The Seventh National Assembly finally came to a close last Thursday.
The legislative journey which began on June 6, 2011, took off on an
impressive note. In the House of Representatives where I chaired the
Committee on Petroleum Resources, Downstream, there were high and low
moments but the House obviously gave a good account of itself.
Though the jury is not out yet, for a long time to come, the Green Chamber of the Seventh Assembly will be remembered for fighting and defeating leadership imposition and intimidation.
But the House will not only be remembered for courage. Nigerians will definitely remember its many bills, motions and interventions, even in the face of Executive lawlessness and blackmail.
In many ways, the House of Representatives under the leadership Rt.
Hon. Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, a man of tremendous prescience, stood out as
the people’s assembly where voices resonated irrespective of class or
political affiliation.
Fuel Subsidy
The turning point for the House, however, was the removal of fuel subsidy on the first day of January, 2012. This was another Executive indiscretion that shut down the entire country for nearly two weeks. Apart from the fact that the subsidy removal was ill-timed, being the first day of the year, the Executive apparently did not consult widely before taking the decision.
The House’s intervention which began when it reconvened on Sunday from Christmas break, culminated in the resolution that eventually came after series of negotiations with state governments, trade unions and civil societies, among others.
At other times, the House also demonstrated that it was indeed the voice of the Nigerian people especially when it beamed its searchlight on some critical sectors of the economy. These included but not limited to the petroleum sector (the various probes), including the Malabu Oil scandal, the aviation industry, Police Pension scam and Ministry of Interior where it uncovered inconsistencies, tardiness and corruption.
Unresolved issues
It is, however, regrettable that we could not resolve issues around the missing $20 billion, the Abba Moro Immigration scandal and kerosene subsidy scam even though the Downstream Committee submitted the kerosene report for consideration.
On a personal note, I came to the House with the determination to give a robust representation, first to Andoni-Opobo/Nkoro, my constituency, and then to other interests like the environment, education, good governance and issues of human rights, development, gender and Niger Delta, among others.
I feel a sense of pride and fulfilment
I certainly did not achieve all I set out to accomplish within the period, no doubt. But on reflection, I feel a sense of pride and fulfilment because we have raised the bar of representation in my constituency.
Now, a new consciousness exists among our people. I am also happy with my work on the aforementioned legislative interests.
Any fist time visitor to my constituency will obviously appreciate our peculiar terrain. Our towns and communities are far-flung islands that had suffered untold hardship and neglect for many years. So for me, access was an indivisible word throughout my tenure. We engendered in clearly identifiable terms, access to education, quality health care, portable water, employment opportunities and above all, access to a changing world. This defined my approach to our constituency’s multifaceted challenges as a member of the House of Representatives.
For instance, between October 4 and 5, 2012, I convened the First Andoni-Opobo/Nkoro Economic Summit which had in attendance the leadership of the House of Representatives led by Hon. Emeka Ihedioha, Deputy Speaker. Rivers State government was also fully represented by the attendance and input of senior government officials. The summit was inspired by my firm belief that as a people, our potentials are boundless.
It was indeed a robust constituency engagement strategy designed to showcase our investment and economic potentials. The summit which presented a future and forward-looking master plan for our people also provided a platform for community and traditional rulers, academics, thinkers, businesses, non-government organisations, women, youths, the clergy, professionals and our friends to share ideas, shape the economic vision of the constituency, engage and work together for the acceleration of the development of Andoni-Opobo/Nkoro Federal Constituency.
Bills sponsored and supported
My tenure also provided opportunity for me to engage my colleagues and fulfil my election promises which I personally anchored on quality and effective representation.
I was, therefore, determined to be as active as I can in my legislative duties by sponsoring and supporting bills on the floor of the House. These bills included:
A bill to authorise law enforcement agencies to receive e-communication to enhance criminal investigation.
A bill to amend the fire arms act so as to increase the penalties for illicit possession, transfer, manufacturing, dealing in and housing of fire arms, small and light weapons.
A bill to establish Medical Laboratory Post-Graduate College of Medical Laboratory Science.
An act to provide for the establishment of the legal and regulatory framework, institutions and regulatory authorities for the Nigerian Petroleum Industry among other bills I co-sponsored.
