Senate Leader, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele has said the passage of South West Development Commission Bill was a product of lobby.
Bamidele noted that the bill was strategic to the South West, hence federal lawmakers from the zone lobbied their colleagues from other geo-political zones to pass the Bill for the establishment of the South West Development Commission, SWDC.
According to him, lawmakers of the South West All Progress Congress, APC, “have been a formidable force, contributing significantly to the progress and stability of the National Assembly”.
He spoke 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.
Highlighting the influence of the South West caucus in the 10th National Assembly, Bamidele pointed out that out of the 18 senators from the geopolitical zone, 15 are from the APC.
This figure, according to him, “makes the South West the largest single bloc of APC Senators in the Senate. This has given us considerable influence, and we have used it effectively for the good of our people”.
“The South West caucus in the National Assembly leveraged its considerable influence to ensure the successful passage of the South West Development Commission Bill.
“We are now awaiting concurrence from the House of Representatives before transmitting it to the President for assent.
“We recognise that our success is not limited to members of the APC alone. Our colleagues from other political parties have been just as committed to the success of our region.”
Passage of South West Development Commission Bill, product of lobby – Senate Leader