OPINION: Garlands as Amosun bows out of the Senate in grand style

The Legislature is an arm of government saddled with the responsibility to make laws for the peace, order, and good governance of the Federation. The Nigerian Legislature derives its powers and functions from Section 1, Part 4 of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and it consists of the Senate and the House of Representatives known as the National Assembly.

This constitutional provision further underscores the indispensability of the legislative arm in the overall governance of the country. New laws must be promulgated and old ones amended as a necessary part of any viable country. This function together with its oversight and representation functionalities, the National Assembly offers full compliments to the corporate governance structure of Nigeria as a nation. To achieve a balanced, vibrant and effective legislature, it behooves on all of us as a people and nation to insist that only competent people with proven records, character, and integrity are chosen to represent us at the National Assembly.

For Senator Ibikunle Amosun, his election was premised on his proven records of performance both as a former legislator and governor. His inauguration into the 9th Senate of the federal republic of Nigeria on Tuesday, 11th June, 2019 was more of a “homecoming” and an avenue to further exhibit his legislative prowess and consolidate the long-standing achievements he garnered when he previously served as a Senator in the 5th senate, from 2003 to 2007. Also, it afforded him the opportunity to bring to the fore his wealth of experience as a two-term governor of Ogun State.

A chartered accountant, consummate administrator, focused and highly experienced legislator, Senator Ibikunle Amosun came to the Senate to once again put Ogun Central Senatorial District, Ogun State and Nigeria on an enviable pedestal by means of effective lawmaking, sponsorship of bills and motions that have direct positive impacts on the people and the institutions of government. His massive empowerment schemes for his constituents and the good people of Ogun State are known to have brought succor and government closer to the people.

This enigmatic personality hit the ground running immediately after the Assembly was inaugurated in order to actualise his mandate. To ensure the interests of the people who elected him are well articulated, he held series of meetings and consultations with his constituents across the six local government areas of Ogun Central Senatorial District. This culminated in focused representation, particularly in the areas of bills, intervention projects, and empowerment programmes.

It is on record that in the four years of his stewardship at the 9th Senate, Senator Ibikunle Amosun sponsored a total of twenty-three (23) bills; three of which were passed. They are: bill for the establishment of the Federal University of Medicine & Medical Sciences, Abeokuta, Ogun State, Child Rights Act 2003 (Amendment) Bill 2019, and the Nationwide Toll Bill, 2020.

However, one of these bills, the Federal University of Medicine & Medical Sciences, Abeokuta, Ogun State, got the assent of President Muhammadu Buhari. The assent of this bill was considered a milestone accomplishment not just for Senator Amosun, but also for the host community, Abeokuta, and Ogun State. This great feat would no doubt further enhance the status of Egbaland in terms of its penchant for education over the past centuries.

In addition to the aforementioned bills, other bills sponsored by Senator Amosun which were at different stages with the Senate committees having been passed at plenary, are the Electronic Transactions Bill 2019, South West Development Commission (EST ETC) Bill, Insurance Act (Amendment) Bill, 2020, and the Abduction, Wrongful Restraint and Confinement Bill, 2021. Others are the Counterfeit Goods Bill, 2021, National Industrial Technology Park (Establishment) Bil, 2021, and the Patent and Design Act Cap P2 LFN 2004 (Repeal & Re-enactment) Bill, 2021.

In the same vein, thirteen other bills and five motions that addressed the yearnings and aspirations of Nigerians were sponsored and moved by the Ogun Central Senator. Thus, making him one of the top ranking Senators in bills sponsorship and quality contributions on issues bothering national unity, security, the economy, and development. Indeed, his voice was loud and clear during debates on important national issues like the economic recession, rising cases of kidnapping, insurgencies, and other security challenges across the Nation, COVID-19 pandemic, the electoral reforms, petroleum industry reforms, and the constitution amendment, among others.

The remarkable impacts made by the Ogun Central Senator, especially in the areas of committee assignments and oversight functions, remain a reference point in selfless service. As the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Capital Markets, and a member of the Committee on National Security & Intelligence, Public Accounts, Appropriations, Foreign Affairs, Petroleum Resources (upstream), Aviation, Senate Ad-hoc Committee on Constitution Review, and Senate Ad-hoc Committee on Nigerian Security Challenges, Senator Amosun recorded remarkable successes and would be remembered for his efforts towards putting Nigeria on the path of unity, peace, and progress.

Beyond the four walls of the hallowed chamber, Senator Ibikunle Amosun also ensured that he influenced several intervention projects and carried out numerous empowerment programmes for his constituents, all in a bid to ensure that the dividends of democracy trickle down to all and sundry. His records in this regard are remarkable and exceptional. Some of the key projects he facilitated include the construction and furnishing of 36 nos Blocks of 3 classrooms with toilet facilities, construction of 60 nos Solar-powered boreholes, construction of 2 nos 100-bed and another 1 no 80-bed Ultra-modern maternity Building Complexes, construction of 8 nos 6 Rooms Maternity and health centres, and the construction and Rehabilitation of 24 kilometers of rural roads across Ogun Central Senatorial District.

Others include the construction of 2 nos Skill acquisition training centres, construction of three Sports Pavilion with football pitches, supply of 89 nos electricity transformers, provision of 375 nos Solar Streetlights, distribution of 542 nos power generating sets, donation of 510 nos Laptops and Desktop computers, supply of 506 nos Deep Freezers, procurement of 110 nos Mini-Buses (Korope), donation of 2,125 nos Sewing Machines, distribution of 2,032 nos Grinding Machines, and, Training of over 5,000 constituents, among others.

Records, they say, don’t lie, a visionary and goal-oriented Senator Amosun has also succeeded in lifting over 15,000 members of his constituency out of poverty through his constant financial support, which runs into over N400 million. This is aside from the personal donation of N25 million he made to the Ogun State Government during the outbreak of COVID-19 to support the management of the pandemic in the State, and the stimulus packages he donated to 25,000 households across all the polling units in Ogun State.

Further to the above achievements, Amosun, a compassionate man facilitated different jobs for at least 100 qualified persons in federal government establishments such as the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Nigeria Deposit Insurance Commission (NDIC), Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Federal Housing Authority (FHA), Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), and the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC), among others.

“Many will start fast, but few will finish strong.” — Gary Ryan Blair.”

Senator Ibikunle Amosun, without doubt, started fast and finished strong as a legislator. Though his service at the national assembly cannot be exhaustively discussed due to the factor of ‘Time and Space’, one thing remains sacrosanct, Senator Amosun stands tall among the giants and has written his name in gold. The rest is for Posterity, the judge of all humans, to remember his sacrifices, selfless service, and measured interventions positively.

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