2010 - Kogi Assembly Moves to Ban Thuggery

KOGI State House of Assembly has initiated a bill to checkmate the activities of thuggery and kidnapping, ahead 2011 general election in the state.

Majority Leader of the House, Hon. Adamu Mohammed who sponsored the bill explained that the bill is very important to tame the activities of some politicians who are in the habit of using thugs to achieve their aims in politics.

If the bill is passed into law those caught in the act of thuggery and kidnapping will face life jail term and their sponsors would not be able to contest for any political positions in future.

This is as the House has passed into law the 2011 appropriation bill of N78.5billion presented to the House by governor Ibrahim Idris last year.

Speaker of the House, Hon. Clearance Olafemi said the appropriation bill was passed into law after the third reading of the bill, stressing that with the passing of the budget the state government will not have any excuse for not carrying out its constitutional responsibilities as demanded by the electorate who voted the government in power.

Investigations by our correspondent indicated that the thuggery and kidnapping bill was as a result of the beating suffered by a member of the House, Hon. Yunusa Yakubu, representing Ofu constituency in Government House, "Lugard House", when alleged thugs suspected to be loyal to one of the aide of the governor attacked him where he was beaten to the state of coma in the presence of the security agents attached to government house.

Due to the attack on the lawmaker, the entire House had to relocate to an undisclosed location outside the state based on the fact that their security was no longer secured in the state again, in the process the House suspended its sitting till further notice pending the time the state government can provide adequate security for them.

In its reaction to the alleged attack on the lawmaker, a group, Kogi Youth Leaders Forum urged acting president, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan to direct security agencies to expeditiously conduct investigations in order to identify the sponsors and the perpetrators of these dastardly acts which have done incalculable damage to the psyche of the people and constitute ominous sign 2011.

However, close sources informed our correspondent that, following the intervention of the state governor, Ibrahim Idris who appealed to the lawmakers to come back to Lokoja, assuring them that their security is well secured and that no thugs will arm them, led to the lawmakers to initiate the bill as a way of safeguarding themselves.

http://allafrica.com/stories/201004090357.html

It is an excellent idea,the NASS should also consider passing such bills against thuggery of any sort.
But I wonder;

Investigations by our correspondent indicated that the thuggery and kidnapping bill was as a result of the beating suffered by a member of the House, Hon. Yunusa Yakubu, representing Ofu constituency in Government House, "Lugard House", when alleged thugs suspected to be loyal to one of the aide of the governor attacked him where he was beaten to the state of coma in the presence of the security agents attached to government house.

No wonder they said "Necessity is the mother of invention",Such bills wouldn't have surfaced or been speedily passed.

Right. That is how we get laws in Nigeria Doc. If you see any enforcement of any law, it must be to protect their interests OR to harass the lowly into submission. The irony is that no matter how well intentioned a law is, they are the first people to smash it to pieces, so long as it will rub them unfavorably. Thuggery was invented by politicians. It is the lubricant of their polluted lives. Their engines cannot move without it. So though the lawmakers may put something down, they will be sticking up their fingers at the same time.

Should we begin to pray then, that "may more of them be beaten even up to Aso rock ,if it will but lead to the enactment of the required laws" ?

I will not contemplate praying,I am already praying for that, AMEN+AMEN+AMEN

Prayers are a bit tough-ie for them to be beaten up to the Presidential level. The loss of face will merely be ours. Generally, Politicians are a shameless lot, so is anybody that plays with the welfare of his fellow men. But Yes, lets pray to God to restart human kindness in their hearts while they represent us, and turn their evil intentions into our good.

How long shall we pray,at least those thugs get the work done faster,If they beat up Goodluck infront of Aso rock ,before he get up on his feet ,He will pass a good law.

opportunity comes but once. the law makers av all gone into hiding cos the monsters created by them are after dem. them no hear say wat is good for goose is good for gander. when their opponents received all the beatings nobody heard about it but only small beat wen yakubu take na im e faint. wat goes around surely comes around.. somebody tell the lawmakers to come out of hiding, d thugs don go....