Nigeria is not ripe for parttime legislature - Akande
Victor Akande is a member of the Lagos State House of Assembly representing Ojo constituency1 and head of the House committee on Judiciary, Human Rights, Public petition and Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission. In this exclusive interview with IN
You are a member of the House committee on education and alumnus of LASU. What is your take on the recent ranking attained by the state-owned university?
It is good development and in the right direction. It shows that over time, LASU has gotten it right and overcome its short coming. There is stability in administration; stability when it comes to academic programme, students’ unrest. There is also financial stability, which was fostered by the law the House of Assembly passed.
Over time, we have to give credit to the VC who has brought his administrative expertise to bear, making sure that the school is stable in academic calendar and engage in qualitative teaching, which also informed their ability to carry out research.
That is what the ranking people would look at. Over the years, you know, before, LASU was not reckoned with, but to have this ranking you have to give them kudos.
Over the years, the VC has been able to remove unscrupulous activities that would affect him, trying to do some programmes that would uplift the school. He has ensured that the institution is accredited in all programmes and they do not entertain anything that would derail him. You can see the students have not had unrest, because the school has been stable, which is good for them. When you see the academic performance of the students outside, you would know that the students have done well; wining laurels which have showcased the school to the outside world.
There is the perception that the Lagos Assembly is a rubber stamp of the executive and some individuals in the state. How do you react?
Such people must be suffering from psychological trauma. As you can see, in the whole country, Lagos Assembly ranks first before others. You have to juxtapose this with the quality of work we do. Look at our work when Covid-19 pandemic broke out; we made relevant laws; it is there for all to see. When the media wanted to create disharmony between the House and the executive, we came back to say no; it is our work we are doing; we never for once acted against the state interest. I don’t know what you mean by rubber stamp; it is our duty we are doing. It is our duty to oversight for the people and make sure dividends of democracy are felt by the people. Our job is check and balances as we make laws. When we make law, we have to make sure it is followed. When we appropriate we have to make sure it is done the way we passed it.
I don’t see how rubber stamp comes in; do you want us to be fighting our executive when we have the same objectives- to make the state progress?
We have to work together and fulfil the aim of developing the state, as put forward by the party for four years. We must not be seen to be fighting the governor who is from the same party with us, even if he was not from the same party. We have to form alliance and work together, so that
cordial relationship can exist to take the state forward.
What has your committee been doing of late?
The committee is working at taking the judiciary in the state to the desired level.
We have been doing the needful; we look at the budget and look at the law that should be passed. We make laws and ask for input from stakeholders. The recent computerisation of the court process is heightening delivery of justice in the state. The committee has made sure that the process is looked into and it would pass through some people and judges.
What is your take on agitations that Nigeria should adopt part time legislature, considering the huge cost of maintaining lawmakers in the country?
Are we ripe to that level? Have you gone to part time school before? When you attend part time school, what are your strengths and shortcomings? We have not got it right and you are talking of part time, when we start now, how is it going to look like? How many years did it take America, Great Britain to get to the level they are now.
We are just developing; if it takes those years for many to get there we have to wait. But I am optimistic that we would get there very soon, we have to be patient.
What is your take on the killings, insecurity in Nigeria; has Buhari done enough?
The government has tried its best; we should commend them. You can see the difference between five years and now. Each administration would come with its own peculiar problem. The North has a problem that has been there before
Jonathan, Boko Haram has been reduced to some level. Banditry would come when there is no place for the Fulani herdsmen to move their cattle for rearing. You know they are always on the move; they just want their cow to eat. But I think we have to proffer solutions to the problems. When a research was made it was discovered that the rich people are the ones giving them the cattle to keep and are also buying weapons for them to secure themselves and the cow.
What is your take on rotational presidency?
If that would make us have peace, yes; if that would make us stay together yes, so that every region would have a sense of belonging. For me, if that is what the people that sat down at the constitutional conference and we want to enjoy peace, we want everybody to be represented. If that is the only way development would go round the country and for every region to be given a chance to rule.
Tinubu has consistently denied that he is not interested in the presidency in 2023.
He may deny it, but we have looked right and left and said let this man go. He has built leaders, he really build leaders. Tell me one person from the South that enjoys support and popularity that he enjoys?
You think he would win the APC ticket, with opposition by some people in the North?
Everybody would fall in line when the time comes, even Governor El-rufai, when the time comes, would be at the forefront of campaigning for Asiwaju Tinubu in the North. Definitely there is no rival.