6th July, 2012
Hakeem Munir, representative of Oshodi-Isolo Federal Constituency 02 at the National Assembly, speaks on his achievements and other issues
What prompted this Town Hall meeting?
To tell the people what we have done and what we are still willing to do. We promised them during electioneering that we will be doing quarterly meetings. Unfortunately, for some factors beyond our control, we have pushed it this far for one year and few days. I want to say thank you to them and to also tell them how far we have gone.
We have done free GCE programme. We have done free ITC training. We have done women empowerment programme. We have done for the aged, we have done for the widows. Even in the area of infrastructure development, we have done what is necessary. We have partnered with the CDC, CDA, to alleviate the suffering of our people. We have approved the construction of Ejigbo Road.
The Ilamashe Road project, which has also been abandoned is also in progress. There are so many of them.
People don’t know that there is a difference between the duties of the executive and those of those of the legislature. What is meant for the executive, people would just unknowingly put it on the table of office holders. So, it is difficult to come down to explain to the people the difference.
The President, governors and the local government chairmen are executives and have budget. They are in charge of how they appropriate their budgets.The legislator does not have a budget.
What do you think brings us to this sorry state that we found ourselves in Nigeria today?
I can assure you, without any fear of contradiction that corruption is what brought us to where we are today. You can imagine if NITEL, as a successful telecommunication company is working full capacity, has licence for GSM, land line and internet facilities, you would see how many people would be working in NITEL, ditto PCHN. You can imagine how many people they would have employed.
If the railway was working at full capacity, and other industries that are now moribund, you imagine how many people would be employed. It would have been mass employment. But they are reeling in corruption, reeling in maladministration and misappropriation of resources.
If they are functional, there would have been big opportunity for mass employment.
Talk of agriculture, garbage in garbage out. Very scandalous. Look at what is happening now as regards corruption, I can tell you that corruption is the major obstacle to development.
What do you think is the way out of this mess?
Sincerity of purpose. It is for our people to know that if this man is elected, he is not elected to steal for his people. Every day when I go to office, I know the number of people I would see who are around to seek one favour or the other. I then look at my income and say how much am I earning to cope with the demands on my table. One day, I nearly shut my mother out. I told the old woman that she should not attach emotion to what people are asking you to ask me.
We need to change our conscience from “Pay As You Go” politics to development politics.
Chief Olusegun Obasanjo described the lower chamber as the house of rogues and thieves. What is your take on the issue vis-a-vis the bribery allegation involving Femi Otedola and Farouk Lawan?
There are two issues here. If there are no givers, there would be no receivers. Nigeria today, we have not gone to check our budget. 95% of our economy is run by the executive. How much money is involved, we don’t know. And you are branding the legislature as rogue.
Take the average of the budget of the House of Representatives, National Assembly and States Houses of Assembly, put them together and compare it with the states and federal executive. You will see where the rogues and serious corruption is. The National Assembly of Nigeria today has N450billion. That is Senate, House of Representatives and the management, buildings, vehicles, everybody put together, N450billion. National Assembly members are 360 plus 109 plus the management. Then go to the ministries and see their budget year in year out. Procurement of furniture, uniform, rice; go and see the overhead and you’ll know who is corrupt.
Obasanjo presided over the most corrupt regime in Nigeria. Between 1999 and 2007, that was our glorious period when benchmark of oil was put at $77, yet we were selling at $160, $180. What about the excess? What happened to the money for roads given to that minister, who lacks credibility. We knew how much OBJ had in his account when he became President and how much he is now worth. Who is a rogue? I am not a rogue and I am sure ACN members in the National Assembly are not rogues. Those involved are members of the PDP and he is the father of the PDP.
If you see the National Assembly under Mr. Aminu Tambwal, you will see that we are on course. Whoever is indicted would not be spared.