Bamidele: How we lobbied other lawmakers to pass South-West Development Commission Bill
Senate Leader Bamidele
Published By: Kazeem Ugbodaga
By Kazeem Ugbodaga
Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, the Senate Leader and head of the South-West National Assembly Caucus, has revealed how federal lawmakers from the South-West successfully lobbied their colleagues from other geopolitical zones to pass the Bill for the establishment of the South-West Development Commission (SWDC).
Speaking at the 2024 South-West Assembly of the All Progressives Congress (APC), held at Eko Hotels and Suites in Lagos, Bamidele noted that the South-West APC lawmakers have been a “formidable force,” playing a significant role in ensuring the progress and stability of the National Assembly.
He suggested that the assembly should be institutionalised for regular interaction among stakeholders.
Bamidele explained that the South-West Caucus worked strategically with lawmakers from other regions to secure majority support for the SWDC Bill’s passage in the Senate.
He emphasised the influence of the South-West in the 10th National Assembly, where 15 out of 18 senators from the region are members of the APC.
“This has given us considerable influence, and we have used it effectively for the good of our people,” Bamidele remarked.
He further explained that the push for the SWDC was driven by equity, as other regions already have similar commissions.
According to Bamidele, lawmakers from both the APC and opposition parties in the South-West worked together to ensure the bill’s success.
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“We are now awaiting concurrence from the House of Representatives before transmitting it to the President for assent,” he added.
Beyond the SWDC Bill, Bamidele highlighted other major projects that the federal government has approved for the region, including the dualization of the Ado-Ekiti-Ikere-Akoko road and the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway.
He described these infrastructure developments as “game changers” that would unlock economic opportunities across the region and the nation.
Bamidele also praised the unity within the South-West Caucus, attributing its influence to their support of Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Deputy Senate President Jubrin Barau, particularly during challenging times.
“The South-West Caucus remains a stabilizing force in the Senate,” he said, highlighting their roles in securing key leadership and committee positions in the National Assembly.
Additionally, Bamidele expressed the caucus’s commitment to President Bola Tinubu’s reform agenda, particularly in security and economic recovery.
He commended their swift action during the screening of the President’s nominees, demonstrating their dedication to Tinubu’s transformative policies.
He concluded by recommending that the South-West Assembly be institutionalized as a permanent platform for APC stakeholders to align their goals for the region and the country.
“Let us continue to foster this relationship and work together for the greater good,” he urged, pledging continued support to President Tinubu’s reform agenda at all levels of governance.
