Posted by By JAMES OJO, Abuja on
Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon Dimeji Bankole on Monday pledged that the present leadership of the National Assembly was determined to restore the nation to the original visions of the founding fathers.
Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon Dimeji Bankole on Monday pledged that the present leadership of the National Assembly was determined to restore the nation to the original visions of the founding fathers.
He told the first interactive forum of the House with Civil Society groups that the leadership, as presently constituted, was ready to lead the people from the shackles of disease, want, ignorance and underdevelopment to modernity.
'The task before the current leadership of the House of Representatives is indeed challenging which is the task of restoring Nigeria to the original vision of our founding fathers. Their vision to lead their people from the shackles of disease, want, ignorance and underdevelopment to modernity," he promised.
However, he noted that the challenges before the lawmakers are daunting, considering the fact that they lack one of the most basic tools of any political endeavour which is, experience of good governance.
According to him, 'our generation was born into this atmosphere of shattered hopes, surreal dreams, blurred vision and a bloody civil war. We were weaned under the jackboots of military oppression, ethnic and religious strife, urban violence and finally plenty of want."
He added that the present generation has now been called upon to restore Nigeria to the original vision of our founding fathers.
'The founding fathers had a very short period to actualize their vision before the noble enterprise was shaken to its foundations. The generation of our fathers was wasted by military rule, that of our elder brothers was lost to economic depression. But we are determined to succeed," he declared.
Bankole appealed to the civil society groups for support, encouragement and constructive criticisms in order to succeed, saying, 'collectively, we will be held responsible for disappointing Nigeria. Whilst we politicians will be accused of failure, the civil society would have laboured and suffered to chase out the military in vain."
Earlier in his welcome address, the Chairman of Media and Public Affairs Committee, Hon. Eziuche Ubani pointed out that the range of issues that would dominate the legislative agenda of the House in the next three years are such that require the inputs of the Nigerian people.
Hon. Ubani identified the issues to include electoral reforms, prison reform, further simplification of public procurement process, reforming the public health system and accountability and access to public information among others.