Why it is wrong to describe Osun assembly as Aregbesola’s rubber stamp —Oyintiloye, House spokesman

You were a personal assistant to Mr Rauf Aregbesola in Lagos before he became the governor of Osun State. What was he like back then and how would you describe him now?

I consider myself lucky enough to enjoy a reasonable level of proximity with the governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola. I must confess that my closeness to him is a huge plus to the mileage I have reached politically. From him, I have learnt lots of fundamental lessons in politics and governance, in community mobilisation and people management. He is one of the most misunderstood people in this country but I must say that he is an actualiser, a leader who means well for the people and works for common good.

I do not know the reason why you asked me to describe him then and now but I must tell you that Ogbeni Aregbesola is still the same: a resilient, energetic, visionary and transformational leader. He modelled his thoughts, ideas and principles in tandem with Chief Obafemi Awolowo’s. The governor is genuinely ambitious about Osun State. He wants to see the state playing a leading role in the comity of states, in view of its historical preeminence in Yorubaland and among black people. His actions are aimed at the immediate, intermediate and long-term development of the state. I believe he is going to be needed for a long time to add value to politics and governance in this country. He is passionate about development. He is a welfarist, a great leader with remarkable political sagacity.

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What is your driving force in politics?

Let me start by thanking God Almighty and individuals who helped shape my life and career and influenced my active involvement in politics. I must also thank my constituents for believing in me and saddling me with this great responsibility. As you know, we are all political animals. One way or another, we all play politics even within the household, association or community. But you have a higher calling when your consciousness rises above casual interests, when you have the conviction, that awakening in you that you have the capacity to add value, when it begins to dawn on you that you should step out to serve. It is a call to action, a call for a purpose. At some point in my life, I reached that crescendo, which sparked me off for conscious political action. All of us can effect positive changes but an active involvement is a catalyst for that dream. My involvement is woven around different developments, scenarios and events that shape up my life. From my parents, especially my mother, of blessed memory, I learnt the rudiments of service – sacrifice and going the extra mile. My mother provided me with spiritual fortification. She was a prayer warrior and a giver par excellence. She understood community service. I learnt lots of lessons from her. She possessed remarkable spiritual consciousness. I am also blessed with elders in my community who foresaw my innate ability and led me to community/political meetings in Ibokun. At that time, I couldn’t figure out why I was being dragged to the meetings of elders but it was fun for me. Later, I became conscious that I was comfortable with people, regardless of their estates, their nuances and or niceties. I grew to realise that serving people without recourse to race, religion or class is a big way to serve God. My turning point was when I wanted to go for my youth corps service, when an uncle of mine, a politician, fixed me up when others were struggling to secure a place. I realised that political influence could serve the common good if properly channelled. I magnify my experience and equate it with capacity to solve bigger problems in society. I then concluded that political influence could make a huge difference in an individual’s life and the society at large. I saw that possibility at a close range and it left me with a lasting impression – the need to get a platform to impact meaningfully on my society.

I also realised that the history of a great nation is locked in the will and actions of political leaders. And I reason that if we are to have a great country, we must have great, passionate, selfless and visionary individuals at the helm of affairs. If I may summarise it, my full involvement in politics is a combination of different factors woven together by divine influence, upbringing, exposure, impression, passion and a sense of assignment to secure a platform to render service to my people.

 

How have your constituents benefitted from electing you into the Osun State House of Assembly?

I must situate any success recorded within the context of the assembly as a body of lawmakers. I like to remind all Nigerians that democracy is thriving. Lots of factors, no doubt, serve as a threat to democracy but the lawmaking body remains the symbol of democracy. The fundamentals of democracy, rule of law, freedom of speech, association are being upheld. Nigerians do know that they have a stake; they can elect and re-elect and ‘de-elect’, if there is any English word like that. We talk often about dividends of democracy but, broadly, we don’t even look at the brand of democracy. We must agree that there is a great variation even in concepts and practices of democracy around the globe. Nigeria would pride itself in what is called homegrown democracy. What does this imply? While the answers may be subjective, I know we must continue to grow our brand of democracy and make it better in serving the interest of the people.

