AD’ll bounce back to reckoning —Bello

Why are you so interested in the Oyo State House of Assembly?

I’m interested in securing a seat in the Oyo State House of Assembly to offer the people in my constituency, maybe for the first time, the opportunity of competent, responsible, adequate, effective, responsive and transparent representation in the Oyo chamber. It is the laws that propel and make the executive arm of government to be upright, up and doing for the people to truly feel the impact of government and those laws are made by the lawmakers in the house of assembly. So, the house of assembly must be populated by competent and responsible individuals who genuinely stand for the people. I’m going in there to use the seat to bring good governance to the people of my constituency. A responsible legislature will bring about a genuinely performing executive.

It is generally believed that the states House of Assembly has become a rubber stamp. What is your take on this?

Well, that’s not too far from the truth. In most states today, hardly you can find a clear demarcation between the executive and the legislature. This is so because of the quality of people the Nigerian voters are sending to the Houses of Assembly. If incompetent, selfish and greedy individuals are sent to the House of Assembly, sure the people of their constituency should not expect much from such representatives. Another factor that usually creates such a situation is the manner of emergence of such representatives (legislators) as candidates at the party level. If a lawmaker-to-be, a novice for that matter, is brought unto the political stage by a group of selfish inconsiderate party leaders, what do you expect from such a lawmaker? He cannot perform. He will only struggle throughout his tenure to serve his godfathers and refill his pocket. The worst of all is when a lawmaker is bankrolled by the governor-to-be or his proxy, of course, he has become a tool already to service his paymaster.

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Your party, Alliance for Democracy (AD) seems no more popular as it used to be. Is there any assurance of winning the election?

In the 1999 general election during the start of this present democracy, AD swept the entire SouthWest, particularly Oyo State. The party is on the verge of repeating that feat, especially in my constituency. If all the candidates on the platform of AD today, including our governorship candidate, Mr Hakeem Alao, worked tirelessly as we have been doing already, the party will bounce back and it’s bouncing back already. As for me in my constituency, the people of Ido Local Government Area are teaming up with me to deliver for AD in 2019. I have the historical background, the political track record, goodwill and reputation that beat all other candidates on other political parties’ platforms in my constituency. I’ve been in this game for well over 20 years and I’ve been an aspirant across the major political parties for 13 years. People in my constituency know who will serve their interest sincerely. So, by the grace of God, I will deliver for AD in March 2019.

Considering the fact that money plays a major role in Nigeria’s politics, how are you going to do it to make yourself sellable?

I’m sellable already and a candidate to beat other contenders in Ido State Constituency election on March 2. True, politics is expensive, particularly in this era of grinding poverty and vote buying when the ruling party and their representatives and others who have stolen our common wealth are all out to spend their last kobo to win the forthcoming elections. Of course, I’m a poor man with no godfather or sponsor. Nevertheless, we are mobilising our meager resources and hard-earned income to do what is proper to make us win elections.

What are you bringing on new if elected?

I’m bringing a new sincere approach to representation in government. I’m seeking my people’s votes on March 2 to allow me offer them a fresh transparent breath in governance. First, by the leave of God, I will bring up bills and push for laws that will really have a direct positive impact on the lives of the people, not a kind of law that will be at cross-purposes with the needs of the people. As a legislative duty, I will look into the issues of education, health, agric, infrastructure and social services. Bills I will present and pursue will be based on the feedbacks from the people in my constituency through regular consultation with the communities in the area.