By Saminu Ibrahim
A federal lawmaker representing Ileoluji Okeibo/Odigbo federal Constituency, Ondo state at the House of Representatives, Honourable Samuel Mayowa Akinfolarin has denied a report credited to him, saying he sponsored a bill for bearing arms to officers of the Federal Roads Safety Commission (FRSC).
The lawmaker has also emphatically denied that he moved a motion for bearing of arms to FRSC officers.
Akinfolarin, in a statement personally signed on Saturday and made available to SINL Nigeria Online said what was reported was a misrepresentation of his view and position on the subject matter.
Specifically, the lawmaker emphasised that he has no motion or a bill pending on the subject matter at the House of Representatives.
Read the statement in full:
“It has become imperative for me to give necessary clarifications over a statement credited to me, and as a mark of respect for those who voted for me, I wish to state categorically as follows that;
“I, Hon. Akinfolarin Mayowa Samuel, do not have a Motion nor a Bill pending on the subject matter. What was reported concerning the meeting held between FRSC and the House Committee on FRSC was a misrepresentation of my view and position on the subject matter.
“In the said meeting, I made it abundantly clear that the eradication of accidents and protection of lives and properties on our roads is a collective responsibility of every citizen of Nigeria.
“While it is important to protect the lives and properties of road users, it is equally important to protect that of law enforcement agents on the road. It is two sides of a coin, as the lives of road users matters, so also the law enforcement agent lives matters too and no responsible and responsive government will allow the lives of citizens to be endangered.
“As stakeholders, we must all look for ways of ensuring the safety of our people by coming together to cross-fertilized ideas on how to eradicate accidents on our roads and as well protect the lives and ensure adequate security of both the road users and the law enforcement agents.
“I suggested a committee should be setup that will comprise the Executive, Commission (FRSC), and National Assembly to look into how we can help the Road Safety Personnel in carrying out their civic duties without molestation or harassment by unruly road users.
“It will sound very unreasonable for me to move a motion or sponsor a bill for bearing Arms to FRSC officers when we already have the FRSC Establishment Act of 2007.
“On a final note, I will like to appreciate those who took time to call me to seek clarification, criticize constructively and otherwise, as it is the beauty of participatory democracy” the statement concluded.
