A former caretaker chairman of Ibarapa Central local government, Hon. Yemi Akinlabi, has declared his desire to represent the people of Ibarapa Central/North federal constituency in the House of Representatives.
Akinlabi, who is a strong member of the Unity Forum, the breakaway faction of the All Progressives Congress, APC, that joined the African Democratic Congress, ADC, said the need to give the people of the area better representation motivated him.
Read his statement below:
DECLARATION OF INTENTION TO CONTEST FOR HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES ELECTION UNDER ADC
Contesting election into any of the legislative houses in Nigeria has not fascinated me again after an attempt to get the nomination of Alliance for Democracy (AD) for the Ibarapa Central/ North Federal Constituency in 2003. I took a personal decision to seek election and nomination to executive arm of government in any of the three tiers of government in Nigeria. This is due to my believe that with executive power, one is likely to do more for the people than lawmaking in a country where the executive seems to be choosing which of the laws to obey and comply with.
Having this in mind, i started pursuing executive positions in government since 2007. I thank Almighty God for giving me the opportunity to serve as Chairman Caretaker Committee of my local government on two turbulent occasions. I had hoped to serve further in the same Ibarapa Central Local Government as elected Chairman before the coalition of forces in darkness within the local government and the state used all the forces in their arsenal in an attempt to extinguish a shining star as if it was fire.
Since I have committed all my adult life so far to the service of my people , I will be working against these people and i will disappoint them if i refuse to bow to the numerous pressurescalling on me to represent this constituency in the Federal House of Representatives from the next assembly. My decision to remain within executive offices was not due to lack of interest or ability to serve as a lawmaker but due to belief that I will be able to do more formy people as an elected Local Government Chairman. This is an area i think I have a comparative advantage to serve. Obviously my area of jurisdiction as a federal lawmaker will be widened than my immediate constituency.
Majority of those who worked with me as Caretaker Committee members in the local government, Staff of the local government, partymen, Artisans, Farmers, Political Associates and classmates in the High School and Universities motivated and encouraged me to throw my hat in the ring for the Ibarapa Central and Ibarapa North seat in the National Assembly in other to increase the scope of my service beneficiaries. I believe Almighty God and the people of Igboora, Idere, Aiyete, Tapa and Igangan will make this federal seat available for me from 1st of June 2019. I am proud to know that their confidence in me was borne out of my modest and selfless achievements as the local government chairman and their believe that I will be a more credible, patriotic and more electable alternative to those who are currently representing the constituency in the legislative houses as well as others already in the race . I sincerely appreciate my leaders, supporters and friends who out of their interest, patrioticthinking and volition teamed up to purchase the party’s nomination form for me.
With all these in mind, I hereby declare my intention to join the race to the National Assembly under our great party, African Democratic Congress (ADC), the only credible alternative to the two big parties that have wickedly milked the nation dry.
The two major parties have continued to worsen the situation of Nigerians with insecurity, unemployment, economic imbalances, social disorder, high inflation rate, decadence in social infrastructures, declining standard of education, near nonexistent hospitals,increasing rate of corruption, lack of internal democracy within the parties, abuse of basic tenets of democracy, dictatorial democracy, and so many other more worrisome and pathetic negative conditions.
Now that I have decided to contest for this position, it is pertinent on me to carefullydraw a legislative agenda that will guide me in delivering in this national assignment. This is hereby presented:
Legislative Agenda
My main mission to the Nigeria National Assembly is to provide a conscientious, receptive, patriotic and beneficial representation to the people of my constituency which comprises the hardworking and diligent people of Ibarapa Central and Ibarapa North Federal Constituency.
It is going to be my responsibility to ensure that my constituents receive qualitativerepresentation and receives a fair share of the nation’s dividend of democracy in all sectors of the nation’s social, economic and political benefit sharing. Although i will have responsibility of participating in all oversight and lawmaking responsibilities in all sectors of Nigeria, my main legislative focus will be streamlined into six institutional reformative areas namely:
▪ Constitutionalism and True Federalism
▪ Devolution of Power and Resource Control
▪ Autonomy of Local Governments and Their Recognition as Third Tier of Government.
▪ Poverty Eradication , Rural Developmentand Health Reform
▪ Employment Generation and Youth Empowerment
▪ Realization of the court ordered and constitutionally supported creation of new state constituencies in Oyo State.
It is my determination to use my knowledge, education, exposure, experience and all my God given talents in contributing to the developments of Nigeria through progressive lawmaking at the national level.
So Help Me God
Mr. Akinyemi Akinlabi
