Toyin Saraki: EFCC becoming political tool - Dep. Speaker

As exclusively reported by NATIONAL PILOT, the Deputy Speaker of the Kwara State House of Assembly, Hon Matthew Okedare representing Moro Constituency presided over the House in the absence of the Speaker, Hon Ali Ahmad amidst concerns that he and most members of the 8th Assembly are “freshers” with the exception of 6 ranking members.

Okedare spoke exclusively with Head Politics, MUMINI ABDULKAREEM in his office immediately after the “historic” feat about his experience, Moro politics among other political issues in the state. Excerpts:

Presiding over the House for the first time, how did you find it?

Since I was elected as the Deputy Speaker of the Kwara State House of Assembly, that has been the day I have put it upon myself that I could be called to preside over that House anytime to take the Speaker's position. Since then, I have prepared for it and made up my mind since it is inevitable. Furthermore, I have been a school headmaster, a teacher for long and a onetime Local Government Chairman, a supervisory councillor and a secretary, leading and addressing people. It was not an entirely new thing to me, which was what motivated my good performance today.

Was there any time you felt jittery?

Not at all, because they are my colleagues and anyone of them can become the speaker or deputy speaker any day as the position is not permanent. Even before we went to the gallery, I met them and we discussed a lot, so being jittery was out of question.

The House has approved the appointment of 10 Special Advisers as sent by the governor, how would you react to this compare to previous appointments?

Initially when states used to receive bogus allocation from the federal government, some states were having about 600 Special Advisers just to create employment and that was when there is money. But now, the reality of the country's allocation has dawn on everybody. Appointment of Special Advisers has its own fair share of huge budget. It is a reflection of the reality in the country. During the governor's first meeting with us, he stressed the need for us to improve on our Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) and the work that 10 people can do effectively should not be given to 30 people for even spread of dividend of democracy. If the condition improves, the governor will also adjust the scale because giving appointments has also solved some problems.

During the 7th Assembly, most of the bills passed were from the executive, is the House determined to improve on the trend?

If you would remember during our inauguration, the Speaker, Hon Ali Ahmed made it clear that the 8th Assembly will be much different from the last session. As you rightly observed on the issue of the bills, the Speaker and many other members have hammered on the importance of this House to see how to improve on the lives of our people in the state and how best to govern the state. We were told to come up with bills that will improve governance in the state. So most of us are already working along that line and very soon, you will see series of bills coming out from this task we have given ourselves that this time around we will no longer be waiting for executive bills. And if you look at it, we live with our people and we know their problems and challenges. Executive bills will be so minimal this time around because we are prepared.

What is the first bill you are working on as a legislator?

I am working on a bill that will improve the present security situation of the state, especially on vigilantes. They are the ones confronting the armed robbers and kidnappers. Even when you call some of the policemen in case of emergency they will not answer your call. Now the vigilantes are not empowered to do this job because some of them are not authorised to carry arms. From Jebba to Ilorin, which is my area, you hear of incessant armed robbery attacks and its only in some occasion that you see the police confronting them, in many cases, it is the vigilantes that usually rise up to the task. So I am working on a bill that will empower them and look at how the government could support them with incentives because they are doing the job voluntarily. They are useful to us even more than the police and I thank God for using them because you will see people as old as 50-60 years of age in it just because they want to protect our people.

Issue of nomination has allegedly pitched some party leaders in Moro against some purportedly aggrieved members, what is your take on this?

I read the story from National Pilot and so much like the reply of the Senatorial Chairman, Alhaji Oniwa, which was balanced by your paper. Since Alhaji Oniwa has reacted, nobody among the so called aggrieved members have come forward with a contrary position, which means the senatorial chairman is the one with the fact. Whenever we are directed to submit names in our local government for appointment of commissioner, supervisor or whatsoever, they move to the office of the highest political office holder in our local government where the issue will be decided. Majority of our people here are not in Ilorin but many members of the caucus are here so going to a place like Bode-Sa’adu or elsewhere will be too far. That account for the reason the meeting was held in my office because I am the highest political office holder now from Moro and even if we have commissioner, it will still be under me as the Deputy Speaker. Apart from that, myself, other honourables, all ward chairmen and secretary, 6 principal executive officers and other 6 nominated members across the five districts were the people that are empowered by the APC constitution and we all took that decision during the meeting. Oniwa's son was not on the list except that of his wife, Alhaja Funmilayo Oniwa, who is an indigene of Moro and she was nominated outside her constituency. It was the local government party chairman, Alhaji Amao Ladi from Lanwa/Ejidongari Constituency that nominated her. Everybody scrutinised the name and not that it was lorded over the caucus. She is the only political office holder in Moro that has done what nobody else has done. As a Permanent Member in the Teaching Service Commission, she went across the 17 wards in Moro to ensure that a least a person each is appointed from each ward according to their level of education. Even the former commissioner cannot boast of employing five people. Apart from individuals, she has been able to employ children of notable leaders in Moro into the commission. When we are having political meetings, she will be there before her husband and so when you view her performances, you see that she has leadership qualities and has stood very well for the women so that is why everybody accepted her. Oniwa is from Ipaye/Maigida and she is from Oloru/Malete Constituency, we also picked from Lanwa/Ejidongari, it was geographically spread and there is no area that was not represented. Even the Association of Ward Party Chairmen in Moro presented the party chairman of Abati/Alara ward from Oloru/Malete Constituency. Those that are complaining are from the PDP and you will see that the petitions have been coming from one area.

Your take on Saraki's wife invitation by EFCC

The way I see the issue is that EFCC is turning itself to a political tool for the opponent. Barrister Toyin Saraki has never been a government appointee than being the first lady of Kwara State. What is the EFCC doing for over six years when Bukola Saraki left office? Now that he has been elected the Senate President, they want to use it to hound him. If it continues like this, it will damage the reputation of the APC. Look at the House of Representatives on the issue of party supremacy, the law said every honourable member should elect their leader and same in the Senate and even in the state Houses of Assembly. Such stance doesn't help our politics and I implore APC to allow the nation move forward because the tussle is giving the PDP opportunity to fault our slogan of ‘Change’. They should leave Toyin alone and face the Senate President if he is the one they are looking for. But I know he is equal to the task judging from what we have seen in the past. Some women came to me saying they want to storm the street today (Tuesday) in protest over her invitation by the anti-graft agency and we said no. Toyin Saraki is a Barrister at Law and she will be able to defend herself because she has no skeleton in her cupboard.

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