Kunle Adelabu
The first – ever Chairman, Nigerian Majority Leaders’ Forum and the Majority Leader, Lagos State House of Assembly, Hon. Sanai Bolanle Agunbiade has assured that the newly formed Forum will work in partnership with the Speakers to deepen democracy in the country.
He said that the association was formed to share experience and cross – fertilise ideas among members from the 37 Houses of Assembly in Nigeria, and that it shall focus on best legislative practice.
Agunbiade stated these while addressing journalists alongside other elected officials of the Nigerian Majority Leaders’ Forum after the maiden National Convention of the Forum which was held at the Genesis Hotel, GRA, Ikeja, Lagos at the weekend..
He was elected during the convention alongside other executive members of the Forum.
Hon. Sanai Agunbiade was elected as the National Chairman while the Majority Leader of Plateau State, Hon. Gapyil Naanlong, was elected the National Secretary of the Forum.
Other elected executive members of the Forum were Hon. Nnamdi Godwin Okafor (Anambra) – National Vice-Chairman South, Hon. Abubakar Suleiman Abukur (Katsina) – National Vice-Chairman North, Hon. Olugboyega Aribisogan (Ekiti) – National Publicity Secretary and Hon. Hamman Tukur Yettisuri (Adamawa) – National Deputy Publicity Secretary.
Also, Hon. Solomon Akpulonu (Abia) – National Legal Adviser , Hon. Bukar Mustapha (Yobe) – National Financial Secretary, Hon. Faruk Aliyu Jega( Kebbi) – National Treasurer, Hon. Peter Odey (Cross Rivers) – National Organising Secretary, Hon. Monday Bubou Obolo (Bayelsa) – National Deputy Secretary.
“Today is good, today is great, as it marks the official birth of the Nigerian Forum of Majority Leaders in our country”, Hon. Agunbiade said.
“We owe the success and the peace of today to the benevolence of the Almighty God.
“I will also thank my colleagues for finding me fit and proper to lead this Forum of articulate individuals who operate as Majority Leaders in all the Houses of Assembly across the six geographical zones in Nigeria.
“Permit me to state unequivocally that this Forum of Majority Leaders is established to collaborate with the Speakers of our Houses of Assembly in deepening democracy by promoting cross learning, and engendering experience sharing amongst the State Houses of Assembly.
“In particular, we shall focus on adoption of best legislative practices in our law making processes and strive boldly at promoting national integration across ethnic divisions”, he emphasized.
“We are prepared and set to be partners in legislative progress with the Conference of Speakers, realizing that Legislature is the signpost of Democracy”.
The guest speaker, Rt. Hon. Olakunle Oluomo, the Speaker, Ogun State House of Assembly and Vice Chairman (Southwest), Conference of Speakers, called for harmonious working relationship between Speakers and Majority Leaders to protect democracy and bring about good legislative practice.
He also called for experienced lawmakers to be made Speakers against zoning which he said usually throws up green-horns into positions.
“Majority Leaders are the backbones of Speakers and their Houses of Assembly. They should work together as a team and should not allow anybody to divide them.
“What we are doing here today is to ensure that we work together to ensure legislative excellence”, he said.
“Synergy between Speakers and Majority Leaders portends advancement in our democracy and I appeal that at all time, they (Speaker and Majority Leader) must work together”, he charged.
Hon. Mudashiru Obasa, Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly speaking commended the Majority Leaders across the country for the initiative.
The Speaker who was represented by Hon. Babatunde Okanlawon Sanni, Chairman, House Committee on Education, Lagos State House of Assembly, also said that the gathering will bring about good legislative development in Nigeria.
The Publicity Secretary of the Forum and Majority Leader, Ekiti House of Assembly, Hon. Olugboyega Aribisogan, said that the Forum will provide the missing link between the Governors and Speakers across the federation.
“Like the Governors’ and the Speakers’ Forums, the Majority Leaders’ Forum will provide the missing link.
“Democracy all over the world is a learning process and no nation has perfected it. Here in Nigeria, we still have a very long way to go. Issues around governance and its challenges of development are many.
“This Forum is to share knowledge and learn about our cultural diversities.
“We are about starting a process that will improve the way that we run our legislature”, he added.
Members of the Forum that spoke after the election commended Hon. Agunbiade for his leadership roles which led to the formation of the group.
