Abdullahi Umar Faruq represents Kalgo/ Bunza Federal Constituency of Kebbi State in the House of Representatives. In this interview with Onyedikachi Onyeanuna, he talks on what Nigerians should expect from the 8th National Assembly and from the government of President Muhammadu Buhari
Congrats on making it to the 8th National Assembly. How did you view the leadership tension that engulfed the 8th National Assembly recently?
To start with, I was in the House of Representatives in the Fifth and Sixth National Assemblies, representing Kalgo/Bunza Federal Constituency before I stepped aside.
Before I contested in 2003, some friends who didn’t have the time to fully get involved in politics approached me to avail myself, which I did. I contested under All Nigerian Peoples Party (ANPP) and won. In 2007 we embraced Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP) in my state under the leadership of Governor Muhammadu Adamu Aliero. We won our elections. However, we soon discovered PDP was not sincere. Some of us spoke against some ills we saw in the party and that denied me the ticket to contest which was why I was not in the House in 2011. I again contested in the last general election of 2015 under All Progressives Congress (APC). Today, by the special grace of Allah I am back, to the Federal House of Representatives to represent my people.
Back to your question on the situation currently prevailing in the National Assembly, I would say, it is not strange. All over the world in parliaments, there are bound to be bottlenecks here and there, but what is most important is, today, these challenges are being resolved, things are getting normalised. With the peaceful resolution of the leadership tussle in the House, peace has come back to the Chambers, which has been the prayers and yearning of all Nigerians. Don’t also forget; at times crisis bring about experience that would be used to prevent future occurrences. I also want to say that with the crop of people in the House, ranging from professors, civil servants, doctors, lawyers, engineers, and other technocrats, Nigerians will surely have a good bargain.
The immediate past 7th Assembly under Rt Hon Aminu Waziri Tambuwal raised a very high standard of performance, which we in the 8th Assembly must try to march up and also try to surpass if possible.
Are there any alterations to members’ selection process into committees in the current assembly?
The Standing Order has always encouraged members to choose at least five different committees of their choice and which they are comfortable with, their experience and educational background are allowed to guide their choices into committees. This is what is still playing out in the 8th Assembly. Members are allowed to choose committees of their choice. But, the only area where members may not have a final say, is the appointment of a committee chairman and deputy chairman, which is the prerogative of the speaker of the House.
What drives members to embark on the usual lobby for juicy committees?
Well, I know in life you can’t please everybody; some will feel pleased while others may feel displeased. I believe the House, under the leadership of Hon Yakubu Dogara will ensure every member from all the geo-political zones is well accommodated. Although, presently the House seems to be in four groups-we have the Dogara faction, we have the Gbajamites, we have the PDP faction and of cause, we have the elder’s faction- those who feel they are too old to engage in the youthful activities. These are the various groups in the House as at today. I know, with time, things will fall into their proper places.
Does the 8th Assembly have any clear-cut mission for Nigerians?
One thing I must say about this 8th Assembly is the fact that, we have a clear roadmap that will lead Nigerians to the Promised land of getting good governance and getting dividends of democracy. With a good roadmap, you won’t go astray, the national leadership we have now in the person of Muhammadu Buhari, will lead the country to the Promised land, so also the leadership of the 8th National Assembly.
On oversight functions, what is the 8th Assembly hoping to do differently for the benefit of Nigerians?
My main concern is to ensure we carry out proper oversight function to ensure all leakages and wastes are avoided. Section 88 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic, 1999 as amended, placed power on the legislature to conduct oversight functions over the executive, to ensure that the best gets to the citizens. The government of PDP refused the 7th National Assembly to carry out its oversight functions; PDP never allowed proper oversight function and that was what accounted for the high impunity of the government under President Jonathan. The immediate past PDP government failed Nigerians woefully. Thank God, Buhari thinks about the majority of the Nigerians. We now have both a leader and a government which feel for the down-trodden and the less- privileged.
As a member of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), how is your party going about the project of giving the people good governance?
If you are a student of history you would agree with me that the ship of the country was heading to a fatal destruction economically, politically and socially. Look at the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) for instance, it is in shambles, we do not know the actual money we earn as a nation. The minister of Finance does not have accurate records of our earning as a nation. The case of insecurity is another challenge that left a bad taste in our mouth. This was what gave rise to the quest for a positive change. Nigerians saw the need for a change to do away with PDP and their style of leadership that held the nation hostage for 16 years. Citizens decided over the PDP misrule and chased them out of power. I can assure you, Nigerians, this time, are in for good government and good bargain.
Some people are of the view that the APC leadership never defined the kind of change the party wants to effect in Nigerian. What type of changes should Nigerians hope for, under APC?
I empathise with Nigerians given the good number of years, wasted without any good thing to show for it under the control of PDP. APC is a group of concerned Nigerians, who do not want the ship of this nation to sink. I can assure fellow Nigerians of the positive impact the government of President Muhammadu Buhari will make on lives. People are saying this government is very slow in coming out with clear map of governance, I want you to know that slow and steady they say wins the race. Buhari is taking his time to assemble his team so as to avoid the mistakes Jonathan and his team made. We don’t want anything that is bad or worse with that government to happen again to Nigerians. We have suffered enough under bad leaders.
Source:Leadership
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