The Consultant to the Ogun State Governor on Power who doubles as the State Coordinator for the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) projects, Hon Olusegun Bolanle Gbeleyi, has disclosed that among other vital roles he played towards advancing Nigeria democracy was the motion he moved at the 2000 Common Wealth Parliamentary Conference held in London, United Kingdom.
Hon Gbeleyi while fielding questions from journalists said when he received the invitation to attend the conference, it occurred to him that he could use the avenue to earn greater benefit for Nigerians, and it was on that background that the idea of getting Nigeria out of foreign debts comes to his mind.
He said, “at the conference, I, though an AD member, moved the motion which was supported by the Lagos State Speaker, Senator Mamora, that Nigeria’s foreign debts should be written-off on the ground that it will give Nigeria a clean slate thus make it easier to have enough resources to take proper care of our people and to be able to stabilize our nascent democracy.
“Fortunately, the Parliamentary unanimously adopted the motion consequent upon which Nigeria became a debt-free nation during the latter part of Chief Olusegun Obasanjo’s administration”.
Hon Gbeleyi who once served as the deputy speaker in the Ogun State House of Assembly between 1999 and 2003 representing Ado-Odo/Igbesa constituency is aspiring to do it again but this time at the National Assembly.
The Arole Otunba Gbeleyi furthered that he believes in social-liberal democracy where dividend of democracy is certain for people. He said, “we have become too greedy in Nigeria unlike before. As much as we maintain transparency and accountability, we must be generous to share what we have with our people”.
He continued, “with my experience at the State House of Assembly, I am going there to be part of those who will make laws that will improve the welfare of our people.
“Personally, I have some projects in mind. Firstly, I will be championing a motion that will seek to review and improve on the revenue sharing formula as stated in our constitution that sharing formula must be reviewed every ten years.
“Secondly, the constituency boundaries are overdue for review. It is becoming necessary because representatives at the National Assembly or House of Assembly have to be based on population; i.e. are people living in Abeokuta reducing or increasing? If they are increasing, it is better to increase the number of representatives which will require additional constituencies vice versa.
“For example, Kano State presently is having forty-four representatives while Lagos State which has more population is having twenty-four. Likewise, only nine legislatures are representing more than seven million people of Ogun State. Economically, Lagos and Ogun are contributing about 50% of the total IGR but by the present sharing formula, the two states are getting less”.
Hon Gbeleyi nailed it on ll be used to actually see that things happen in my constituency; to bring to my constituency what will improve the economic status, welfare and wellbeing of my people and to ensure the infrastructures are there. I will have to visit ministries and departments to know what they are not doing in my constituency that needed to be done, and what are those things been done in other constituency that should be done to my constituency. The remaining 25% will be used to facilitate empowerment of my people”.
As much as we maintain transparency and accountability, we must be generous to share what we have with our people.
Hon Gbeleyi nailed it on the head when he disclosed his strategy towards achieving the above mentioned manifestos. He said, “I am going to give 25% of my time to law-making at the national assembly. 50% of my time will be used to actually see that things happen in my constituency; to bring to my constituency what will improve the economic status, welfare and wellbeing of my people and to ensure the infrastructures are there. I will have to visit ministries and departments to know what they are not doing in my constituency that needed to be done, and what are those things been done in other constituency that should be done to my constituency. The remaining 25% will be used to facilitate empowerment of my people”.
Reflecting on how he won the membership of Ogun State House of Assembly in 1999, he said “the people of Ado-Odo and Igbesa axis voted me with the hope that I will take after my father. And I did not disappoint them. My father facilitated the Ota-Igbesa road in 1956 during the Action Group administration. He also facilitated the water scheme for Igbesa and Ado-Odo in 1965.
“So as soon as I was sworn-in, I also facilitated the rehabilitation of the water scheme to keep alive my father’s legacy in ensuring that among other basic necessities of life, drinkable water is available for all in my constituency.
“I assisted Chief Olusegun Osoba, the state governor, to provide rural infrastructure to my people, such as rehabilitation and construction of roads, classrooms, health facilities and electrification of towns and villages”.
Speaking on his present assignment as the Consultant to the Ogun State Government on Power, he said the objective of the project was identified as measures to improve power transmission and sustain adequate power supply to Ogun and Lagos States respectively.
The leading partner for the project, Japan International Corporation Agency (JICA), is providing in the region of 200 million USD, which represents a contribution of 85% of the cost, whilst the Federal and State Governments are to contribute 15% of the total cost of the project.
According to Hon Gbeleyi, “Ogun State is to have five new substations built out of the six proposed to cater for the industrial growth in Ogun State with about 203km of new transmission lines for more efficient transmission of power to Ogun State.
“When the project is fully completed it will considerably increase the volume of transmission from the National grid to Ogun State. Two of the new substations are of 132/33kv capacity whilst three new substations will be of 330/132/33kv capacity, the first of its kind to be built at one go in Nigeria.
“The multi-million dollar project, was first conceived in 2014, and since the coming of President Muhammad Buhari into office, it has been put at the forefront by HE Babatunde Fashola, SAN, the Honorable Minister for Power, Works & Housing in collaboration with HE Senator Ibikunle Amosun, CON, FCA, the Ogun State Governor.
“The Ogun State Government is indeed creating an enabling environment for the 12-month Environmental Social Impact Assessment, and the Resettlement Action Plan, which began in 2017. The report is now ready for Panel review”.
Consequently, there was JICA mission in Abeokuta on Thursday, 9th August, accompanied by representatives of Transmission Company of Nigeria, Federal Ministry of Finance and Federal Ministry of Power, Works & Housing.
In the Ogun State Government team that received the delegation were The Energy & Power Team, Bureau of Lands & Survey, Mini-stry of Works & Infrastructure, Ministry of Environment, Ministry of Urban & Physical Planning and the Ministry of Rural Development & Electrification.
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