FEMALE POLITICIAN BEMOANS LEGISLATIVE IDLENESS
A female political aspirant has bemoaned the high degree of idleness in the legislative arms of government across the country. Abiola Oyewo, a member of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ogun State expressed this opinion to Daily Sun in Lagos, during a dinner organized in her honour by her friends.
The legal practitioner, who is gunning for Ogun State House of Assembly, for the forthcoming general election slated for next week, expressed dismay that in spite of several issues, which required urgent legislation to improve the lot of the electorate, lawmakers were busy bickering over pecuniary benefits.
'Look, I must confess that there is so much legislative idleness in the land. Recently, I asked a lawmaker about the number of bills they have passed into law and he replied that the House could only boast of three bills. I find this quite unfortunate and a disservice to the people.
'Look, every aspect of our people and the society needs improvement. The lawmakers have a responsibility to make laws that will assist the executive to pursue those agenda that would take a lot of the people to the next level.
'For example, Chapter two of the Constitution entitled 'Fundamental Objectives and Directive Principles of the Policy,' contains all the ideals we should be aspiring to as a people in terms of policy formulation.
'To my mind, the provisions of that chapter are such that should keep our legislators at all levels busy throughout. It is very sad that rather than their attention geared towards that, the general public are often inundated with all manner of scandals which has quite lowered the reputation of our lawmakers,' she said.
According to Oyewo, after over two decades in practice, she felt challenged and had the urge to serve the people as a lawmaker. 'Honestly, as a legal practitioner, I have been involved in handling several public interest cases. Through such cases, one has been able to gauge the pulse of the society. You know, nothing teaches better than experience,' She declared.
On her chances among male competitors, Oyewoo insisted that what is important is the quality and ability she was bringing into the system that people would appreciate and not the muscular elements. According to her, majority of her supporters are men who have come to appreciate her contributions to the grassroots in Ifo Local Government where she is vying to emerge under the PDP.
'Honestly, I believe I have what it takes to serve the people. I have been involved consistently at grassroots for the past eight years. I have the vision and passion to serve the people and not for personal aggrandisement,' she added.