A member of the House of Representatives, Honourable Olubunmi Wumi Ogunlola, has debunked the claim that the ninth National Assembly is a rubber stamp, stating that the legislators only believe that the nation can only develop in an atmosphere of peace, when the executive, the legislative and the judicial arms of government work harmoniously.
Ogundola explained the fact that the legislator believe in the policy of the present administration does not mean that all requests from President Muhammadu Buhari were approved by the legislature.
The lawmaker, who represents Ekiti Central constituency II stated this in Ijero-Ekiti Sunday explained that Nigerians must not assess the performance of the National Assembly with the number of times they disagreed with the president rather their interventions.
She said, “I don’t think all what come to the National Assembly from the executive is approved, that is not correct. If you knew what they brought and what was given back to them, either reducing or adding to them, it wasn’t the same thing, in other words, it means some steps were talking by the National Assembly.
“I want to believe that it is in peace that we can really forge ahead, it is not when we are at loggerheads and fighting. I think it is the media that believe that it’s until when you fight or when you disagree, that is when you are really playing politics or administering government, whereas it is not.
“It’s when we are at peace, that we can sort out things ,that we can agree and have meetings of the mind, I want to break what the speaker said to mean -It is not when we fight that we can keep executives on their toes. It is not as if we don’t disagree, may be at times, it is not open to you.
“If we have misunderstanding, there would always be a roundtable talk to forge ahead. The word ‘Rubber Stamp’ is a journalistic language.”
While expressing displeasure over the low representation of women in leadership positions, she called for re-orientation of women folks across the country on the need for them
Ogundola alleged that women were not being given deserved privileges as a result of the oppressive nature of men claiming that, this is somehow, most especially for some of women who have been privileged to be in small position of authority.
She said: “Things have not really changed, in fact it’s retrogressing, when it comes to representation, women are not being given the numbers they should be given either in the elective or appointment.
“For instance, the time we used to complain of this, then at the National Assembly, we had over 20 percent, but now , it’s zero point .In the Senate, we have 6, House of Representatives is 12. It’s unfortunate and absurd, especially when we compare it to other countries.
“We can only hope and pray, hat is the only solace. When efforts failed, normal thing is to resort to prayer,” she said.
She assured members of her constituents her determination to sponsor motions and bills in the New Year that would enhance the socio-economic lives of the constituency.
