The lawmaker representing Ekiti North 1 (Ikole/Oye) Federal Constituency and spokesman of the House of Representatives, Honourable Akin Rotimi has revealed that members of the house are doing everything possible to redefine representation in the country.
Rotimi spoke on Saturday in Ikole Local Government of Ekiti state during the first Ramadan Lecture to celebrate the National Vice President, Ansar-un-Deen Society of Nigeria, Sulaiman Ogunlayi for his contributions towards the growth and development of religion and politics in the state and country.
The lawmaker explained that the green chamber under the leadership of the speaker, Tajudeen Abbas has mapped out strategies to engage Nigerians and offer quality and responsive representations to the people.
On the importance of the lecture, the chairman of the House Committee on Media and Public Affairs called on political actors across the country to honour and celebrate patriotic citizens before they cross the border of earth.
Addressing journalists, he said, “Aare Sulaiman Ogunlayi has been a great leader and I’m glad we are able to honour him in this way because I don’t believe that it’s until our leader passes away before we honour them.
“What we are seeing here again like I mentioned is the result of our assignment from the Federal House of Representatives under the leadership of Hon Abass Tajudeen that we should do constituency outreach and engagement with our constituents.
“What you see me do is an example of what all my colleagues are doing during Easter and Ramadan.
“This is part of our efforts to ensure that we redefine representation and make sure that we leave our own mark.”
On his part, the immediate former governor of Ekiti state, Dr Kayode Fayemi hailed the honouree for his giant strides in religion and politics, adding that no kind gesture is in-proportional to celebrate such a dependable leader.
He said, “It should not be a surprise that Akin is working to our satisfaction. He is a garden boy, he must know how to cultivate Yam properly.
“Ogunlayi is an example to us in politics and character. That’s why there’s nothing that is too much to do for him because he has sacrificed for most of us.”
In his lecture titled ‘Duties of Muslim Citizens in National Development’, the Registrar of Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Professor Ishaq Oloyede knocked state governors to seek the Federal Government’s intervention to solve security lapses.
The JAMB Boss, represented by the Provost, Federal College of Education, Iwo, Osun State, Professor Abdulrafiu Adebayo, stated that President Bola Tinubu is incapacitated to handle every situation, ” hence the need for all the 36 governors in the country to utilise local means to neutralize criminal elements and end banditry in their various jurisdictions.
“Let’s not be unjust to ourselves. Stop calling on Tinubu to curb insecurity in your states, he can’t do it alone.”
Speaking on the havoc that religion has caused the nation, he said “We are too religious and we are not that godly. We are in love with prayer but we don’t know the difference between prayer and hardwork.
“It is until we unite and bury ethnic bitterness, that’s when we will get it right. Religion would have solved our problems properly but we did not utilize it very well.”
In his response, the honouree, Ogunlayi commended Akin Rotimi for building such peaceful co-existence between both religions, adding that such action will end the spate of terrorism if emulated.
He said, “In most cases, people are recognized only when they are no more but we thank God that this recognition is coming when I’m still alive.
“What Akin Rotimi did today is the greatest thing I think it has happened for a Christian to organise this kind of Programme. I appreciate our Christians who came, if we have this kind of relationship, there won’t be Biko Haram, all the crises we are having will be resolved.”
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