Others are my co-sponsorship of a motion on the collapse of Dorongo Dam and the urgent need to tackle increasing cases of pipeline vandalism which has led to the death of over 500 persons and loss of over N2 trillion in just one year.
Motions
I wish to also state that I moved motions on the threat of annihilation of some Andoni communities in Rivers State due to accelerated rise in sea level and the need to declare Oil Well 1, Oloibiri, Ogbia Local Government Area of Bayelsa State a national monument. In addition, I moved a motion against the cancellation of Onne-Eleme Junction/Aba Road Bus-section 1 of the reconstruction of the East-West Road contract by the Federal Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs which has now been revisited.
As chairman of Petroleum Downstream, our committee periodically organised sensitisation workshops to improve capacity. And frequently, we engaged regulators, marketers, operators and all stakeholders in the sector. This is aside our public hearing sessions on the perennial crises of scarcity and corruption that bedevilled refined products which fell under our purview.
Besides, I did not falter in my promise to continually engage and liaise with other government agencies in attracting life changing programmes and projects to my constituency. We did all within our power, not only to improve the living conditions of the generality of our people but also offered hope of a better future.
Outside my core duty in the parliament, and aware of the endless possibilities in the field of education, I encouraged a number of young people in my constituency in their educational pursuits. I personally provided scholarship awards through Andoni-Opobo/Nkoro Economic Zone Development Foundation to some of our youths in universities, both at home and abroad. At the last count, we had over 20 young men and women pursuing different post graduate courses in the United Kingdom under our scholarship.
For good measure, I also personally took our work plan and details of our success story as a constituency beyond our shores. On almost all my foreign trips, both personal and official, I located our people wherever I could find them and enlisted their support in all our programmes. The most remarkable of such encounters was my invitation as co-chair to the 2013 Andoni Forum Convention which held at Hilton Hotel, Rosemont, Chicago, United States from 5-7 July.
I will, therefore, remember this era with fond memories, particularly the life-long friendships, camaraderie and the privilege of serving in an honourable House. Above all, I am eternally grateful to my people for the rare privilege of representing them.
Dr. Peterside who was the All Progressives Congress APC governorship candidate in the April elections in Rivers State was former Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Petroleum Resources, Downstream.
Though the jury is not out yet, for a long time to come, the Green Chamber of the Seventh Assembly will be remembered for fighting and defeating leadership imposition and intimidation.
But the House will not only be remembered for courage. Nigerians will definitely remember its many bills, motions and interventions, even in the face of Executive lawlessness and blackmail.
Dakuku Peterside
Fuel Subsidy
The turning point for the House, however, was the removal of fuel subsidy on the first day of January, 2012. This was another Executive indiscretion that shut down the entire country for nearly two weeks. Apart from the fact that the subsidy removal was ill-timed, being the first day of the year, the Executive apparently did not consult widely before taking the decision.
The House’s intervention which began when it reconvened on Sunday from Christmas break, culminated in the resolution that eventually came after series of negotiations with state governments, trade unions and civil societies, among others.
At other times, the House also demonstrated that it was indeed the voice of the Nigerian people especially when it beamed its searchlight on some critical sectors of the economy. These included but not limited to the petroleum sector (the various probes), including the Malabu Oil scandal, the aviation industry, Police Pension scam and Ministry of Interior where it uncovered inconsistencies, tardiness and corruption.
Unresolved issues
It is, however, regrettable that we could not resolve issues around the missing $20 billion, the Abba Moro Immigration scandal and kerosene subsidy scam even though the Downstream Committee submitted the kerosene report for consideration.
On a personal note, I came to the House with the determination to give a robust representation, first to Andoni-Opobo/Nkoro, my constituency, and then to other interests like the environment, education, good governance and issues of human rights, development, gender and Niger Delta, among others.
I feel a sense of pride and fulfilment
I certainly did not achieve all I set out to accomplish within the period, no doubt. But on reflection, I feel a sense of pride and fulfilment because we have raised the bar of representation in my constituency.
Now, a new consciousness exists among our people. I am also happy with my work on the aforementioned legislative interests.
