Says they are self-centred, indifferent
BY MAYOWA SAMUEL
A socio-political pressure group in Lagos State, Ọmọ Eko Pataki, has descended heavily on lawmakers representing Lagos State in the National Assembly, describing them as self centered, untidy and indifferent to issues affecting the indigenes of the state.
A member of the Trustee of the group and former Minister of Communications, Maj – Gen Tajudeen Olanrewaju, rtd, made the feeling of the group known on Friday.
Reacting to what transpired at the National Assembly last week with regard to the Electoral Act amendment and the Petroleum Industry Bill, the group said “It is rather disappointing and sad that the Lagos lawmakers in Abuja are increasingly self-centered, untidy and indifferent to the sole purpose of representing the interests of our people at the two chambers of the National Assembly.
“For whatever reason best known to them, they seem motivated by myopic partisan concerns rather than the pursuit of the welfare of the ordinary Lagosians, who voted them into office,” the group said.
It added that “Of particular concern to us at Ọmọ Eko Pataki is the disgraceful roles played by our Senators and Representatives during the passage of the Independent National Electoral Bill that would have mandated electronic voting system and the Petroleum Industry Bill whose original intent to benefit the indigenous oil producing communities is now basically negated and frittered.
“The lawmaking process should never be about personal gains or selfish absorption. It should always be about the greater good of the electorate. It should always be about the growth and the development of our society.”
Omo Eko Pataki expressed surprise that any person could for any reason vote against electronic voting in this 21 century.
“Frankly, it still beats reasoning and common sense why anyone will vote against electronic voting in the 21st century where the very dictates of cybernetic revolution have virtually eliminated all the cumbersome processes of manual procedures in all aspects of our lives from banking to statistical data gathering, from power generating grids to sensors in military hardware.”
The group faulted the argument and claim of inadequate signal coverage in certain parts of the country as untenable.
“The argument about inadequate communication in some remote parts of the nation is not true. We all know that there are several repeater and transmission stations across the nation which presently enables effective communication even in the most remote outpost of our nation.
“As a former Minister of Communications, I should know. The increasing growth of digital technology has eased the challenges of modernity, making our society more progressive.”
Dismissing manual voting as archaic and primitive, the group argued that it gives ample room to manipulation and vote rigging.
“Manual voting is primitive and outdated. It gives room to several manipulations and ultimately disenfranchises our people.
“It is even more worrisome that all three Senators from Lagos state voted against electronic voting system. This is unacceptable. We should be seen to be moving forward and not regressing.
“The same goes for the Petroleum Industry Bill. Lagos of course is now a petroleum producing state. The 5 percent proposed recommendation for the indigenous producing communities has been slashed to a pittance of 3 percent and yet Lagos legislators support this abnormality. Does this really make any sense at all?
“A lot is definitely wrong with the thought processes of our legislators. They have betrayed the people’s trust. They have equally sabotaged the enviable position of the Southwest governors whose resolve is about national equity and fairness.”
The group submitted that the lawmakers were motivated by personal gains and partisan prejudice rather than any altruistic concern for the good of Lagosians.
“The legislators are unrepresentative of the well being of Lagosians. They are motivated by personal bias and partisan prejudice.
“We at Ọmọ Eko Pataki strongly believe that all the legislators who voted against the interests of our people are not democrats.
“Since they are at variance with the classical definition of democracy which is “the government of the people by the people and for the people,” they have no business staying a minute longer in their position because they have failed all Lagosians.”