My submission is that we must deepen our democracy, and then we can have better dividends for our people. As a lawmaker working with other liberal and productive minds in the Osun State House of Assembly, I say without mincing words that I have so far contributed my quota in the areas of representation, lawmaking and community development. I have made myself abundantly available to my people, awoken hope among youths, ameliorated poverty, created opportunities, built confidence, empower rural farmers and inspire change.

 

How many bills or motions have you sponsored so far?

I have five private bills well documented and laid before the House. I was in the United Kingdom late last year. I met a young man who is an indigene of Osun State. He said to me, ‘I read about you online that you initiated five private bills’. He said, ‘why are you so audacious?’ I said, for what? For doing the job I was elected to do? We ended the discussion with a strong admonition from him to continue my work. If you follow the news recently, I had to commend the Federal Government for responding to a clarion call on resolution we made on the floor of the House over abandoned projects in Osun State, which were worth N20 billion or more. The motion I moved on the floor of the House and the inputs of several critical stakeholders both at the state and federal levels inspired the Federal Government to return a number of contractors to site with necessary financial mobilisation. These kinds of developments readily animate one to continue to seek opportunities to better the lot of the people.

 

What is the latest on the anti-grazing bill you sponsored?

Whenever a bill is submitted, it becomes the baby of the assembly. It is already in the view of the leadership of the House and the entire assembly.

 

The assembly is perceived as Governor Aregbesola’s rubber stamp. This perception must worry you as the chairman of the House Committee on Information and Strategy. Or are you not concerned?

That perception is the handiwork of detractors who equate chaos with vibrancy. People have the right to form opinions but they do not have the right to impose their mindsets on the rest of us. I have said it repeatedly, that Osun assembly, which presently has in the majority, APC [All Progressives Congress] members, comprises mature elected stakeholders who know their onions. They are loyal to the party and are protective of the interest of Osun people. I think what some people want to see is a chair-throwing assembly. In their imagination, that is vibrancy. The sixth assembly will not go that way of disorderliness to get noticed as a high-performing assembly. We have resolved to employ dialogue and negotiation to reconcile all differences that may exist between the executive and the legislature. Let me tell you that we have had moments of very strong disagreement with the governor. These disagreements are necessary for development. I think the pain of our detractors is that we have learnt not to wash our dirty linen in the public.

 

Why has the House not deemed it fit to call the executive to order on its culture of not advertising its major contracts for competitive bidding?

This is also a matter of perception. There is due process in Osun State and the assembly conducts diligent oversight functions within available resources.

 

What, in your view, is the assembly’s greatest achievement so far?

In the assembly, we have individuals with a common goal, a shared responsibility to deliver qualitative service. We have an experienced leadership, people who are loved by their constituents and who carry the heavy burden of carrying out effective legislative assignment. The sixth assembly under the leadership of Dr Najeem Salam deserves a pass mark. We have raised the bar of legislative practice to a new height. We have engendered peace and stability, conducted oversight functions, intervened dispassionately in moments of crisis. We have fostered communal peace and coexistence and passed bills and resolutions. We have individually and collectively done community service, provided empowerment and lifted the standard of living of the people of the state. We, in the spirit of separation of powers, put the executive in check when and where necessary. There is robust communication mechanism among colleagues and principal officers. Everyone has a say, though the majority always have their way. The Osun legislature today is so open and engages stakeholders without let or hindrance. It is one of the most visible assemblies in Nigeria. We communicate with our people and ensure that our activities and opinions on public issues are well publicised. I must acknowledge that we enjoy a lot of goodwill from the media. We cannot thank the media enough for giving us the desired visibility.

 

Would you say the House could have done better?

There is abundant room for improvement because it is simply a learning process. The members that make up the House are not dogmatic; they listen and adjust when and where it is necessary. We share the optimism that Osun State will be great, regardless of the present challenges.