Date: 2016-03-11

As a former local government chairman in the state, how can you comment on the issue of local government crisis in the state?

When i was council chairman, our allocation came in regularly monthly and so we paid our salaries as at and when due. We also had crude oil to play with. But nowadays, things have changed. The local government administration then collected over N3 billion but now it about N1.5 billion and they needed N2.5 billion. The problem is as a result of the sharp fall of crude oil price in the oil market. That is where the problems came in. They cannot afford to even pay salaries now considering their wage. For instance, Kwara State got N1.1 billion and it will pay about N2.5bn for salaries, people should look at the difference. That is why it is very difficult for any government to execute projects now and that is also why government cannot avoid borrowing money to execute payment of salaries. Before the last Eid-el-Kabir, the governor borrowed about N1.4 billion for the local government before they could pay salaries because they were waiting for the bailout then which has not still come. But we have already borrowed money from the bank and they have resorted to holding the money of the state. So when people are shouting, especially the saboteurs, we need to penetrate and see what is really happening before we can say yes or no. There is no way the local government can pay the money in present situation, the governor in his wisdom now called the banks and urged them to convert the loan to term loan, which would now be paid back between twelve-twenty four months. It was not the governor himself that called the union that he wants to borrow them money, it was the labour unions, involving NLC, TUC, NULGE and NUT that sought audience with the governor to bail them out to look for salary before the Sallah. That was why the governor called some banks in the presence of the local governments.

But why is the bailout still not accessed?

When President Buhari came onboard, he has not properly looked at what is on ground and all the state government went to him with the problems of their states and he agreed to bail them out with the bailout funds. But when the president saw the enormity of the issue and the lack of funds, he couldn't fulfil that promise on a general term. So we have to look for alternative. Today, Lagos state is the most indebted state in the country and they have the highest IGR in the country together with Kano state. We cannot do anything without borrowing because we have to plan the future today. Kwara state is the least indebted state in the country.

The loan has come under serious attacks from some quarters...

This government has been very transparent about the issue of governance. That accounted for the series of our radio programmes. I feature on a radio programme every Thursday, the same with the party while the Commissioner for Information features almost every day and same with the SSA Media, Barrister Akorede. Then the governor himself on monthly basis addresses the people through "Megida Speaks". Questions are asked from any part of the world and in any dialect and the Governor would respond especially in English, Hausa or Yoruba. So there is nothing we hide about the governance of Kwara State, if otherwise, all of us would not be on radio all the time to demystify the process and action of the present governor. It is not stage manage matters and people call to express their views and even insult us at times. But we need to explain to the people we owe them the duty.

The governor once said this cabinet would be streamlined but the reverse seems to be the case...

You see, things most times are dictated by present realities. For instance, when President Buhari came in, he said some ministers will have to operate without portfolio, but which minister is not having portfolio now. That is it, because there are some sectors that might be affected which will suffer without any designate. So which portfolio do we now say should have been left out? Look at what is going on in the education sector as regards the issue of biometrics. The opposition have criticised the ongoing construction of shops across the state, how do you respond to that?

I don't think the criticisms are justified with all honesty. The situation of our economy in the country calls for states to develop genuine platforms and ideas to address issues and the issue you have talked about is one of the ingenious ways to solve the problem. Secondly, the locations of those shops have served as hideout to criminals and I'll give you example. That of GSS/Fate road was where former SA transport, Deji Oni was attacked by some hoodlums, who were hiding in those kiosks that were formerly there. He was hospitalised for about four weeks. With what the government is doing about those spaces, can any hoodlum take advantage of that to perpetrate evil? That project will serve as twin benefit for the state in finance and security. The place will be given to the people at the long run and it will in turn boost the IGR of the state. Have there been improvements in the finances of the state since the formation of KWIRS?

Of course yes. They started in January and declared about N850m from the about N500m we had in December, which is about three hundred million difference. That was the month they started operation. By the time that of February is added to it, there will be changes and further increment. There is nothing the citizens should panic about because there is no introduction of new tax. The only thing is to block the leakages and loopholes. The KWIRS are like a tailor to amend the leaking pockets of the states. Somebody that buys a car or motorcycle will get the particulars from the revenue, that is the tax. Those that have companies and others will also have to pay tax.

