You represented Kogi Central in the 5th Senate. Why are you still in politics?
My people are depraved and we are marginalized. The world needs to know our predicament, and we need all men and women of goodwill to support us in this fight for emancipation. So use your pen for good, remember Shakespeare has said that the pen is mightier than the sword. So this is the time for it; the time for us to fight for emancipation from the various vices that plague us. This very necessity is the reason why I am still in politics.
I want to use even my reserved energy to fight and end injustice before I die. You know charity begins at home, so I am continuing from where we stopped. I am working hard to prevent the injustice designed against me and the people of Kogi Central, Kogi state, Nigeria as a whole and even internationally.
You are contesting for the Senate again, after haven held the office from 2OO3 to 2OO5. What is your motivation this time?
My reelection bid for the senate is to achieve a three point mission.
The first relates to that of my primary constituency – Kogi Central Senatorial District. The second is to save our state, Kogi while the third is to significantly contribute to redirecting our dear country Nigeria from misrule and bad governance. I have an interventional agenda but that of my home country is first.
The missions for my beloved primary constituency – Kogi Central are numerous. The people have shown me so much love and it is natural that I must return their love by championing their cause. As we all look unto God for salvation, protection and direction, that is also how people also look unto me as a leader. I am not God, it is natural for people to look up to their leader.
Since the creation of Kogi state, my people have remained under the bondage of depravation because the ruling class comes from our dear brothers who come from the eastern part of the state. All this while, they have been subjected to misrule.
Please give examples of what you mean my misrule and depravation of the people of Kogi Central Senatorial District.
There is a Federal Character Commission which should provide guidance for justice, equity and fair representation of all groups in government’s appointments, and in the sharing of government’s patronages. Sadly, power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely. Since the creation of Kogi state in 1991, only people from one senatorial district have continued to rule as governour, this is not a healthy trend as far as commonsense is concerned. Kogi state is not a monarchy. Kogi state ought to be administered according to the sound principles of democracy such that different people from all walks of life and background who come from within the state are allowed equal right to power.
The people from that part of the state rotate the guber power of the state among themselves such that they have become drunk with the power that ought to rotate around the state. But like a bright light shining through a dark tunnel, some God-given people from that part of the state have realized that it is wrong to for one senatorial district to continually retain the glory that should be made to go round the state.
The marginalized people have used all means to address it. My late leader of blessed memory, Senator Ahmed Tijani Ahmed was at the forefront of the quest to address the injustice but he left us in the process. I took over reigns from him, and I attempted to save the state and even contested against an incumbent governour. I tell you most convincingly that we won that election of 2OO7 but it was rigged, and mandate was denied us not by the people, but by the PDP. They allotted over 3OO,OOO votes to me. The votes I got that time is more than the votes Wada got that brought him to power.
So the people of Kogi East know that they have misruled Kogi state, and they want to cover up by remaining in power. Sadly, my constituency has suffered so much for too long. I have primary responsibility to rise up and seek redress through the laid down rules and procedures one of which is corrective legislation.
When I get the Senate, I will reconstruct the policies that give room for maladministration, I will mobilize the people so that they will come up and address the problems of the moment.
How would you solve the problem at the level of the state?
There is total injustice at the state level: the revenue generated from both federal government allocation as well as internally generated revenue is not fully utilized. In fact, less that 1O% of the total revenue is used to the benefit of the people. As at that time when 1O% of the revenue was used, more than half of the used 1O% goes to the east alone. This is too bad! So as senator, I will move to ensure that all revenue is used as should. Besides that, I will work to give more room for serious improvement in the amount of revenue generated internally. More importantly, revenues should be used judiciously for the development of the people through manpower development and tourism. Kogi state is blessed with enormous tourist potentials. But these potentials must be developed if the people of the state will benefit from them. Lokoja has a very fascinating history, it is at the center of the country, and there is a confluence river that can be developed for tourism. As senator of the federal republic of Nigeria I will initiate the ideas for the development of these potentials with the governor of the state provided that he shares these visions.
