Hon. Abdulrafiu AbdulRahman is currently representing Ilorin North West State Constituency in the Kwara State House of Assembly. He recently had a chat with journalists and said that though no other party except the All Progressives Congress, APC is represented in the State Assembly yet, the House has been performing its oversight functions effectively. He also speaks on other issues as relates to the state and his constituency. AYO ESAN brings the excerpts:

Since June 2015 the 8th Assembly was inaugurated, how are you fairing in legislative business?

First and foremost, I glorify the Almighty Allah for counting me among the people that will formulate policies for the state. As a lawmaker, it is a challenging assignment but to God be the glory, we have successful and hitch-free election with a good leadership in the House. So, the experience has been okay for me. It has been observed that you have initiated many bills in just few months that you have been in the house. What gave you the impetus?

I have been in politics for a long period of time and to the glory of God, from 1999 to 2002, I was a councillor for my ward; Ojuekun/Sarumi ward at Ilorin West Local government Legislative Council. During that time, I sought other inductions apart from the government organized ones. I used to approach senior colleagues especially Hon. Yahaya Oloriegbe and Hon. Rasak Mahmud in the state House of Assembly for tutelage because of my sensitive position as the Majority Leader of the Legislative Council then. I had very little legislative experience then and that was exactly the time I developed interest in legislative process.

As a first timer in the legislature, what are those factors that gave you an edge over your predecessor at the poll? As a matter of principle, I have always avoided comparing. What actually matters is this, as I have said earlier, it is one thing to be appointed or elected, it is another thing to be ready to serve people and it is another thing to be encouraged. We are so lucky in this state because we have a successful and hitch-free election. Besides, even before the election we had meetings with our leader, Senator Bukola Saraki who encouraged us to work harder to get the peoples’ mandate.

What factors gave you victory at the poll?

Everything is to the glory of God. Politics has actually come to stay and things are no longer business as usual. First and foremost, our party leader who is now the Senate President said from the beginning that he was not going to impose candidates. He, therefore, directed all political aspirants to go to their constituencies to flex their muscles. I mean the electorate knows the worth of each aspirant. I am not saying, I am the best, but I was given the opportunity to serve them. Many of the politicians and the voters knew what my efforts were in my constituency over the years in recent past. So, with the help of God, I was able to have an edge over others with less effort.

How were you able to navigate your way among regular faces in the Assembly?

Where there is cooperation, things work out well. There is also a Yoruba adage that "a figure 19 that refuses to associate with figure one will find it impossible to become 20". Another significant thing is that as a first timer, you must respect experienced and older colleagues because I always acknowledge experience and seniority. We all believe that all the principal officers of the House are our seniors. They are six in number. We never flexed muscles with them. Honestly, they have always been there for us. You know legislation is about lobbying and when you have motions or bills to move, you need to lobby other members especially the senior members. As I speak with you, I have not seen or notice any intimidation from the principal officers.

Let us talk about your recent bill on the proliferation of filling stations in Ilorin metropolis, indeed Kwara State; what gave you the encouragement in view of the sensitive nature of the bill regarding highly placed people involved in the establishment of fuel stations?

You see, I don't have any money to give to my people but I am ready to serve them. My utmost concern is to initiate policies that will better their lots. This was what propelled me to initiate the bill more so that I observed that many filing stations are springing up within the residential areas, the trend that could be injurious to the people in an event of fire outbreak at fuel stations. I know this because I live in the midst of my people and I saw the indiscriminate manner in which these fuel stations are constructed. I have always been praying that one day I would be privileged to influence government policies with a view to making life comfortable for my people. Recently, I read media reports to the effect that about 250 people were consumed by fire occasioned by explosion from a filling station in Ghana. The victims of this sad occurrence included women, children and other people. As much as possible, we are not praying for such in Kwara or Nigeria. Another germane issue is that those who own the filling station do not come here. The erroneous belief is that about 90 per cent of these fuel stations are owned by politicians. But the truth of the matter is that only infinitesimal number of the stations is owned by politicians. Of course, during the process of establishing these fuel stations, the owners run to politicians to influence one thing or the other. But I can authoritatively confirm to you that 90 per cent of the stations are not owned by politicians. Another factor that influenced my initiation of the bill is that I was once a board member of the Kwara State Town Planning Authority. I raised this issue of proliferation of fuel stations in the state especially the state capital in one of our board meetings. From there, I got to know that there was no formal approval for many of these stations. We are not attacking or targeting some people as being erroneously believed in some quarters. So, I want to reiterate that the urge to serve our people diligently and prevent avoidable death informed our decision on the bill.

