By Gift Chapi Odekina
The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila has said the legislative personality of the decade award confered on him was for the entire green chamber and it will spur them to make more quality legislations for national development.
Gbajabiamila said this after he, alongside Governor Sani Bello of Niger state, Rauf Aregbesola, the minister of interior, amongst others received the 2022 Democracy Heroes Awards Africa in Abuja.
Represented by Aliyu Ibrahim, member representing Wurno/Rabbah federal constituency of Sokoto state, the speaker dedicated the award the to the 9th House of Representatives which has passed ground breaking legislations such as the Petrolulem Industry Act and the Electoral Act, 2022.
He said: “On behalf of my leader, we say thank you very much, the organisers of this great event for honouring not only him, the right honourable speaker but indeed the House of Representatives.
“We hold this award in high esteem and it will further embolden us to do more. Under our able leadership, there are a lot of legislative landmarks as you know, ranging from the Electoral Act to the passage of the great Petrolueam Industry Act.
Benjamin Kalu, spokesperson of the House who was part of the delegation that represented the speaker also reiterated the commitment of the parliament to providing legislative interventions for the progress, unity and prosperity of the country.
On his part, Govenor Bello who bagged Democracy Man of the Year Award, said
if the administration of the local government is being operated as it should, there will be less pressure on the state capital, hence government would be closer to the people.
“I want to advice anyone who will find himself in position of a governor to please allow democratic principles to guide us on how we run the affairs of government. I thank the organisers for this,’’ he said.
Also speaking, Aregbesola who got the Best Minister of the Year award said
democracy thrives on the rule of law and any democratic government that does not recognise, appreciate and ensure the rule of law, is a failed democracy.
According to him, “democracy in its real definition is the application of the rule of law, it is about the rule of law and that will lead to development.”
