We Must Stop Running Government Like Personal Business

What are you doing to bring development to your constituency, a rural area?
Yes, my constituency is in the hinterland and that poses a lot of challenge to me as a legislator. The duty of a legislator is to participate in bills that would become laws to benefit the people. I am happy that I am already part of the system. This is why I am part of any bill or law that would bring about development. I know that the needs of all the communities cannot be catered for in a particular year at the same time, it is a systematic thing. What I do in my own only little way is to try to meet with people that are saddled with certain responsibilities. For instance, I am very close to the Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, Mr. Femi Hamzat. I made some of the members of the state executive council my friends so that I can talk to them one on one.

Anywhere I see them, I talk to them about my constituency, even a cleaner in an organisation can be very useful. All the people that I feel can influence projects in my constituency are my friends. I can tell you that a lot of things have been done during this administration and I give glory to God for that. I also thank our governor, he has a listening ear, he listens to us every time. At our last legislative/executive parley, I went to discuss with him on the high table about what we need in my constituency and he listened and assured me that he would put it into action. It would take a lot of time, but I can tell you that developmental projects are would be executed in the area. The major issue in my area is that of roads, and I can tell you that a lot of them are being taken care of.

Would you say your expectations for being a lawmaker has been met?
I knew I was coming to the Assembly from a different background. I was coming from the classroom, I am not a lawyer and I know that the business of a legislator is about lawmaking and I expected that I would face a lot of challenges and learn a lot. I knew I was going to have a better understanding of governance than when I was not a legislator. I will tell you I am satisfied with what I have seen, learnt and participated in at the Lagos Assembly and I believe that I would still continue to learn.

Will you agree that the then ACN lost in the bye-election in your constituency in 2010 because the party rejected you?
I wouldn’t say this was why we lost to the PDP. I would just say that a lot of us, the leaders, did not get it right. We did not work hard. We just thought it was a bye-election and our party was in charge, but we got it wrong. Though a lot of people were aggrieved, I would say we were a bit careless, but by 2011, we woke up to our responsibilities, and we got victory.

What is your reaction to the gale of impeachment that is going on in the country?
Different people with different styles. It is a calculative attempt of one party to remain in power by fire by force, this is my personal opinion. I don’t think impeachment would solve any problem; it would only contribute to our problems. I want to advise those that are doing these things that democracy is better than any other government. I want Nigerians to wake up and tell the perpetrators of this evil that we need democracy in Nigeria to thrive and succeed. This is not the type of democracy that we want; we don’t want people to impose themselves on us. If the people say they don’t want you, sit down, do a self-appraisal and you can be useful in any other area. We cannot run the government of Nigeria like our own personal business. Hausa, Ibo, Yoruba and any citizen of Nigeria is entitled to vie for any position in the country, people should not take is as personal businesses. People that engage in impeachment because of money should think of their tomorrow, and think of the future their children As a person, I don’t believe I should keep my children abroad.