BY TORDUE SALEM
ABUJA—The Speaker of the  House of Representatives, Dimeji Bankole, yesterday warned politicians contesting elections into various political posts in the country to mind the promises they make to the electorate for the sake of winning the coming elections.

The speaker, who gave the warning as a special guest of honour at the 5th public lecture of Muslim Media Practitioners of Nigeria, MMPN, in Abuja, cautioned that to avoid future political crises, electoral promises must be very realistic and realisable.

Bankole, in a note of caution, observed the growing political awareness of voters that might not yield easily to empty, but sugar-coated  promises from politicians.

For the electorate, he pleaded with them not to make unrealisable demands on their representatives, and urged the represented not to hesitate in withdrawing their support for any irresponsible representative when the need arose.

In response to the persistent calls for the passage of the Freedom of Information, FOI, Bill currently at the committee stage in the House as it did in 2003-2007, Bankole assured that the bill will be passed as soon as the report was laid before the House, adding that the lawmakers will press for its signing by the President.

“I have always said the FOI bill will enhance the work of the legislature in asking and getting answers from the executive on their activities and enhance the role of the media in performance of its constitutional role.

“I am happy the Minister of Information, Labaran Maku, was in the House last week to solicit for its passage. We will remind the executive of this solicitation when we pass the bill for their assent,” he said.

Earlier, speaking under the topic: “Fulfilling Electoral Promises” delivered by Dr. Ishaq Lakin Akintola, the chairman of the occasion Mr. Abdurrahman Balogun, regretted that contrary to Islamic injunctions, Muslim leaders in the country had continued to neglect their duties to the governed.