NASS members want the best for Nigeria —Olatunbosun

Honourable Olajide Olatubosun is the member House of Representatives representing Atisbo/Saki-West/Saki-East Federal Constituency. The financial expert and member of the House Committee on Appropriation, shares his experience at the National Assembly with some select journalists. TUNDE OGUNESAN brings excerpts:

FOR many months in 2016, the budget padding issue at the House of Representatives dominated the news. How are things now?

Well, it has been pretty challenging, especially the issue of padding. The budget is the allocation of resources and last year was very turbulent, but we hope that in the 2017 budget all these issues will be resolved. We are assuring Nigerians that there will be no padding in the 2017 budget by the grace of God.

Can Nigerians trust you on that?

Though I am not speaking for the Speaker, normally, the practice is each committee would look at the estimates brought in by the executive. After that, they will submit their works to the appropriation committee, which I am a member of, which will review the document and later pass it onto the leadership of the House. After that is done, it goes to the executive.

We will make sure that whatever is brought by the executive, there will be no unreasonable or unnecessary insertions or padding.

Nigerians believe that National Assembly members prioritise their interest too much ahead of that of an average Nigerian? How will you respond to this?

That is not true. We are elected by Nigerians and we are responsible people. At every point in time, we make sure that what we do what is in the overall public interest. I agree that we need to improve on our communication, because if you’re doing something and only you know, you’re groping in the dark. We need to communicate with Nigerians in the language they understand. National Assembly members are patriotic Nigerians; we want the best for this country. We want progress for our people. And we will not do anything that will add to their sufferings.

How have you been able to manage the factional interests in the House of Representatives following the fallout of the leadership tussle that produced the current leadership?

It’s always like that when it comes to electing people into leadership. Don’t forget we are in partisan politics. But once that is done, the House comes together as one. In the House, we don’t do things along party lines.

But you’re a member of the APC, would you not toe the line of your party if the need arises?

Yes. I am a member of the APC and a member of the House of Representatives. In the House, we have only one House, there is no faction. And you would have seen that in the last one and a half year; we have been able to pass eight bills, which had been assented to, which is first in the history of Nigeria.

But what about some notable issues and bills in the House like PIB, are you sure that is not dividing you along party lines?

Yes, Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) has been a challenging issue, but I think the approach now is to take it piecemeal. This is because if we insist on passing the entire bill at once, we are going to have issues with it. It is all about politics, resource allocation and all; so we will take them one after the other and I am sure when we get to the issues that are really contentious, there will be consultations. So, in the life of this assembly, I believe PIB will be passed. And for your information, the Senate has started work on it, and whatever they do, the House will just give concurrence.

As a financial expert, do you believe Nigeria will be out of recession by 2017?

Absolutely, I am so optimistic and so positive that in 2017, there will be a turn-around for good by God’s grace.

Our budget is based on $42 per barrel and as I am talking to you it’s about $50 in the international market. And also, development in the last few weeks have indicated that things will be fine, because OPEC has decided to cut about 1.4 million barrel, even non-OPEC countries, they are going to do like 600, 000 barrels. The glut in the market is going to reduce substantially! And we are hoping that events in other climes could lead to some issues around the world that will bring up the oil price.

Let me tell you, this recession is because of challenges with our revenue. For the 2016 fiscal year, we budgeted for 2.2 million barrels per day, for most of the year, we were doing one million barrels per day. We projected to sell for $38, for a long time we are selling for $25. Look at it that way, what determines your revenue; quantity sold and your selling price. That is the challenge. We have a good president that we can trust. Trust President Muhammadu Buhari that if he has resources, people of this country will smile I can assure you.

With your ‘ifs’ and what happened 2016, do you see President Buhari playing himself into the hearts of Nigerians to seek re-election in 2019?

By the grace of God, but it is too early to determine that. We have 48 months to prove ourselves, we have just done like 18 months, I think at the end of the day, starting a race is not the most important thing, but how do you finish. I believe we will finish well, and APC will be re-elected.

And believe me, the rot you’re seeing in Nigeria is a rot spanning like 40 years. From the military to the PDP governments; we want Nigerians to know that. The Nigeria handed over to Buhari is like a patient with a stage three cancer, and you’re trying to revive it. So, it’s going to take a while. Look at the issue of agriculture; you want to diversify the economy. Those are medium to long term strategies. They don’t yield fruits in one or two years. We have a honest president; we should support him, rally round him and I am sure things will turn around for good.

You are from Oke-Ogun zone of Oyo State where people have been complaining of marginalisation. What is your take on this claim?

Of course, we’ve been marginalised for so long. Any thing that will bring Oke-Ogun to Agodi Government House is what we want.

But in 2019, if an Ibadan man emerges as the candidate of your party, would you support him?

That is hypothetical, when we get to the bridge, we will cross it. I am not going to preempt the party, because I can’t read their minds. When the time comes, we’re going to access the candidates, but we pray that our leaders do the right thing.