Any fist time visitor to my constituency will obviously appreciate our peculiar terrain. Our towns and communities are far-flung islands that had suffered untold hardship and neglect for many years. So for me, access was an indivisible word throughout my tenure. We engendered in clearly identifiable terms, access to education, quality health care, portable water, employment opportunities and above all, access to a changing world. This defined my approach to our constituency’s multifaceted challenges as a member of the House of Representatives.
For instance, between October 4 and 5, 2012, I convened the First Andoni-Opobo/Nkoro Economic Summit which had in attendance the leadership of the House of Representatives led by Hon. Emeka Ihedioha, Deputy Speaker. Rivers State government was also fully represented by the attendance and input of senior government officials. The summit was inspired by my firm belief that as a people, our potentials are boundless.
It was indeed a robust constituency engagement strategy designed to showcase our investment and economic potentials. The summit which presented a future and forward-looking master plan for our people also provided a platform for community and traditional rulers, academics, thinkers, businesses, non-government organisations, women, youths, the clergy, professionals and our friends to share ideas, shape the economic vision of the constituency, engage and work together for the acceleration of the development of Andoni-Opobo/Nkoro Federal Constituency.
Bills sponsored and supported
My tenure also provided opportunity for me to engage my colleagues and fulfil my election promises which I personally anchored on quality and effective representation.
I was, therefore, determined to be as active as I can in my legislative duties by sponsoring and supporting bills on the floor of the House. These bills included:
A bill to authorise law enforcement agencies to receive e-communication to enhance criminal investigation.
A bill to amend the fire arms act so as to increase the penalties for illicit possession, transfer, manufacturing, dealing in and housing of fire arms, small and light weapons.
A bill to establish Medical Laboratory Post-Graduate College of Medical Laboratory Science.
An act to provide for the establishment of the legal and regulatory framework, institutions and regulatory authorities for the Nigerian Petroleum Industry among other bills I co-sponsored.
Others are my co-sponsorship of a motion on the collapse of Dorongo Dam and the urgent need to tackle increasing cases of pipeline vandalism which has led to the death of over 500 persons and loss of over N2 trillion in just one year.
Motions
I wish to also state that I moved motions on the threat of annihilation of some Andoni communities in Rivers State due to accelerated rise in sea level and the need to declare Oil Well 1, Oloibiri, Ogbia Local Government Area of Bayelsa State a national monument. In addition, I moved a motion against the cancellation of Onne-Eleme Junction/Aba Road Bus-section 1 of the reconstruction of the East-West Road contract by the Federal Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs which has now been revisited.
As chairman of Petroleum Downstream, our committee periodically organised sensitisation workshops to improve capacity. And frequently, we engaged regulators, marketers, operators and all stakeholders in the sector. This is aside our public hearing sessions on the perennial crises of scarcity and corruption that bedevilled refined products which fell under our purview.
Besides, I did not falter in my promise to continually engage and liaise with other government agencies in attracting life changing programmes and projects to my constituency. We did all within our power, not only to improve the living conditions of the generality of our people but also offered hope of a better future.
Outside my core duty in the parliament, and aware of the endless possibilities in the field of education, I encouraged a number of young people in my constituency in their educational pursuits. I personally provided scholarship awards through Andoni-Opobo/Nkoro Economic Zone Development Foundation to some of our youths in universities, both at home and abroad. At the last count, we had over 20 young men and women pursuing different post graduate courses in the United Kingdom under our scholarship.
For good measure, I also personally took our work plan and details of our success story as a constituency beyond our shores. On almost all my foreign trips, both personal and official, I located our people wherever I could find them and enlisted their support in all our programmes. The most remarkable of such encounters was my invitation as co-chair to the 2013 Andoni Forum Convention which held at Hilton Hotel, Rosemont, Chicago, United States from 5-7 July.
I will, therefore, remember this era with fond memories, particularly the life-long friendships, camaraderie and the privilege of serving in an honourable House. Above all, I am eternally grateful to my people for the rare privilege of representing them.
Dr. Peterside who was the All Progressives Congress APC governorship candidate in the April elections in Rivers State was former Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Petroleum Resources, Downstream.
0 comments:
Post a Comment