Senator Domingo Alaba Obende represents Edo North Senatorial District of Edo State in the Senate. The philanthropist turned politician spoke to OSBY ISIBOR on what Nigerians should expect from the Seventh Senate and his ambition in the Senate.He also makes a categorical statement on the controversial single term proposal.Excerpts:
The six- year single tenure for the offices of president and governors as proposed by President Goodluck Jonathan has generated a lot of controversies. What is your take on the issue?
I have shared this view before and I will still go ahead to say it. I do not believe that a six-year single tenure will do Nigeria any good. For as much as the executive might mean well, have we looked at the other side of the issue? And what is the other side? This man struggles to become the president and wins an election, he believes he is not coming back to us any more and he does not owe anybody. And it is difficult to impeach anybody. It is also very difficult for a head of state to be impeached let alone the governors. So, I think that this single tenure should be something that has to be dropped. I do not see it as something that will develop this country.
A governor comes for six years; he loots the whole treasury and goes away. Putting them in jail will not solve the problem. What will solve the problem and fix this country is for every governor and every head of state to develop their various states and Nigeria by implication. So, I do not buy that idea and I don’t think this bill will fly.
On the alternative, what kind of system do you proposed for Nigeria?
We are currently running the American system of government, unless they want to tell us we want to run a unitary government. So, if we are running federalism, then let us have a true constructive federalism. Let us know how we want to really come together in this country to create what I will call “ease of leadership”. And when I use the word ‘ease of leadership’, we have the zones, we can go back to the zonal system where Nigeria will not be too massive for governance. And if we go into that system I think it’s going to be better for us. I do not see this country drifting to the other side when we already have a constitution. If we must change the constitution, then let there be a constitutional conference. I think our constitution should embrace the thinking and the like mind of all Nigerians.
As a new member in the Senate, what should Edo North Senatorial District and Nigerians expect from you?
Yes, a neophyte I may say in the National Assembly but I don’t think we are new in the affairs of our people and in alleviating the suffering of our people. Our people have long been marginalized, talking about the totality of Edo North where things that ought to have federal presence are not there, there are not visible, there are not pushed forth, there are not pressed forth.
So, basically they expect vibrancy from me to be able to in collaboration with my colleagues and in working together as one entity bring something for my community. Such as deliberating on the issues on ground, precisely the erosion that has devastated our community which I think the federal government is presently looking into. I have sent series of letters to the bodies concerned, especially the office of the secretary to the government of the federation. And I know that these are part of the things my people expect that I should handle.
And what is more important is the unemployment of our youths and the empowerment of our women. There is urgent need to tackle this. I am one of those people who believe that women should not be reduced to dancing folks in the polity, there should also have their benefits where it matters.
So, vibrancy, responsive and true representation of my people is what I think I have to give in to them.
Coming from the business community, the National Assembly is definitely a different environment for you. How do you intend to cope with legislative activities and brace up the new challenge?
It is a big challenge, big challenge in the sense that as a businessman I believe in strategy, but as a politician you don’t believe in strategy, you believe in carrying everybody along.
So, you find out that even when you have an idea you must make sure that others are supporting you, otherwise your idea will not fly. So, what am trying to do is to make sure that I stoop very low to understand the intricacies behind legislative business. And I think I am coping very well in the Senate and I know before my 6th month I would have been able to grasp as many as I can. And I would be able to use my experience to legislate and also bring about change in the legislative business.
As a distinguished Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and as a Nigerian, are you worried about the present security situation in the country?
Apart from being a Senator, just as a citizen of this country I am worried. And I believe everybody is worried. The security situation of this country is driving everybody crazy. Imagine a report last week in Lokoja, Kogi State where armed robbers attacked all the passengers in a luxurious bus and ordered them to lie down. And in the course of doing that another vehicle rammed into them and killed about fourteen of them.
It is very worrisome. That is just not all, our Nigerians in Diaspora are scared to come back home and if the security system is not put in shape development will be very far away from us.
So, I think that because of the fact that the present administration under the leadership of President Goodluck Jonathan has promised to hit the ground running, the ground first of all must be hit on the security aspect. Let every apparatus needed by the security agencies be made available to them.
When you come to think about it they are human beings like we are. When you go to the UK you see the equipment, just a policeman’s dressing is about two hundred thousand pounds. Can we afford to do that here? And they are assured that nobody can mess them up.
But for a Nigerian policeman, look at the shoe, some of them even put on slippers. It is so bad that I think the security system should be looked into. First of all, their welfare, then equip them because it is only when you are motivated that you do your job well. Anybody that is working without motivation will hardly do the job well.
So, I believe that the government of this country should motivate the police and equip them and give them the assurance that they will not die in the course of their duty. Because when they are fully mobilized and equipped, I believe that work will go on well. So, what solution? The solution is that the government should equip them, motivate them and see to their welfare. I think motivation and equipment should be the ideal thing that government should look into.
What should Nigerians expect from the seventh Senate?
Ah! Seven is a number of perfection. The seventh Senate I think will perfect a couple of things. If you see the way we are bonding naturally now you will know that Nigerians will expect a lot from us. We don’t put party politics into what we are doing. We look at Nigeria as an entity, as a country that is our own and we want to achieve the vision 20, 2020.
And if we must achieve it, then we must corporate together and that is why the Senate has been smooth. From the last exercise of the screening of ministers, I think Nigerians will agree with me that we sure have some good stuff coming out of this present seventh Senate.
For as long as the National Assembly is good we believe that the state Houses of Assembly will do well and the country will do well. You see, I don’t believe in criticizing system, so much so that I have what to give and not giving it. I think all Nigerians should put their hands on the table; hands on the desk and let us develop this country together. Because I believe that when we come together we can make Nigeria a better place. We are well endowed, mineral and human resources. All we need to do is to create human capacity building. So, I believe when we train Nigerians in human capacity building, Nigeria will be better for it.
What is your view on the issue of N18,000 minimum wage?
Minimum wage of N18, 000 is not even minimal enough to minimize the suffering of the people. That is the truth because when you check the cost of living today you will appreciate what am saying. You will agree with me that N18, 000 is not even enough. An open-ended N18, 000 for all the states, may be that is the agitation. Some states are viable while some are not. The federal government will have to look into the issue. States that are not viable need assistance to be able to pay this money.
But that the workers should be short-changed, I am totally against that. Every worker in this country must have their minimum wage of N18, 000. The federal government and the states must come together and find ways in which these payments should be made. And of course, it should not be a stick on one side and a carrot on the other side, because I am hearing of removal of subsidy and all of that. Then, tomorrow it’s going to be suffering all over; the N18, 0000 will not even be able to take them to their various homes.
So, as far as I am concerned, I do not think that the government will not be able to pay. State governments have the ability to pay without giving any condition. I am totally in support that every state and of course the federal government should pay this money.
How will you describe the present administration in Edo State under the leadership of Governor Adams Oshiomhole?
Well, even the blind will see that he is performing; he is doing well. Critics, you cannot avoid them with their criticisms. In politics people are there to destroy those that have won and those that have won will be careful enough to keep their victory intact in order to be able to carry everybody along. And I think he is doing just that. My governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, as far as I am concerned is performing; he is very hard working even with very slim resources at his disposal. If you go to Edo south, Edo is working. You go to central, Edo is working and you go to the north, Edo is working. The caterpillars we have not seen over the years are back to the streets and doing our roads in Edo State.
I am not praising him but giving a fair assessment and merely explaining and emphasizing on the things he is doing.
So, I think he is doing a good job. All he needs now is the support of the people.?