The Senator representing Kogi East Senatorial District of Kogi State, Senator Nicholas Yahaya Ugbane and the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Clarence Olafemi have been honoured by the State Youth Parliament.
Senator Ugbane was recognized as “2009 Kogi State Most Performed” senator, while Hon. Olafemi was noted as the “Most Credible Speaker” in the North Central of Nigeria.
Present to receive an award also was Honourable Ndakwo Abdulrahman Tanko as one of the most credible state parliamentarians for the year, 2009.
The award for North East Best Senator went to former Governor of Yobe State and present Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Senator Bukar Abba Ibrahim.
No fewer than 18 councilors, drawn from Lokoja, Adavi, Ofu, Ogori/Magongo, Omala, Ankpa, Kogi, Idah, Olamaboro, Kabba/Bunu, Mopa Muro, Ibaji, Okehi, Ijumu, IgalaMela/Odolu, Ajaokuta and Okene local government councils bagged awards as councilors of the year.
Speaking on the awardees, the state co-ordinator of Youth parliament, prince Salih Musa Yakubu said that the process of the screening awardees for the award was transparent and fair.
He described Senator Ugbane as the most performed senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria among the three that come from the state.
The Senator was assessed in diverse areas, including constituency project performance, office attendance, and application of due process, servi-com compliance parliamentary debate and participation on the floor of the House, committee attendance and bills and motions initiatives.
Also taken into consideration for the award were, commitment to welfare of the people of his constituency, public accessibility, youth empowerment initiative and human capital development, national interest, integrity and responsibility, commitment to the fight against corruption, commitment to the realization of vision 20:20:20 mandate, MDGs and 7-point agenda.
Speaking during the award, the state co-ordinator of Youth Parliament, Prince Yakubu disclosed that the winners of the various awards emerged after a painstaking web poll, which massively favoured the Kogi East Senator.
The Speaker of Kogi State House of Assembly has been described as the most outstanding speaker in the North Central.
The youth leader described his handling of legislative matters as legendary, adding that the quality of legislation in the State House of Assembly had spoken loudly about the quality of his leadership.
He pointed out that the speaker is a highly accessible leader worthy of emulation.