the claim that the Assembly did not convene to address the tragedy. According to him, the lawmakers, who were at the time on recess, reconvened to legislate on the action to be taken by the government on the disaster.
Kolade added, “They(PDP) are just trying to make an issue out of this. The Speaker, in company with other principal officers of the House inspected the disaster areas, delivered relief materials, assessed the situation and deliberated on the issue of environment.
“Part of the House decisions was to give support to the executive on the decision to demolish illegal structures along water paths in Ibadan.
“The lawmakers whose constituencies were affected had since visited the affected areas and personally presented relief materials.”
Kolade said the decision by the lawmakers to travel abroad was not for frivolity but borne out of their resolve to evolve a vibrant legislative arm in the state.
By Akinwale Aboluwade, Ibadan Courtesy Of: Punch
The PDP said this in a statement by its Director of Media and Strategy, Mr. Morounkola Thomas, in Ibadan on Wednesday.
The party noted that the fact that the House leadership embarked on the trip at this time suggested it was insensitive to the plight of the people who are still counting their losses to the August 26 flood disaster in Ibadan.
It said, “The fact that the House leadership can organise the tour at this time has shown it to be insensitive to the plight of the people of the state who have not recovered from the flood disaster that hit Ibadan less than one month ago.
“The PDP notes with concern the fact that since the disaster happened, the House has not deemed it fit to convey a special session to provide legislative succour to the victims of the floods.
“What is more disappointing is the fact that none of the legislators from Ibadan has visited their constituencies to share in the grief.”
Arguing that the attitude of the lawmakers amounted to legislative recklessness, the party added that apart from the floods, the state was ravaged by cholera.
It also noted that visiting the UK about three months into the tenure of the Assembly showed that the Action Congress of Nigeria was insensitive to the plight of the people of the state.
However, the Press Secretary to the House, Pastor Lekan Kolade, described the PDP statement as ill-conceived.
“This is a party way of assessing issue. You will recall that the Speaker of the House was on lesser Hajj when the flood disaster happened. She had to cut short the trip and came back,” Kolade told our correspondent on the telephone.
He debunked the claim that the Assembly did not convene to address the tragedy. According to him, the lawmakers, who were at the time on recess, reconvened to legislate on the action to be taken by the government on the disaster.
Kolade added, “They(PDP) are just trying to make an issue out of this. The Speaker, in company with other principal officers of the House inspected the disaster areas, delivered relief materials, assessed the situation and deliberated on the issue of environment.
“Part of the House decisions was to give support to the executive on the decision to demolish illegal structures along water paths in Ibadan.
“The lawmakers whose constituencies were affected had since visited the affected areas and personally presented relief materials.”
Kolade said the decision by the lawmakers to travel abroad was not for frivolity but borne out of their resolve to evolve a vibrant legislative arm in the state.
By Akinwale Aboluwade, Ibadan Courtesy Of: Punch
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