HON MURAINA AJIBOLA SAUBANA AND HIS NUMEROUS BILLS ON TERTIARY INSTITUTIONS: THE AYETE EXPERIENCE – KABIR O. AYINLA

 

Hon. Saubana Muraina Ajibola presenting bill during a plenary session

 

“The future depends on what we do on the present” Mahtma Gandhi.”

Globally, urban regeneration or Urban renewal usually defined as “attempt to reverse the declining physical structure and economy of an area” is a deliberate effort towards turning a community into tradable commodities. Hence, communities compete in infrastructures such as sport complex, schools, shopping malls or tourism. In Nigeria, it is a common practice for towns and sub-urban communities to compete on amenities such as bank, schools, post-office, etc as these are indices sometimes used to measure success of community. Importantly, the success or otherwise of the reign of a traditional ruler is measured by the numbers of amenities he is able to “pull” to his community.

 

Ayete a progressive town within Ibarapa was blessed with exposed sons and daughters among which is a four times commissioner in Oyo State- Engr Gbade Gbadamosi and a business tycoon Chief Lanre Badmos. Equipped with these duo and host of others Ayete was desperate to have post-office and for almost 2 and a half decades the community wrote letters, lobbied and used all resources at her disposal but to NO AVAIL. However, lucky came on the path of the community about a year ago when an indigene of Ibarapa Dr. Ismail Adewusi was appointed as the Postmaster general of the federation. What did Adewusi used to grant permission for Ayete post office? The file and applications made about 15 years ago. What a vision?

 

Prior to 2015, the establishment of public institutions such as schools, hospitals, farm settlements, etc usually follow top-bottom approach whereby government chooses a location, then sent EXECUTIVE BILLS to the legislative arm. However, the problem with such approach is sometimes “not suit for purpose” or lack of “buy-in” of the participating communities since such institution may not be their priority. Meanwhile, the approach changed from the 8th NASS (2015-2019) through the introduction of DEVELOPMENTAL BILLS. Developmental bills allow communities to “make case” for what they want through their representatives, then do “lobbying” for its actualisation. In other words, developmental bill is a form of AGITATION and instrument being deployed to draw the attention of the central government to the needs of grassroot communities. Several of such developmental bills have been signed by the President between the 8th Assembly and now. The Federal Polytechnic of Technology, Ayede, Oyo State and Federal College of Education, Iwo Osun state are products of Developmental Bills introduced by their representatives in 8th NASS and Completed by the current member of parliament.

 

Equipped with this, Hon. Ajibola deployed his experience, time, resources, commitment and dedication to file bills and pursue them for first reading, second reading and or third reading. He filed the developmental bills for the five communities within his constituency as soon as he resumed in 2019. Some of his Developmental Bills are:

 

Federal University of Agriculture, Igboora, Oyo State, (Establishment) Bill, 2019.

First Reading- 05/11/2019

Second Reading- 15/09/2021

Status- Agricultural Colleges and Institutions.

 

Federal Medical Centre Igboora (Establishment) Bill, 2019.

First Reading- 26/09/2019

Third Reading- 06/07/2021

Status- Passed

 

Federal College of Education Idere (Establishment) Bill, 2019.

First Reading- 25/07/2019.

 

Federal Polytechnic, Ayete (Establishment) Bill,

First Reading- 25/07/2019.

 

Federal College of Agriculture, Tapa (Establishment) Bill, 2019.

First Reading- 25/07/2019.

Second Reading- 08/12/2021

 

Federal University of Technology, Igangan (Establishment) Bill, 2019)

First Reading- 25/07/2019

Second Reading- 13/07/2021

Status- Tertiary Institutions and Services

Source: https://placbillstrack.org/search.php

 

Hence, with the bills, Hon Ajibola has successfully positioned each of the communities for immediate and future opportunities. It means that the communities are now on queue for unlimited national intervention in health and education. When passed, he would have successfully used the bills to agitate for and draw the attention of the federal government to our constituency. In accordance with the procedure of the NASS, Hon Muraina is committed to ensure that all these bills are passed before the expiration of this 9th assembly.

 

According to Hon Muraina, “all the Holy books say ask you shall be given, seek you shall find, if other honorable members are asking by bringing such developmental bills, what stops me from asking? I was not sent to come and be a bench warmer. I was voted for to come and make laws and lobbying for things to be done within my constituency”

 

Like the motion on the death of Oko Oloyun, his developmental bills will soon come to fruition. On Oko Oloyun’s saga, he asked for two prayers amongst others: (a) that the road from Abeokuta to Igbo Ora to Iseyin to Sokoto on which Oko Oloyun was killed be rehabilitated by Ferma. As we speak pursuant to that motion and diligent follow up, Ferma has included the rehabilitation of that road in its 2022 budget. (b). That Igangan Police Station be up graded to Igangan Divisional Police Headquarters. As we speak pursuant to that motion and diligent follow up, the Igangan Police Station has been up graded to Igangan Divisional Police Headquarters.

 

KABIR O. AYINLA

Ward 8, Ominigbo Ibarapa Northwest Local Council Development Area