APC speakers to work on strengthening democracy

Speakers of the All Progressives Congress controlled states have agreed to work towards strengthening democratic structures and nation building.

The speakers, who met in Maryland, Lagos State, on Tuesday  said it was time that the legislature started to make more laws that would entrench democratic values and justice.

The speakers also condemned the recent police attacks on the “citizens of Rivers State during the APC rally,” describing it as a show of shame.

Speakers present include Suraj Adekunbi (Ogun); UyiIgbe (Edo); Salaam Najeem (Osun); Gambo Sallau (Kano); Razak Atunwa (Kwara); Adeyemi Ikuforiji (Lagos); Dr. Adewale Omirin (Ekiti); and Lawal Muhammed (Sokoto).

Host Speaker, Ikuforiji, announced that the Rivers State Speaker could not be present because one of the state’s commissioners died on Monday. He explained that the Gombe State Speaker had an eye surgery, while Oyo State Speaker was expected to join them later in the day (Tuesday) as she was on her way back from the lesser hajj.

Earlier, while welcoming his colleagues to the conference, Ikuforiji  said the onus was on the legislature to work towards restoring hope in the people and making them believe more in democracy.

He said, “We must be committed to the concept of legislative self-accountability and conduct legislative activities in a transparent manner.

“We must retrieve our democracy from hijackers and promoters of the culture of impunity who are bent on scuttling our democratic growth.”

Kano State Speaker, Salau, explained that the progressives decided to come together to save the future of the country.

Garba added that the speakers of supported call for financial autonomy for the legislatures in the country.

Copyright PUNCH.