Convocation of sovereign national conference will lead to
war - Aderanti
Alabi
Of recent in Nigeria’s politics, when
Osun State is mentioned, what readily comes to mind is the murder of former
Minister of Justice, Chief Bola Ige, the subsequent trial and acquittal of the
state’s former number two man, Senator Iyiola Omisore, for the murder,
and of course, the current political wranglings between former governor of the
state, Chief Bisi Akande, and Senator Mojisoluwa Akinfenwa, which is tearing
apart the Alliance for Democracy (AD).
However, apart from these well known political gladiators, there are
others, who though are no less important, have not been in the public eye, who
nonetheless are making their impact felt in the nation’s political arena.
One of such is Hon. Aderanti Alabi. Alabi, a lawyer cum businessman, was
one-time chairman of Odo-Otin Local Government Area of Osun. Now a member of
the House of Representatives representing Odo-Otin Ifelodun/Boripe federal
constituency of Osun State on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party
(PDP), Alabi, at the just concluded retreat for lawmakers, told our Correspondent, Gbenga Faturoti,
in an interview that the assemblymen are
now battle-ready for the executive arm of government. He also speaks on various
issues, particularly on the call for the convocation of a Sovereign National
Conference (SNC). He said its convocation
would tear Nigeria apart. Excerpts:
What has been
your experience in the last three days of the 2004 retreat for lawmakers?
It was very
interesting. You know, it ought to have taken place long ago, particularly
before we commenced our job in the National Assembly. We have been educated the
more on the proceedings and other matters of the National Assembly. We were
given lectures on the relationship between the executive and the legislature
and the proceedings of the House.
Although we are
conversant with the proceedings of the House, more light was thrown into the
proceedings. We now know what it means when the executive doesn't want to
co-operate with the legislature.
We were enlightened
the more on the separation of power principle to enhance our legislative jobs.
How often do you
like this kind of retreat to take place?
We shall be happy
if the retreat could be an annual event because it gives us the opportunity to
analyse or appraise our performances. It helps us to know the limit of our
functions and to know the extent and effect of our inactions and to listen to
comments from the public and appraise it all.
As a lawmaker,
how do you want to use the skills you have got to enhance the living standard
of Nigerians?
You know the
retreat will further aid our functions in the National Assembly. It will help
us to know more and function effectively so that Nigerians can enjoy the
dividends of democracy and appreciate us.
At the end of
the retreat, do you think the relationship between the legislature and the
executive arm of government will still be the same as it was in the last one
year?
In fact, sometimes
the executive doesn't actually carry along the legislature, whereas it is the
legislators that make laws for the executive. We have our own sanctions. We are
taught really the more on this. The executive doesn't always want to function
well with the legislature and we lawmakers seem to have the upper hand. We make
the laws, motions and so on. Sometimes when we make laws, the executive
doesn’t take such serious, but now I think we shall continue to exercise
sanctions. Now, if the executive fails to carry out the resolutions and the
motions of the House, it would be sanctioned.
We are battle ready
to face the executive if they fail to carry out our resolutions and motions,
and we, on our own part too, will not sit down and make unreasonable
resolutions and motions.
From what you
said, it is like you have been pampering the executive in the past?
I cannot say that
we have over-indulged the executive. What I can say is that sometimes
resolutions are passed and the executive will feel reluctant to carry out the
resolutions, whereas it is their duty to carry out such resolutions. With the
retreat, according to the speaker, we will change our system. It is either a
motion or resolution is passed and implemented by the executive or face
sanction if it fails to do its own side of the job.
How do you react
to the allegation that the House was trying to toe the party line by indulging
the executive?
The ruling Peoples
Democratic Party (PDP) headed by Chief Audu Ogbeh doesn't interfere with what
goes on in the House. I trust him, he will never interfere at all. But when
there is a matter of importance, which the party feels can benefit the nation
and will not truncate democracy and it feels the House is recalcitrant on such
issue, the party leaders will call on us and further educate us on the need to
support such matter. We have to agree on it because it is our party. Even in
the past, we have homogeneity of government. But the Ogbeh-led executive has
never tampered with the workings of the House.
For instance, when
Mr President declared a state of emergence in Jos, initially we were not
informed but the constitution says if such matter happens, the President must
inform us within 24 hours. For this oversight, members disagreed with the
President on the emergency issue until the Ogbeh-led executive and other
stakeholders told us the reason why we should support the President’s
proclamation. Is that interference? I don't count that as interference. It is
lobbying, and as the chairman of our party, why should we ignore him? We must respect
him. Immediate we understood the President’s position, we called
ourselves together with the resolve that the bloodletting in Jos must be
checked with immediate effect.
That was a
reasonable intervention. That is why I say the party has never interfered in
the working of the House.
As you are
aware, another convention is around the corner, how do you rate the Audu
Ogbeh-led executive?
I rate him high
because Audu Ogbeh is a man of peace, very intelligent, very understanding,
firm and discipline. He knows how to combat crisis. As you see him, he doesn't
sway here and there; he is a visionary. If he continues like that, he will
succeed in all the challenges before him.
There is this
notion that Nigeria is not yet ripe for a true federalism. What is your own
assessment?
We are now
practising a presidential system. We have practised the parliamentary system
before and some people want us to go back to it. The federalism we practised at
that time, introduced by the colonial masters, created crises, remember the
Western, Eastern and Northern Regions. Normally in a federal system, the power
is not actually at the centre but with the federating units. Look at what is
happening in Lagos State, how the state is facing the Federal Government. In
the federal system, it is only the foreign and defence matters that cannot be
entertained by states. But now, in the presidential system, not all powers are
in the hand of the state and not all powers are in the hands of the federal
government. They both complement each other. For me, all those clamouring for
the convocation of a Sovereign National Conference (SNC) are just deceiving
themselves. Convocation of SNC will create war. How do you establish a
conference where you expect Odimegwu Ojukwu to sit down with Gowon or Obasanjo,
because he (Obasanjo) too may say he wants to be a member of the conference? If
care is not taken, the nation will collapse. This is why President Olusegun Obasanjo is trying to ignore
the calls for SNC. Why do we have the National Assembly? Whatever we want as
Nigerians, we have to pass them to the legislature for legislation. Let us
forget about these unrealistic calls.
There is this
contention that the presidential system is very expensive?
Whether it is
expensive or not, are we not practising it? Look, America has been able to
practise it well. Why we normally say it is expensive is that our leaders are
greedy. Even the federating system, is it not expensive too?
Our leaders are
greedy because the moment they contest for an election and they fail, they
continue to fight the government in power, that is the main reason we are
greedy. They don't appreciate good things done by others, only those done by
them, as if they know it all.
See the problem of
corruption, it started when we started operating the federating system. It is
only God that can save us because it is the individuals that are punishing the
nation not the government. By the time they must have embezzled public fund and
they are no more in power, they go from fighting the government to fighting the
common man.
So the presidential system is better to harmonise the
country.