How do you respond to the allegation that government is collecting revenue from structures under construction?

Anybody that wants to build a house will have to obtain some documents from the government. The Town Planning Authority needs to approve your plan before you commence construction and you pay certain amount, that is their duty and responsibility. This has long existed.

What about the issue of joint account?

Joint account is a constitutional thing and has to do with the agreement between the tiers of government. For instance, as council chairman, I wanted to construct Ipata but I didn’t have money available. It was the joint account that I used by contributing 60 percent as the initiator of the project to the forty percent by the state government.

How have you improved on what you met on ground since your appointment as Special Adviser Political?

One of the improvements is the Thursday Radio programme to sensitise Kwarans on how far we have gone. There is also the television version. When we started facing the challenges of funds, the party went out to talk to the people since it was it (the party) that called for the peoples' vote in the first place. Every month now I go to Orisun to also explain and I get as much as two thousand calls after the programme, including calls from Diaspora because of the reach and audience of the station all over the country. Using such avenue to explain to our people about Kwara is novel in the state. Then I do consult most of the assemblies in the state, meet with them and explain things and as other stakeholders in the state do.

Why then is the need for appointments of Personal Assistant Political to the governor?

We are not the same. They are personal assistants to the governor. We used to have one before even before this present administration but because of the worsening situation of the economy, there has to be need for that. We have to appoint people from the three senatorial districts that can explain things better to the people in the language they will understand.

Is there any interface between your office and them?

Yes, occasionally when the need arises. They are Personal Assistants to the governor while I am Special Adviser to him. The car loan for workers has generated issue, what is your take on it? What is bad in taking loan once the terms of benefit has been spelt out and agreement reached with the issuing banks? The money is not that of government. Then, it used to be the government that will source for the money and the car would have been badly used before the official tenures expires and government will be looking for scarce funds to buy new ones for incoming officials. But this one is not like that. it pays the government because its one of the avenues to cut waste.

How do you react to the issue of the trial of the senate president?

The APC should sit to really discuss the issue because it is glaring that it is a political trial. The party should see Bukola Saraki as one of the few individuals that ensured the party was victorious. Buhari even acknowledged openly that without the new PDP, the APC would not have won the election, why the victimisation now of the leader of that group. All the noise about Saraki being ambitious is only in the hands of God, not humans. Buhari initially threw in the towel after contesting three times, but God brought him up on the fourth attempt. They should leave Saraki alone and let Nigeria move forward because that is one arm of the three arms of government in the country. How far has your office gone as regards trying to woo members of the opposition? We have been doing that and some have already crossed over. I have consulted some of them and some are already with us, some are willing to come also. Very soon, you will begin to hear it. they are entering discreetly. That is my responsibility and I am well known for that.

With the emergence of Ali Modu Sheriff as the PDP chairman, he has boasted that the party will displace the APC come 2019?

That is not possible and that is why we are calling for unity in the APC for them to team and eschew sentiment. They should not allow a party that has nothing to offer the country any opportunity whatsoever. Where people like Saraki, Tinubu and others are gathered, a party is talking about winning against them. In Nigeria politics today, it is very difficult to throw away Saraki. it is not possible for any party to ignore him.

How true is it that you have abandoned Saraki for Governor Ahmed as some have insinuated?

We are all product of the leader, Senator Bukola Saraki and I was appointed SA Political through the advice of the leader. Those who are saying that are saying gibberish. I am a core Sarakite and cannot do without that family. After Sarakite, do we have any other group? Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed has no other group than that of Saraki, so how can somebody be part of a group of somebody who himself has no group. The Group of Ahmed is Saraki and so, where that logic does comes in.

The local government election is coming and some have said that government is planning to set up a care taker committee to conduct it, what is your take? In the whole of the country, it is only Kwara state that follows that law on local government election. Election will take place and we are very much prepared and on ground. No party can take a single seat from us because we have the people who are following what we are doing and are behind us. Any party that is going round now is just wasting its time.

The suspended Cook Olodo at a public function the other day shook and embraced Saraki...

(…cuts in), he is still a party member; only that he is suspended for anti-party activities. He may be pardoned if the party deems it fit. But he is still under suspension.