Lawmaker, Residents Seek Improved Security

A member of the House of Representatives representing Ikeja Federal Constituency, James Abidun Faleke, could not have wished for more. It was one of the most widely attended events by any political office holder in the constituency over the years.

It was the town hall meeting organised by Faleke with a tripartite mission of discussing the security situation in the country, giving a report card on his sojourn so far in the House as well as deliberating with the constituents on their needs to know where he can intervene.

The conference hall of Excellence Hotel, Ogba, was full of participants who started arriving before the 11a.m. kick off time for the event.

The Olu of Ikeja, Oba Amidu Amore, led the traditional rulers who included the Onigbongbo monarch and several bales. The leader of the League of Imam and Alfas, Ikeja branch and the chairman of the Ikeja chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, led the religious leaders. Various professional groups in the constituency were also represented.

The vice chairman of Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, in Lagos West Senatorial District, Cardinal James Omolaja Odunmbaku, Dr. Adefemi Taiwo, Alhaja Iyabo Akerele, Chairman of Onigbongbo LCDA, Babatunde Oke; Vice Chairman of Ojodu LCDA, Gbenga Ayileka and political office holders in the three councils of the constituency were all in attendance.

Speaking on the importance of the event, Faleke said the event was organised to deliberate on the need for vigilance and security consciousness in the light of Boko Haram insurgency.

“We called this meeting to deliberate on the need to improve our vigilance, to tell you what we have been doing in the House with your mandate and deliberate with you on your areas of need and on how to solve them,” Faleke said.

He called on religious leaders to always preach peace, love and peaceful coexistence among their followers.

“I want to call on our Imams and Pastors as well as leaders of the traditional religions to always preach peace and love. We need to come together to confront the security situation in this country and we should always be vigilant and security conscious,” he said.

On his performance so far in the House, Faleke stated that with all sense of modesty, he has been able to give a good account of himself.

“Through our modest effort the ad-hoc committee of which I am a member probed the fuel subsidy scandal and exposed the fraud in the management of the subsidy,” he said.

Faleke, who is the chairman of the House Committee on Ethics, Anti-Corruption and National Values, said he has also raised a motion on the need to legalise the nine new federal universities created by the Federal Government.

“The motion was discussed and passed with overwhelming approval of the House members,” he said.

Faleke has generated employment for some youths from his constituency in the federal civil service.

Faleke spent N32 million on poverty alleviation and empowerment materials for the people of the constituency last December, adding; “We are doing more and the next programme on our agenda is a health mission which will cover all corners of this constituency.

“We have to be security conscious all the time and that is why it is important for us to be vigilant. We should not shy away from reporting any suspicious movement, individuals and group to the nearest security outfit,” Oke, chairman of Onigbongbo LCDA, said.

The Olu of Ikeja, Oba Amore while calling on the people to always be vigilant and be security conscious, assured that the traditional rulers would always work towards ensuring and maintaining peace and tranquillity in their various communities.

—Yisa Jamiu