Lagos-Ibadan Rail Project: South West Senators Guilty Of Treason – Afenifere
By
Temidayo Akinsuyi
-
July 31,
Lagos – Pan-Yoruba socio-political organisation, Afenifere, on Sunday said South West senators are committing treason against the people of the region by deliberately staying away from the debate that borders on the Lagos-Ibadan rail project.
In a statement signed by Yinka Odumakin, its Publicity Secretary, the group said the action of the senators whereby only two out of 18 attended the debate was a sad day for the South West.
While demanding an explanation from the absentee senators, the group said such act of gross dereliction of duty by the senators will not be accepted in the future.


Independent findings revealed that only Solomon Adeola (Lagos West) and Gbenga Ashafa (Lagos East) were present when the debate on the controversial rail project took place.

“Afenifere is alarmed that the sitting of the Senate on Thursday, 27th July 2017 had only 2 out of the 18 senators from the South West in attendance.

“This figure is appallingly embarrassing on a normal legislative day but is more of a treason against the people they represent given that an issue of critical importance to the South West was on the table for discussion.
“It was a sad day for the South West that when the issue of Lagos-Ibadan rail project was debated and loan request approved by the Shehu Sani-led Senate Committee on Local and Foreign Debt, there were only two senators from the zone in the chamber even when our representatives were not unaware that the issue was coming up for discussion.
“It was learnt that it took intense lobbying by the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, to save the project from being stalled by senators from other zones in the country in spite of the persuasive argument by Senator Sani Committee that the Lagos-Ibadan project was a pilot one by the funders to see how effective we can be before approving the requests in other zones.
“Lagos-Ibadan rail project is funded by loans from China sourced by the Federal government.
“We appreciate what was done by senators from other zones leading the efforts to save the project when our own representatives were not available at their duty posts.
“Our absentee senators owe their constituents explanation on this gross dereliction of duty at the most crucial moment. The Yoruba nation has had quality and effective representation at the National Assembly in the past not to be shocked by this unserious approach to legislative duties. We seriously admonish a rethink and more dedication to duty by our elected representatives”, the statement said.
In a similar vein, senator representing Lagos East Senatorial District in the National Assembly, Gbenga Ashafa, has declared support for the Federal Government’s loan request from China Exim Bank during the consideration of the report from the Senate Committee on Local and Foreign Debts.
The senator, who is the Chairman, Senate Committee on Land Transport, in his contribution to the report of the Senate Committee on Local and Foreign Debt concerning the loan request urged his colleagues to approve the loan request as doing same would be supporting the legislative agenda of the 8th Senate.
He reminded his colleagues that “there is a time frame attached to the loan and that if the loan is not approved by the Senate, the country stands the risk of forfeiting the loan, which would help a great deal in actualising developmental projects across every part of the country.”
Ashafa said, “The legislative agenda of this 8th Senate ably led by the President of the Senate, Distinguished Senator Bukola Saraki involves charting a new course for national economy by opening up the economy for greater investment and ease of doing business.
“Hence the creation of the National Assembly Business Environment Roundtable (NASSBER) to identity priority bills that will aid in investment in the economy. The consequence of this is passing of several economic bills into law including the Nigeria Railway Bill 2017.
“My distinguished colleagues, approving this loan request is therefore also supporting the cause, which the 8th Senate stands for.”

http://independent.ng/lagos-ibadan-rail-project-south-west-senators-guilty-treason-afenifere/

they eventually admit that thier conehead senators is corrupt more than GEJ.. Afonjas .