What is the challenge on this?

Everybody must do his own business without let or hindrance. But it must not be to detriment of lives of other people. This is the more reason why we must sanction some people for contravening the state government law on establishment of fuel stations. There is embargo on establishment of fuel stations in Kwara State since 2008 and the embargo has not been lifted. That aspect of the law must be looked into thoroughly, secondly, is the principle of equity. We discovered that since 2008 till date, some people have been given approval to establish fuel stations. It means there is selected justice. What is good for the goose should also be good for the gander. Is it because some people have godfathers while other did not have? We discovered that within the same street and few metres to one another, some stations were approved. Everybody has rights and these rights must be protected. For whatever we do, we must put the fear of God in it.

Another thing is that we wanted to guide against citing of fuel stations inside family compound because of the dangers inherent in it to guide against fire outbreak. Besides we want to guide against enmity among family members. This is because there is always bad blood among family members on the ownership of lands sold for establishment of fuel station.

How will you react to the notion that Kwara State House of Assembly is a rubberstamp?

No; no; no! Kwara State House of Assembly is not a rubberstamp at all, you see, on the issue of social and public harassment and extortion of our people by the Police; I moved a motion against it because it is seriously affecting our people. I received a lot of calls from our people especially my constituents because my lines are opened to the public; the nefarious activities were grossly recorded at the Adeta roundabout linking Adewole and Al-Hiqma University and these roads are economically important because they lead to two major markets; two major estates; they lead to our University; they lead to the Muslim pilgrimage board and other institutions. You can imagine the situation when Policemen come early morning when workers are going to their offices and in the evening when they are returning home to start to extort and harass them; we picked it up and fortunately, we have a beautiful leadership in the House; as a matter of fact, all members contributed positively even the mover of the motion couldn't speak much before all other members relieved him of his intent. The Commissioner of Police and the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of the area were officially summoned to defend these. Before they were summoned, the commissioner had taken an action that impressed all Kwarans including the lawmakers. We received a lot of accolades and commendation letters that encouraged me to move another motion for prompt response to the resolution of the House.

How comfortable are you people with committee sharing by the Speaker?

You see, we don't have minority in the House, we are a one-party House yet, we are not rubberstamp; we attend to petitions promptly to the admiration of all and sundry. My brother, we simply have a robust House and enviable deliberations in our hallow chamber. I assure you, we have not had any reason to doubt our oneness and efficacy of our Speaker.

How best have you been carrying along the youths that gave you major percentage of your votes at election and gave you huge support during your campaign?

I was a member of the Kwara State University governing council. I represented the youths and I belong to many youth organisations. I am acquainted with the problems of the youths; by this I believe I should be able to give out my best to the youths; to elevate them. During my campaign, I organised a forum with the representatives of the youth development associations in my constituency, we rubbed minds together where I assured them of my patronage and loyalty. Immediately we assumed office, i realised the enormous problems we have in the state, especially the paucity of funds, things were not okay at all, but rather than lament, I sourced for fund and established a free internet centre where the youth will come to access. Don't forget that we have tactically assuaged their likely problems in checking results; registration and other things like internet job searching free-of-charge. I also set up a free computer training which we grouped into zones – free three months training. We now have the permission of local governments to use primary schools because we want to avoid a situation where parents pay extra money on their wards. These are all we have done, couple with our legislative duties.

But have you recorded any case of internet fraud in any of your centres?

Thanks a lot for that question, you see, when we were about starting that project, we considered that loophole too, that is why we pasted it on our notice board, a strong warning that we don’t encourage 'yahoo-yahoo', we even added a legal consequence of it should we catch any recalcitrant user of our free gesture and when I was visiting the youths in all the wards, I emphasised this also. To God be the glory, we have not recorded any flouting of the order or directive.

You are aware that in Nigeria here, legislators have taken over executive functions by providing education for people, building projects and other executive duties rather than limit themselves to legislating; what is your concern here?

We are all aware that projects ought to be part of executive duties that is why in the process of budget preparation you have to participate because we have to know which area of your constituency is actually catered for. It will be a thing of joy to know that a larger part of your constituency is taken care of in a particular budget so that your constituents will hail you. Again, it is normal to contribute your widow's mite to constituent's need, but I know that as a politician, we just have to be patient with our people, if we have we should be our brothers' keeper but if we don't have we should take our time to explain and importantly convince them.

How often do you visit and relate with your constituents?

Let me tell you the obvious that I am a local person; I live among them, as a matter of fact, I just woke up from them this morning. Look around very well, you will see that this place we are conducting this session is my liaison office and you can see one or two people milling around; they are my constituents.