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Senator Lawal Usman, representing Kaduna Central Senatorial District, has lambasted the Kaduna Elders Forum for demanding his recall from the National Assembly over alleged non-performance.
PUNCH Online reports that the KEF’s Chairman, Inuwa Rigasa, had threatened to recall the lawmaker over alleged failure to fulfil campaign promises, and alleged claims of undermining peace in the state.
“Since his election to the Senate in 2023, Senator Lawal Adamu has failed to speak up or act in the interest of his constituents despite the prevailing economic hardships. This is unprecedented in the history of senatorial representation in the state”, Rigasa had said.
However, in a statement titled, “Kaduna Elders’ Forum’s infantile outbursts: Empty barrel making most noise,” issued by the Senior Special Assistant to the lawmaker, Segun Olatunji, in Kaduna on Tuesday, Usman described the KEF’s outbursts as “laughable” and “infantile,” stating that he is too busy with his legislative duties to engage in “frivolities” with the group.
He noted that this was not the first time the KEF, or its sponsors, have made such threats, previously doing so under the name of Kaduna Peace and Tranquility Forum with a 14-day ultimatum.
“I am too busy with my legislative duties to engage in disputatious arguments with frivolous individuals working to achieve the selfish interests of some unserious politicians hiding behind a finger to fight political battles with me.
“What became of the group’s earlier recall threat with a 14-day ultimatum made to me last year under the cover of the Kaduna Peace and Tranquility Forum (KPTF)? The rehash of the same threat by the same set of individuals under a new name (KEF) is laughable and curious,” he said.
The lawmaker questioned the morality of the KEF members, accusing them of working in the interest of their sponsors and paymasters, rather than the people of Kaduna Central Senatorial District.
“I urge the good people of Kaduna Central Senatorial District not to allow themselves to be deceived by the lies being peddled against me by the so-called Kaduna elders, as they lack the morality to continue to pretend to love the ordinary people of the constituency, whereas they have been engaged in their nefarious activities in the interest of their sponsors and paymasters,” he said.
The Senator highlighted his achievements in the past 18 months, including the provision of 100 smart primary school buildings, scholarships, boreholes for potable water, solar lights, entrepreneurial training for farmers, sponsorship of hundreds of students for WAEC and UTME (JAMB) examinations, business startup capital for 500 beneficiaries, payment of registration fees for 1000 tertiary institution students, training for 100 women in soap making, and training for 200 beneficiaries in fish farming.
“Specifically, I have recorded unprecedented achievements in the past 18 months by providing among many others 100 smart primary school buildings, scholarships, boreholes for potable water, solar lights, entrepreneurial training for farmers, sponsorship of hundreds of students for WAEC and UTME (JAMB) examinations, N500,000 each as business startup capital given to no fewer than 500 beneficiaries, payment of the registration fee for 1000 tertiary institutions students, training for 100 women in soap making with startup capital and training of 200 beneficiaries in fish farming with startup capital,” he said.
Usman also mentioned his motion to expedite the reconstruction of the Abuja-Kaduna-Kano expressway, which received unanimous approval from the Senate, as well as four crucial motions and four bills currently in their third reading stages.
He urged his constituents to remain calm and disregard the KEF’s recall threat, handling it with the disdain it deserves.
“I urge my constituents to remain calm in the face of the needless provocative statements by the KEF, while also disregarding the group’s recall threat by handling it with the disdain it deserves,” he said.
