By Amadin Idahosa
A group of Traditional Rulers and Leaders of Oke-Ogun in Oyo State have solicited with the President of the Senate, Ahmed Lawan, to consider and speed up the process of establishing a Federal University of technology in the community.
The delegation, led by the Aseyin of Iseyin, Dr. Abdul Ganiyu and facilitated by Senator Abdulfatai Buhari, was in Abuja yesterday to attend a public hearing on a bill for the establishment of the University.
Briefing the Senate, the Spokesman for Oke-Ogun delegation, Ahmed Raji, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN, said out of about 30 Federal institutions in Oyo State, none was cited in Oke-Ogun zone which has about 60 percent of the landmass and 10 out of the 33 Local Governments in the state.
“We want to plead with the Senate President to help us see to it that this bill is passed and not only for the bill to be signed into law but that the implementation is also done,” Raji said.
He said the courtesy call was to thank the Senate President for his support for the bill.
Later, President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan said that he and his colleagues in the ninth National Assembly will not allow any distraction from their focus.
Responding to remarks by Raji, the Senate President said: “We here in the National Assembly, especially this Assembly, have promised Nigeria that this Ninth National Assembly will work for Nigerians and that is our direction.
“That is our trajectory. We are not looking sideways or back and forth. We know what we are going for to make Nigeria better and in doing that, we will not allow ourselves to be distracted.
“We believe that every part of this country must have a tertiary educational institution and it is only fair that Oke-Ogun zone has one.
“We believe that opportunities for our teaming youth to go to tertiary institutions must be provided. At the moment, we don’t have enough spaces and therefore a Federal University of Technology in Oke-Ogun will be a welcome idea.
“And I want to assure you that the President himself believes in fairness and justice. We will do our part and I want to assure you without sounding like the spokesperson for the president, the President will also play his role positively by the Grace of God.”
