INEC has to be independent —Ogun PDP Reps’ candidate

What motivates to run for the House of Representatives in this coming election?

We have all kept quiet all along and it has become a generational crisis. My generation is part of those that has created the crisis. There is need for people like me to come back and see how we can rescue the nation. We have to make life better for our people. We have to make them happy and how do you make them happy? There is need for us to provide the basic needs. These people need housing, water, electricity, roads and all what they need to make life comfortable for them.

It is pertinent for my own generation to come back and see how we can resolve all the problems and I want to promise my constituency that I would do all within my power to make sure they get 90 per cent of all they needed in terms of basic of basic needs, infrastructural development, maintenance of existing ones, putting food on their table and good healthcare delivery.

I will not only fight for my constituency in Ogun State. When it comes to general issues that come under debate in the House, if I look at them and they are good for the people of Nigeria, I will be part of it. If I see that such would be inimical to the progress of the people, I would rise against it. I am going there to rescue the people and I would call on like minds to support me.

Specifically, what are the problems confronting your people in Ifo/Ewekoro Federal Constituency?

It is clear to the minds and the eyes what are the things that are good for the people, but must I shy away from that responsibility to go and fight for my people? They are sending me there to go and get the basic needs, including infrastructure facilities that need to be developed. That is why government is there; that is what it was put there to do. Whatever revenue generated in this country is meant for the people’s welfare. Government needs to look into that and take care of the people. I am going there to fight for it. I am not making mouth; if they want us to do it peacefully, I would go in line with them, but if it turns out that they don’t want to listen, I want the best for my constituency, whether they like it or not, they must listen to me. They have to provide these things for my people in Ewekoro; it doesn’t cost us anything.

For instance, money generated from oil and from non-oil sectors, let us see and know how they want to spend it. I want to turn my constituency into a smaller version of the United States of America (USA). It has to be a shining example to other constituencies. It is my constituency and it must be developed and I am not joking about it. Just about three weeks ago, in Lambe, which is a part of my constituency, they were complaining that they don’t have power supply, I need to get their message across to Honourable Oladipupo Adebutu, who has been donating transformers everywhere. He has distributed over 250 transformers both in the rural areas as well as the cities. This man is not hungry; he is a fulfilled person. It is painful to him that people are suffering under a system that has plenty. Without wasting time, Honourable Adebutu assigned one transformer to this people. I was moved to tears. Why are we suffering this people?

For over a year, they didn’t have light. PHCN took away the obsolete one and didn’t bring another one there until when I came to their rescue and discussed with Honourable Adebutu who eventually gave them one. This man promised to go into Built, Operate and Transfer (BOT) arrangement in respect of roads, which should be the best thing to happen to us. People are stealing money in government because they want to build roads. But let us bring in private initiative into it and that is what the man wanted to do.

Having had the opportunity of living abroad for a while, could you identify the problems confronting this country?

We copy our constitution from these advanced nations. They too use and apply the constitution; they enforce the laws. But here, we try to truncate things, and turn the law upside down. The constitution that we have, do we follow it? We keep on doing the wrong thing. There is rule of law and there is the principle of Separation of Powers between the three arms of government, but it is only here that they don’t want the Senate and the House of Representatives to play their own roles. The executive arm of government does not want over- sight functions. They wanted to compromise the legislature. Why should that be? Every arm of government has its own role to play. It is only when we apply the rule of law and enforce it that things will work in this country. We can write grammar and resort to rhetoric, are we applying them?

What is your take on the trial of the suspended Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Walter Onnonghen, before the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT)?

Nobody is above the law; if he is found wanting, they should get to the tribunal or the court of law. That is the process. But why is it now? Why do they have to start this rubbish, with how many days to elections? They opposed his appointment right from the beginning and now they felt that this man would not dance to their whims and caprices when it comes to setting up election petitions tribunals. They know that he would put the right persons there because he has the power to appoint those who are going to sit at that tribunal.

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So they knew it is going to be very tough for them and so they looked for a way to get him out of that position. What we are quarrelling with is the process and not the offence he has committed because due process is not followed and they have to do that.

Some sections of the country have been agitating for a return to the regional system of government and, in essence, restructuring. What is your take?

Going forth and back doesn’t help; it depends on how you practice it. The First Republic was not practiced properly and the one we are running now, are we doing the right thing? I said the rule of law matters a lot, we have to obey it. A lot has to do with how we are treating our laws and how we enforce them. We can run a combined system of government; it will not work, if there is no rule of law. However, restructuring matters; there is imbalance in the system and it must be corrected.

What is your assessment of INEC, now that we are approaching the elections?

They have failed in some aspects of the Electoral Act; the guidelines which they said they should amend, have they done it? Why is it that Mr President is refusing to sign the amended Electoral Act? Is it because he wanted to rig? The smart card reader is very important, they have to use it.

And then the guidelines; we have been drumming it to INEC that it has to be independent. You amended certain guidelines which is not favourable to the other parties or to the people. I don’t know whether they have complied with what the people are saying but up till now, INEC is not doing the right thing.