The Speaker , Oyo State House of Assembly, Hon Adebo Ogundoyin has praised Nigerians for their resilience in 2020.
This wss just as the Speaker described the year just ended as a tough one for virtually everyone.
Hon Adebo Ogundoyin in a congratulatory message to Nigerians on the occasion of the new year, 2021 said the year 2020 could pass as one of the most challenging one for the people.
He said with the rising spate of insecurity across the country especially kidnapping, ritual killing and armed banditry to the Covid-19 pandemic which has continued to ravage the world, the past twelve months had been tumultuous for Nigerians.
While stressing that the lockdown occasioned by the virus was having negative effects on the economy and businesses, the Speaker noted that this has caused the prices of goods and services to go up, making life unbearable for the people.
According to him, another major event that shook Nigeria to its foundation in the year just ended was the #EndSars# protest which called for the disbandment of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad, a Unit of the Nigerian Police with a long record of human rights abuses.
Ogundoyin said though the protest was hijacked by hoodlums who broke into warehouses, vandalize Government and private assets and cause mayhem, President Buhari eventually disbanded the Police unit and promised a total overhaul of the force.
” Surely , year 2020 was a difficult year across the globe. We need to pray for a better 2021 as memories of the year just ended will linger for a long time to come. The insecurity in the land really calls for concern. You remember the death of over one hundred rice farmers in Koshebe while the kidnap of over eight hundred School boys in Katsina State by bandits is still fresh in our memory. The high rate of ritual killing was worrisome. Remember the Akinyele killing and the arrest and re-arrest of prime suspect as well as the cases of assassination across the country.
“On the pandemic, close to two million people are said to have died of the virus which was first noticed in Wuhan province in China. 2020 was a year Government at all levels made provisions for palliatives to cushion the effect of the lockdown. However, the year ended on a rather good note as vaccines have now been approved globally to combat the scourge. ” The Speaker said.
He used the new year message to appeal to Nigerians not to lose hope but urged them to raise their voices in prayer to God for a better Nigeria and a prosperous and crisis free 2021.
The Speaker then called for support and prayers for Government at all levels in the country, adding that Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State has done his best to implement people oriented programs and policies aimed at enhancing the socio-economic development of the State, securing the lives and properties of residents and making life meaningful for the citizens.
He said the people should expect another robust year of lawmaking, oversight functions and good working relationship with other arms of Government from the 9th Oyo State House of Assembly assuring that the Legislature will build on the successes recorded in the year ending.
” We at the House are ready to work round the clock as lawmakers to ensure good laws are formulated and implemented while old ones are reviewed in line with the best global practices. ” Hon Ogundoyin assured.