In national issues, which policy objectives would you favour especially as it affects the people of Kogi Central Senatorial District?
I will involve myself in all legislations that will promote a united, developed nation founded on equity and justice as I did in my first Senatorial assignment. I would not do less.
I have a penchant for accountability because it is very crucial to national development. When there is genuine accountability at the federal level, it has a way of improving the life of even the poorest Nigeria. I will be on the vanguard for accountable and judicious distribution of the nation’s resources.
It is the responsibility of a legislator to also pursue other national objectives. He legislates to ensure equity and fairness and ensures adequate security of lives and properties. He must promote the spirit of national unity while ensuring that the social and political welfare of his primary constituency. I will involve myself in legislations that promote the virtues of unity toward building a United, Secured and Peaceful Nigeria.
How would you bring your experiences as President of the West African Regional Caucus of the Pan African Parliament to bear on the laws you will make when elected into Senate the second time?
I gained a lot of experience as President of the West African Regional caucus of the West African Parliament. Fifteen countries were under me under the circumstance and we worked for the unity and development of our countries. I used that platform to affect changes in the interest of our countries. It was not an easy task keeping the group together in decision but we succeeded as a group. I look forward to reuniting the Pan African Parliament in order to continue the good works we were doing.
How would you use legislative power to correct the imbalance in workforce distribution?
The provisions of the federal character must be implemented as a way of correcting the imbalance in various quarters. This we will achieve alongside our colleagues in the senate. I want you to know that legislators are powerful, yet they have their limits of power; legislators have teeth but they cannot bite. However, as a matter of emphasis, we will continue to promote what we know to be best by putting pressure on those who should execute the laws we make. I did that in the past and I will do more if by the grace of God I return to the Senate.
While in the Senate, I had a lot of support from a large chunk of my colleagues when I agitated against the injustice that was meted on my people. I have records to show for these. When I return to the Senate, we will do a lot more to realise the desired victory over the oppressors.
What is your vision of the new Ebiraland in terms of peace?
I am sorry to tell you that the crisis which took place in Kogi central was instigated from without. Power can be used for good or for bad intensions. That is why power must not be allowed to get into wrong hands. The people who want to remain in power by all means usually resort to causing crisis between two brothers. In any case, I am happy that the dye is cast and everybody is beginning to know the game plan.
Peace has already returned to Kogi Central and this time, the peace has come to stay. Never again will any self serving politician be able to cause conflict between any two brothers in Kogi Central. I will encourage greater fraternity among my people of Kogi Central.
What plans do you have to ensure orderly youth development in your constituency?
Already, our youths are embracing my offer of peace again and we will now live in peace. Youth have become sensible and they are even crowding around me. We have continued to tell them that self-destruction is without a single benefit, and that there is need for unity even among the historical lines of distinction. Irrespective where you come from or who your ancestors are, we must all unite as one people of Kogi Central Senatorial District.
I will ensure that jobs are generated in order to empower idle youth. I hope you know that an idle man is the devil’s workshop. I will even increase all I am doing to create jobs for my people of Kogi Central Senatorial District.
Your constituency is a rocky place and more water is needed to serve the people. How do you plan to meet this need?
We sank boreholes while I was in the National Assembly, but those are temporary measures. Permanent measures include having dams and establishing large scale water treatment plants with effective distribution channels. There was a major arrangement that was in progress, which is apart from dredging Ekuku Dam and ensuring its viability. The plan is to provide a water treatment plan for Osara Dam and ensure proper distribution of water to the nook and crannies of Kogi Central. This arrangement was to be jointly funded by the state and federal government. In fact, I ensure that there was appropriation in the budgets to cater for the financing of the project. For three years, we continued to mount pressure on the state government to meet its agreed obligation but they failed. It was toward the end of time that I appealed to the Water resources Ministry to help. In response, they advertised the consultancy position for the project. The dam had been on site. All that was needed was a water treatment plan and effective distribution channels. So when I return to the Senate, I will readdress the issue.