A federal lawmaker, representing Akure North/South Federal Constituency of Ondo State, Hon. Afe Olowookere, has identified obsolete laws as responsible for corruption that has been pervading the nation for so long, noting that the 8th National Assembly would do all it can to get rid of these laws, so as to strengthen the anti-corruption crusade of President Muhammadu Buhari led government.
Speaking with DAILY POST in his office, Olowookere said laws, which were handed over by the colonial masters for purposes of their own administrative convenience and economic interest, have become incompatible with today’s dynamic society, hence there were inherent loopholes that make looters escape justice.
“The National Assembly will review obsolete laws that serve as escape routes for those stealing our commonwealth before the law court. We have seen instances where a director stole peoples’ pension in billions of naira, but was asked to refund less than 2% and asked to go home”, he said.
According to him, what the nation needs are laws that proactively nip crimes in the bud before they are committed, adding that members of the Assembly must be committed to this irrespective of party differences.
“Fighting corruption is not only asking for the loot to be brought back, but putting in place proactive punitive measures through instruments of laws that anybody committing crimes will naturally walk himself or herself into prisons without an option of fine”, he said.
The lawmaker also bemoaned the state of Akure, the Ondo State capital, stressing that the town remains the only state capital in the country that had been neglected in terms of infrastructural development, particularly good roads.
“As I speak with you, there is no single federal government road that is motorable from other states to Akure and as a lawmaker, it is of importance to me that these roads are reconstructed during my time”, he said.
He reminded the Federal government that despite the fact that these roads were constructed in 1976 as single lanes, they are now in deplorable states, begging for attention. He therefore called on government to, in the spirit of change, fulfill its promises to the people of Ondo State by reconstructing the roads.
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