by Isi Esene
The training programme organized in London for the wives of Oyo State legislators has attracted lots of criticisms from many quarters. Observers see it as a waste of public funds which should have been spent on more meaningful ventures for the benefit of the general populace of the state.
The speaker of the House, Mrs. Monsurat Sunmonu, however, disagreed with this assertion while speaking with SaharaReporters who visited the Custom House Hotel where the legislators’ wives were accommodated.
The speaker, who was the only legislator in the delegation, expressed her displeasure about what she described as “false reports written about her on Facebook and other online blogs” concerning the rationale behind the programme.
According to SaharaReporters, she went on to invoke curses on those she accused of peddling ‘false rumours’ about their mission in the United Kingdom. She denied rumours making the rounds concerning their itinerary, the duration of training, and the cost of their accommodation at the Custom House Hotel.
She explained that the training would afford the legislators’ wives an opportunity to bond, an exercise which she hopes will translate to harmony across political divides on the floor of the House.
She went on to reel out several projects which she had embarked upon in her constituency part of which is the provision of two trailer loads of supplies and medical equipment for the state hospital based in Oyo town, including ECG (Electro-Cardiogram) machines and change of all the beddings.
While speaking at the final session of the programme yesterday, one of the attendees, and wife of assembly member, Segun Olayele, said among other things, that stealing on the parts of politicians is the major reason Nigeria is backward as a nation, and that wives can influence their husbands positively after coming to London to see how things are done. She however declined to comment further when asked if it was absolutely necessary to be physically present in the UK to grasp the concept of effective public administration.
The attendees were later presented with certificates of attendance to round off the training programme.
thats why we are not growing using govt funds to train the wives for what reason? if they need to learn skills they should do so at their own peril not with govt money.and to insult people what nerve? if this was done by jonathan we would be insulting him but this is acn and yet we think this is funny? i have a good mind to go to oyo state and investigate the state? have all the unemployed be trained? what is wrong with us in this country? honestly pdp, acn and whatever party needs to just go AWAY forever.before i loose my remaining sanity
If the legislators don't see this training of legislator's wives in London as a waste of public fund, that shows how they are insensitive and out of touch to the people, afterall, this money is coming from the tax-payers, of which almost 90% are coming from the people they serve. Why should the Executive Govt of Oyo State allowed this? Does it mean there are no capabe lecturers, tutors, training institutions, staff colleges in Nigeria rather than wasting money sending them to London? However, they were there to enjoy the public fund and allowed their husbands to have full times to themselves. How much did it cost? 1million pounds?