By Chioma Obinagwam
One of the interesting political characters that have bestrode the political space in Lagos State is Hon. James Abiodun Faleke, representing the Ikeja Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives.
Faleke, who hails from the Ijumu Local government area of Kogi State, is seeking to return to the House, where he has been a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC) caucus, on which platform he sought election.
The lawmaker, it would be recalled, was the running mate of the late Abubakar Audu, the APC governorship candidate during the 2015 election in Kogi State. They were coasting home to victory when his principal suddenly died as the announcement of the election results was still in progress.
However, Hon. Yahaya Bello, one of those who contested the primary with Audu, emerged as the party’s candidate and subsequently became the Kogi State governor. Faleke returned to his Ikeja Federal Constituency seat at the House of Representatives to continue his role as a lawmaker.
As the nation prepares for the 2019 general elections, Faleke is seeking a return to the House to continue to once more, represent the people of Ikeja. The APC in his constituency has already given him the ticket during its primaries.
In giving him the ticket, the party considered that Faleke has provided a lot of employment opportunities to his constituents, sponsored several youths in various skills acquisition and many students are on scholarship due to his philanthropy.
Also to be considered is that many people within the constituency have come to the realisation that Faleke, as the protector of the masses in Ikeja Federal Constituency, his interest is geared towards making the constituency the pride of the nation’s foremost industrial hub.
As a lawmaker, Faleke has garnered the needed experience. Among those who contested the primaries with him and those seeking election from the other parties, Faleke is more experienced than his opponents. This is because, he has been a distinguished member of the National Assembly, well exposed and is versatile in parliamentary works and legislative practice. This has placed him in an advantageous position for re-election.
Faleke, who also has had a long experience in the private sector before becoming a legislator, has performed creditably well in the legislature. This could be seen in the numerous bills and motions he introduced in the House. He has also continued to perform his oversight functions through the House Committees he finds himself.
Since he has been representing Ikeja Federal Constituency, the area has witnessed several developmental projects. Some of them include a yearly empowerment programme, which featured distribution of empowerment items like tricycles, grinding machines, sewing machines, vehicles, among his constituents.
Faleke also has been carrying out medical outreaches for his constituents, which included medical check-ups and treatments and eye checks, during which the people are given eye glasses.
The lawmaker has been facilitating the employment of several youths by federal and state agencies and establishments. Faleke has also sponsored several vocational and skill acquisition programmes with cash empowerment for the beneficiaries as take-off funds.
Spurred by the high rate of unemployment in the country, he has affirmed his unalloyed support for the continuation of the empowerment programs if given the mandate at the 2019 general elections.
“What we want to do differently is to concentrate mainly on empowerment programmes. I have seen that majority of our people have no jobs. We are concentrating on training and empowerment. Something that can put food on their table. I want them to be employers of Labour,” he disclosed shortly after his victory at the primaries.
As one who is touched by the condition of the poor, several indigent students have benefited from Faleke’s scholarship programme, while some are still enjoying theirs in various institutions. He has also been paying school fees for myriads of students, even as he assists them to meet their various needs.
One of the areas Ikeja Federal Constituency has witnessed Faleke’s Midas touch is in constituency projects. The area has indeed has seen several of them since he mounted the saddle as their representative in the Green Chamber of the National Assembly. They include provision of boreholes in Alausa Police Station, Adesina Street, Ikeja; Mosafejo, in Onigbongbo, Adekunle Village, Adeniyi Jones and Yakoyo market.
Others include provision of transformers in Oluyemi Erinoso and Ogunsola streets in Aguda; Araromi street, Akiode, Ajao road, Obanta street, Oke Ira and Jogunosinmi street, Alausa.
Hon. Faleke also sponsored provision of solar powered street lights in Alhaji Jimoh street, Adekunle Village, Ikeja; Isola Bello street, Akiode, also in Ikeja; Yetunde Morgan street, Ojodu, Olaleke Taiwo street, also in Ojodu; Olorunfunmi street, Olusosun, and Adeyemi street, Wasimi.
Faleke also facilitated the construction of three blocks of classrooms at Ogba Primary School, three blocks of classrooms at Central Primary School, GRA, three blocks of classrooms at Onilekere Junior Secondary School. This is in addition to the construction of pedestrian bridges in Berger and Onilekere as well as the reconstruction of Lagos/Ibadan expressway.
As a very active legislator, Faleke sponsored and moved several bills and motions during plenary. Some notable ones include the ‘National Youth Service Corps Act Bill (Amendment),’ which sought to provide life Insurance coverage for NYSC members and ‘Prohibition of Sale and Unauthorised Use of Uniforms of Law Enforcement Agencies Bill.’
Others are ‘Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (Alteration) Bill,’ ‘Chartered Institute of Auctioneers of Nigeria Bill,’ ‘Western Development Commission Bill and Eastern Development Commission Bill,’‘Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) and Tribunal (Amendment) Bill,’ on the decentralisation of the CCB courts.
Also, under his name are the ‘University of Lagos Act (Amendment) Bill’ on reconstitution of the Governing Board of the institution, ‘Centre for Scientific Research into Plant Medicine Bill,’ ‘Estate Agent Bill’ and the ‘National Broadcasting Commission Act (Amendment) Bill.’
Faleke also sponsored several motions at the House. These include ‘Motion on Need to Provide Legal Backing for the Nine Federal Universities,’ that had been operating without legal backing. In sponsoring the motion, Faleke emphasised that doing so would make degree acquired in such institutions authentic.
He also moved a motion calling on all National Security Agencies to address the lingering border insecurity in the 1,400 illegal border routes; motion on the need to investigate the handling of import duty revenue, waivers and bonds on import duties collected by the Nigeria Custom Service (NCS) from 2010 to date.
Faleke also sponsored ‘Motion On the Need To Bail Out Ailing Industries’ to enable them absorb the teeming unemployed graduates, motion on the ‘Need to Review the Cost of the United Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) Application Form,’ ‘Motion on Need to Address the Ecological Catastrophe and Humanitarian Crises in the Lake Chad Basin’ and the ‘Motion on Need to Construct More Pedestrian Bridges on Major Highways in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT),’ among others.
Faleke’s constituents believe that his performances stand him out as a dependable representative and an ally. Having executed so many projects and sponsored such number of bills and motions which impact positively on the people, it will be an understatement to say that his scorecard and records are outstanding.
Observers and stakeholders believe that come the 2019 elections, Faleke will not find it difficult to be re-elected as a member representing Ikeja Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives. He is indeed the man to beat.
