A former Lawmaker representing Ibadan North West/South West federal constituency, Hon. Saheed Akinade-Fijabi has urgently appealed to Nigerians to plead with their state governors not to kill the existing local government administration system in the country.
He said, “I know the role I played during the time we had constitutional amendments, I voted for the autonomy of the local governments and when we brought it over to the state House of Assembly to pass it into law, it was rejected because most of the state governors are against it. The state governments do not want the autonomy of local governments because they are the ones spending their money. It is a known fact that the local government is where all the natural resources are domiciled”.
The Ex-Lawmaker made these submissions while featuring on a weekly radio show, Ayekooto on Radio’ anchored by Olayinka Agboola and broadcast live on Splash 105.5FM, Felele Ibadan, the capital city of Oyo State recently.
Hon. Fijabi further chided the Engr. Seyi Makinde-led administration in Oyo state for its lackluster performance, while describing his performance in the areas of infrastructural development, security, and economy as woeful.
Speaking on why he is desirous of returning to the House of Representatives after he lost the 2019 election, “My intention is to continue from where we stopped. Most of the works we did during our eight years I was in office are still visible, and for the ones that are not working properly, we will make necessary adjustment.
“We are after making progress and also to look into laws that can be passed that will make life meaningful for our people. Also, there is something that people do not know before this time, whenever your data gets exhausted, it will automatically renew itself without your consent but when I was the Chairman, House Committee on Telecommunication, the policy was changed and now subscribers are asked if they want a renewal of their data or otherwise.
“There is also a law I wanted to pass but I know many people including politicians will not like it. The law states that if you are a political office holder, and you have four children, it is mandatory for two out of your kids to attend government-owned schools in order to restore the dignity of public institutions and for it to get proper attention from the government”.
He further stated that the APC primary election in the state which picked him as the party’s candidate was credible, free and devoid of controversy while clarifying that he did not at any time withdraw his support for his constituents despite not being re-elected in 2019.
Speaking on the duties and functions of lawmakers in the country, he revealed, “Our primary assignment is to represent the people and to make laws by bringing various suggestions that will affect people’s lives positively.
“In addition, we were elected to act as checks on the excesses of the executive and the judiciary arms of government, which is what we call checks and balances in government. We are also to pass budget and to make necessary inputs on constitutional amendments.
“While the secondary functions which some people have now turned into primary functions include providing pipe-borne water, facilitate empowerment scheme among others. I see the empowerment scheme as a form of bonanza because the major reason we empower our people and give them working equipment has been bastardize because some of them used to sell the equipment to highest bidders”.
Speaking on the performance of the All Progressives Congress (APC) led administration in the country, “There are some places we have done tremendously well, while I believe we could have done better. Unfortunately, this is Nigeria and I classify it differently from any other country. Nigeria should be treated as a continent while the states should be treated as countries.
“Unfortunately, for APC, there is a lot they could have done and that is the reason why we are clamoring for people to elect Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the 2023 presidential elections in order to correct all the wrongs of the present administration”.
Hon. Fijabi further urged Nigerians to vote for the APC Presidential candidate, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu as the country’s next president, describing him as the most credible candidate who will return the country back to true federalism.
The former lawmaker further spoke on how he joined politics after studying overseas adding that politics has always been his interest since his secondary school days.
“I started gaining interest in politics right for my secondary school days at Mayflower School in Ikenne. I remember late Dr. Tai Solarin used to teach us to be self-reliant. Then I contested to be a prefect but I lost the election but I was not discouraged and went further to contest at The Polytechnic, Ibadan and I became the PRO in my department.
“I later contested for the post of the SUG president at the Polytechnic Ibadan, but lost but I can boldly say I had the best manifesto which was very rich.
When I came back from overseas, I went to meet late Alhaji Lam Adesina, a former governor of Oyo State and that was when I started mainstream politics. I contested and won election into the House of Representatives in 2011 and 2015 but lost in 2019, which I know it’s God’s plan. I have learnt that losing an election should not be a form of discouragement. I am a team player and I know politics is not supposed to be a ‘do or die’ affair.
“I will also say it here that I am a chartered estate surveyor. I am into properties. I have two, three and four other addresses. I am, by God’s grace, not a desperate politician.”
Packaged by Dare Raji, Omolara Oyewole and Olawale Awe
