Why Water Resources Bill must not be passed

Rep denies collecting N15million COVID-19 palliative

By Patrick Okohue

Member representing Lagos Mainland Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Hon. Jide Jimoh has expressed his opposition to the controversial Water Resources bill, saying that since the issue of water resources remains a domestic matter, the Federal Government should not take over its control from local and state governments.

Jimoh said when the bill came before the House of Representatives in the 8th Assembly he opposed it, saying that he would still oppose the bill if brought back to the floor of the present National.

The lawmaker who spoke during an interactive session with the media to present his scorecard at the National Assembly, also denied allegations by the Executive Director, Projects at the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Dr. Cairo Ojuogboh that each of them at the House of Representatives got N15million as Covid-19 palliatives, while their counterparts at the Senate got N20million.

Hon. Jimoh, who served as a member of the House Committee on Water Resources in the 8th Assembly and also a member of the same committee in the current 9th Assembly, said however that the contentious Water Resources Bill contained some good clauses, but that he along with his people are opposed to those that would take the power of local government and that of states, to the Federal Government.

According to him, power should be devolved to the grassroots and not to the centre, saying, “I want to tell you this, in the 8th Assembly, I was a member of the House Committee on Water Resources, I am happy, I have been added again, in this 9th Assembly.

“In the 8th Assembly, when that Bill came up, I stood up and opposed it vehemently, and said that the issue of water is domestic, it has to go to the grassroots.

“But some people were saying we have a Water Resources Ministry, at the Federal level. I said and so what?

If we have a Water Resources Ministry at that level, that does not mean it should take the power of the local government or that of the state government away from them even though it is concurrent, let us tie it together and do necessary things.

“In the Water Resources Bill, there are so many clauses that are very good, but the clauses that people will oppose are the ones that will take the power of local government and that of states, to the Federal Government, we don’t want that.

We want the power to be devolved to the locality and not to the central level.”

Speaking on the allegation of collecting palliatives for the Covid-19, the lawmaker asked the person making the accusation to come forward with his proof, saying that he did not at any time collect any money for palliative and that he will not collect now if it is brought.

Hon. Jimoh also vouched for the Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon Femi Gbajabiamila, saying he is sure the Speaker did not also collect any of such palliative.

Speaking on his achievements so far in the 9th Assembly, Hon. Laid claims to sponsoring 10 bills so far with one of them at the third reading, one at the second reading and eight at the first reading stage.

He also spoke about his extra legislative activities in his constituency which includes among other things the provision of motorized several boreholes, construction and rehabilitation of several roads in the constituency among others, saying, “I have often said, I am a messenger of the people, waiting for their message to be delivered at the appropriate quarters.”

He said he had been able to facilitate several projects as part of his extra legislative programmes/activities, including the provision of a motorized borehole at Otumara, Apapa Road, Ebute Metta West, ongoing road construction at Nubi Close, Apapa Road, Ebute Metta, ongoing construction of classrooms at Iponri Primary School, Ebute Metta, ongoing construction of Health Centre at Makoko, Yaba, among others.

On the 2023 race, the lawmaker said merit should be considered as a yardstick to selecting the next president who would take over from incumbent President Muhammadu Buhari, after his tenure, declaring that merit should be considered above zoning, “for better things to happen in this country.”

According to him, Lagos is an evident of merit above zoning, saying that in Lagos State since 1999, with quality leadership fostered by the National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, followed by Babatunde Fashola, Akinwunmi Ambode, and now Babajide Sanwo-Olu, it is evident that merit has taken the state far.

READ ALSO: Water Resources bill will affect most lands in Lagos — Lawmaker

He said, “I stand on merit, merit, when that merit is being considered, other things would follow because we want better things to happen in this country.

“Look at what is happening in Lagos State since 1999- Asiwaju Ahmed Bola Tinubu came, after eight years Fashola came on board, Ambode came on board, and then the incumbent, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, is now working.

Is that not on merit? “If we are to talk about zoning, do you think that would work?

If I say something should come from Zone A, they might not have somebody that’s competent.

Merit is the card, the individual is another one, maturity is the next, wisdom follows and finally, integrity, that’s all,” he said.