How APC connived with Security agencies, INEC to manipulate poll – Kwara Deputy Speaker

In this interview with HEAD POLITICS, MUMINI ABDULKAREEM, Deputy Speaker, Kwara State House of Assembly, Dr Matthew Okedare speaks on his experience during the last general elections and unalloyed support for the Saraki dynasty despite the recent defeat at the polls. Excerpts

Do you think you have done enough as a representative of your people?   

For the past three years, I have been able to distribute N1.5m every three months across wards. For the fire incident that consume over 9 vehicles and machines, I obtained N2.8m loan from the bank and distributed money to the victims according to their losses, constructed and repaired over 112 boreholes across all the wards. Spaying machines and chemical were also distributed to the farmers to aid and improve their farming across every unit in my constituency. These excluded scholarships for teachers and non-teachers running sandwich programmes. For widows, I gave them ten to twenty thousand naira each quarterly and placed selected youth and jobless elders on salary scale of ten to twenty thousand monthly amounting to N380,000 from inception of my tenure. Then the local government chairmen, youth and women leaders were not left out of this gesture as I  gave them incentive of N10,000 monthly for two years. I had to stop after other party executives like secretary and PRO objected to it that they also want to be included. But I cannot carry everybody along on this.

Any regret so far?

Not at all. Initially I wanted to become chairman of the Local Government but fortunately or unfortunately, I lost the election and was appointed secretary to the Local Government before my election as a lawmaker. At the House, I emerged Deputy Speaker and served diligently to the best of my ability, which was well applauded by colleagues and staff of the assembly who lauded my open door policy that gives everybody free access to my office whether senior of junior staff. I identified and supported them when they have social functions. No regret at all.

What would have been your priority if you were re-elected?

My plan was to improve on the activities of our farmers by standing as guarantor for them to obtain loans from the Bank of Agriculture in an effort to commercialise their farming with good monitoring mechanism for payback. I will then assist them to hire tractors and other commercial farming equipment including seedlings for them to produce for consumption and export. I intend to spend more time with them than in the House. There were also moves to attract scholarship for the youth in my area by using fifty percent of my salary to do that this time around because of the challenge of funding.

Many have wondered how you have been able to reach out to your people despite the narrative that there is no money in the legislature?

Even some of my colleagues in the House do ask my where I get the money to do all what I am doing. For me, everything boils down to determination. What I do in this regard is in two folds. First is to obtain loan from the bank and spread the deduction over six months and also go into contribution which I have done four times collecting about N4.5m each since I joined the legislature and when it’s my turn, I spread the money to my constituency. My monthly Salary cannot do these. Personally now, I don’t have any saving and nobody within and outside my constituency will say he/she has not benefitted from me which is why I thank God. But some people have wondered that despite all these, I did not win. Winning and reward to me is in the hands of God and I believe that human being cannot reward one’s good works. It has been part of me since I was the TIC chairman during the late governor Muhammed Lawal’s regime. I am not bothered whether I win the election or not, the important thing is that I have satisfied my conscience and my record will be there forever. I have set a record for those coming behind to follow to work harder otherwise people may rebuke them.

Before the election, you were already being touted as the next speaker, what would you have loved to be remembered for?

Well, I thank God for how He has made the whole thing happen. I have been the Deputy Speaker of the House and I have presided over the plenary many times. For me, maintaining peace is very important and we have been able to continue the narrative of non impeachment since the beginning of democracy in Kwara State. To us, we see ourselves as equal and any member can become the speaker. I learnt many lessons from Ali Ahmad who has been a very good listener and not an authoritarian. We take solution collectively and follow superior argument just like the Speaker. Those coming should build on it to further move the state forward. When I lost the election, most of the workers in the House were crying that saying they  never thought I could lose. But they don’t know the plans that God has in store for me. When I lost the contest for council chairman, that was what the people were saying, but today, I am the Deputy Speaker.

Do you have any regret being associated with the Senate President?

Never! I imbibed all my humanitarian posture activities from him because Dr Bukola Saraki is someone who doesn’t want to know your tribe, religion or town before doing anything for you once your problem is taken to him. I promise to be with him throughout my live. I will not leave the dynasty no matter the intimidation or pressure. This is someone who has sacrificed his wealth for the progress of Kwara and Nigeria as a whole from hajj, scholarship, roads, school construction and others, but some enemies still believe he did nothing. We thank God that another party is coming now and we pray they will be able to move the state forward. But before they can match what Saraki has done, they will work very hard. I remain with Saraki as my political mentor and leader to follow throughout my life.

How would you describe your experience during  last election in your constituency?

The election physically manipulated by the All Progressives Congress (APC) in collaboration with INEC. What they did was to distribute uncollected voters card in my area and in many other places across the state, to APC members who moved around to give those who don’t have and mobilise them with money to go and vote. The election was not a true reflection of the will of the majority of Kwarans. In a community where you have about hundred people and you know you can split the vote, additional hundred persons will just come and line up to vote with voter’s card. The election was manipulated but since that is how God wants it, we accepted it and I have congratulated the governor-elect and all those that won notwithstanding that my party lost.

How about the issue of security that some party leaders complained about?

In my place in Jebba, Security agents collaborated with APC members by harassing our people and disallowed the party agents from coming near the polling booths against the norm. Agents are supposed to work with the INEC Presiding Officers to ensure transparency. But they ordered the agents to stay far away. This is one of the advantages given to APC to subdue PDP and I know it happened in many places across the state. Some APC members brought five vehicle loaded with thugs to my polling unit and the police were just looking at them. I was harassed and threatened that I should vote and leave or they will get me killed. The police instead of rising to the occasion came to “advise’ that I should vote and go away though I was a contestant. I asked the police why they were asking me to leave and they said to avoid problem. I asked them what about the thugs that invaded the place harassing people whether they have the right and they said no but did not do anything. I had to leave since the police could no longer guarantee my safety.

Do you think the new government can meet the expectations of Kwarans?

If they are determined and not deceiving themselves because there is biting hunger in the land since the inception of President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration. People are not happy in all ramification and aspect of living including lack of regular salary and robust agriculture plans that ordinarily  should improve the situation. Although most of the incoming people are new to government but they are not new to life and they know the problems of the people. By engaging in people oriented policies, it will reduce the suffering of our people. They should not play politics of tribalism or party but go for the best hands to do the job.

Your advice for Saraki

He should be happy and thank God for what his Creator has used him to do for the people of Kwara. To me, he has performed very well and his representation as the Senate President will leave an indelible mark in the politics of Nigeria. He faced the ‘almighty’ Federal Government, was persecuted for his right and he won. He will be remembered throughout his life as an indigene of Kwara. He is still the leader of politics in Kwara and majority of those in APC today were once his political students and most of them will still come back to him. He should continue to accommodate people and not be far away from the state. We his lieutenants and foot soldiers are ready to continue to support him. For me, I want to be remembered as one who always listen and stand by the views of my people and identify with them always. I take people and community problems as my own and I have no regret doing that.

Is defeat end of Saraki’s dynasty as some have insinuated?

Those saying that are joking and that utterance was a rehash of their slogan when Baba Saraki died. But what has happened since then. This defeat is only temporary and Saraki’s dynasty will remain. I and many others will not behave like those that he made and they were known within and outside the country but later left him and came back to fight him. If Saraki looks back and didn’t see me with him, then I am dead. Time is coming when people will do the assessment of his leadership and those coming on board. Then they will be able to compare and contrast.