DN - Hon., compliments; could you tell us your sojourn in the House so far? When did you start your legislative journey in the Kwara House of Assembly?

HON. LAYONU -Well, it is like a year now, because the House convened by June last year and another June is here, so we are one year in office.

DN - Now, since it is one year galore for both the Kwara House of Assembly and the Kwara State Government under Governor Abdulfattah Ahmed, point blank, how would you access this Governor and his administration?

LAYONU - With every sense of sincerity, His Excellency, Alh. Abdulfattah Ahmed is trying his best to ensure that the people of Kwara State have the dividends of democracy. The only problem is that things had gone so bad in the past that his efforts are yet to be noticed. Take, for instance, the General Hospital in my locality, Offa, had not been renovated for the past twenty five years. He has taken it up. And so it is in education and roads. The same goes with water provision. I am sure, with time, the people of the State will start noticing these efforts

DN - ... And what are those things he is not doing which you expect him to do!

LAYONU - Well, there is no way he can do everything, but I will like him to focus on some roads that though are being regarded as Federal. but are meant to be enjoyed daily by our people. His Excellency should come to the people's aid by fixing these roads or intervening on behalf of the people by holding dialogue with the Federal Government. Remember, all the people want is good service and both the State and Federal governments are working for the improvement of the living standard of the people.

DN - Now Hon., let's come to your beat, the Kwara State House of Assembly. We have it on records that the Kwara State House of Assembly is rotten in terms of finances and administration. Is this true or false?

LAYONU - Look my brother and in very serious terms, without deceit, many things have gone wrong. The House needs to be overhauled. The most painful development in the House is the high rate of sycophancy. We as members, we are supposed to be transparent in our dealings because we are holding people's mandate in trust, but some of our members are not facing issues as they are, but just gossiping and making tales to leaders, telling only what the leaders want to hear.

DN - What exactly are the issues you have with your speaker, Hon. Atunwa?

LAYONU - Look I must be frank with you. Our Speaker's style of leadership is wrong. The Speaker runs the affairs of the House as if he is running his private business. We all members are equal and the speaker is just the first among equals. He is the class monitor whose seat can be occupied by any of us. But today, we have principal officers who do not know how the House is being run. It is being alleged that the speaker is always in the habit of briefing these officers rather than making them partake in the process of decision- making. This is wrong. Even other members do not know our running• costs, how it is spent and so many other details. This is wrong and unacceptable. Me as Hon. Layonu and a member of this House cannot tell you how much is being sent to this House and how much is being spent.

DN - Now do you suspect some fraudulent moves by the Hon. Speaker of the House?

LAYONU - Yes, there must be fraudulent moves. If a letter is written by a principal member of the House and a member of the ruling party, a member of the party the speaker belongs, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), then who are am ! to disagree with such an allegation? The man is asking serious questions; why is it that as the Chief Whip, he has not been invited to any principal's. meeting? Why is it that the money sent to the House is not known to them? Why is that it is you,same speaker who handles contracts, etc.? all of these question deserve answers

DN-But we leant a probe panel has been set up by the House.

OLAYONU - To me, I do not believe in this probe panel. This is because the ethics and privilege committee that you referred this letter to was being• packaged by the same speaker. Then how can one be a judge in his own case?

DN - Then what is the way forward?

LAYONU - The way forward is to bring the matter to the Committee of the whole House. This will enable. everybody to contribute and say his or her mind on the issue. If the, speaker is found guilty, then we will take the appropriate step against him.

DN - Finally, what do we expect from the House in the coming year?

LAYONU - Well, we need to improve on our efforts. We have only passed one bill in the past one year, which is not good enough. We need to improve in our efforts towards making life better for our people.

Culled from Distinguished Nigerian Magazine