Bamidele: We Lobbied Other Lawmakers to Pass S’West Development Commission Bill

* Oyo APC begs Tinubu to Make Ibadan hqtrs

Kemi Olaitan in Ibadan

Senate Leader, Opeyemi Bamidele, has revealed how federal lawmakers from the South-west states lobbied their colleagues from other geo-political zones to pass the Bill for the establishment of the South West Development Commission (SWDC).
This was as the Oyo State chapter of the party, yesterday, appealed to President Bola Tinubu to consider Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, as the headquarters and main operation base of the soon-to-be-established South West Development Commission (SWDC) in the interest of the generality of the people of the geopolitical zone.

Bamidele, also the leader of the South-west National Assembly Caucus, disclosed that lawmakers from the South-west APC, “have been a formidable force, contributing significantly to the progress  and stability of the National Assembly.”
He made these remarks at the 2024 South-west Assembly of the All Progressives Congress (APC) held at Eko Hotels and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos on Saturday, where he suggested the need to  institutionalise the assembly for regular and sustained interaction among stakeholders.

Bamidele explained how the South-west Caucus worked with federal lawmakers from other geo-political zones to secure majority support for the passage of the South West Development Commission Bill, 2024 at the upper chamber
Specifically, the senate leader highlighted the considerable influence of the South-west Caucus in the 10th National Assembly, pointing out that out of the 18 senators from the ge-political, 15 were from the APC.

This figure, according to him, made the South-west  the largest single bloc of APC senators in the Senate, and hadgiven them considerable influence, and “we have used it effectively for the good of our people.”
However, in a statement by its Publicity Secretary, Olawale Sadare, Oyo APC applauded the National Assembly for the speedy passage of the Bill, which it described as imperative to guarantee equity, fairness and national integration.
“The SWDC, if well structured and fully funded, would bridge the gap in the areas of special interventions, focused attention and infrastructural development. The idea of a South West Development Commission goes beyond replicating what has been done in other geopolitical zones.

“We welcome it wholeheartedly as it holds a lot promise to the South West which has a unique record of regional integration and innovative leadership. The new Commission will, no doubt, afford the people of the South West a platform for collaboration, innovation and peer support.

“Pointedly, the location of the main operation base or headquarters of the Commission is as important as its creation. Without mincing words, no other town or city comes close to Ibadan as an ideal place to harbour the headquarters of SWDC with its liaison offices in Ikeja, Akure, Abeokuta, Ado-Ekiti, Osogbo and Abuja.
“There are many reasons for this submission and none of which can be wished away by the people who mean well for the entire Yoruba race.”