In this interview with HEAD POLITICS, MUMINI ABDULKAREEM, Chairman House Committee on Health and Environment, Hon Owolabi Olatunde Razaq representing Share/Oke-Ode constituency speaks on recent allegation of assault levelled against him, the speakership tussle then and his exploits so far, among other issues in the polity. Excerpts:
How would you describe your election into the House of Assembly?
It’s Allah’s wish. I started my political career in 1999 in Ilorin West Local Government Area and in 2002, I was part of the struggle that saw former Governor Bukola Saraki emerge governor of the state. I had a club then called the Foresight Millennium Club in six wards of Alanamu, Ajikobi, Ubandawaki, Adewole and Badari among others. After Saraki’s emergence, I was appointed Supervisory Councillor but people protested that I am from Babaloma in Ifelodun. But the late Baba Saraki rejected their protest and queried that where were they while I was working for the success of the governor and none remembered that I am not from Ilorin then. I was then appointed PA to then Speaker. But in 2007, I went back home to contest for councillorship and won. Three months to the end of my tenure, my community called me that I should go for second term and that was the first time a councillor in Kwara State will get such privilege. Later because of political differences, I left the dynasty and contested for the House of Assembly ticket but lost due to intra party crisis in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) then. I moved on until this dispensation where I emerged.
You have been one of the very vocal members of the 9th House of Assembly despite being new in the system, what is responsible for that?
I was once a legislator at the Local Government and there is no much difference between our activities and what is obtained at the councils, state and national levels on legislative activities. I used to watch proceedings at the floor of the National Assembly a lot to prepare me and keep me focused for this assignment. I have observed most members are most times too academic and so I play the role of using my charisma to strike the balance at the floor.
Your picture went viral recently where you were seen clearing debris from the gutter during a sanitation exercise, was it all about publicity of playing politics?
Being an honourable member does not make me a different person. Humility has been my watchword right from when I was in school and doing all chores and menial jobs to survive as a student. My wife told those who spoke to her about it that she was not surprised. During the monitoring exercise that day, the environmental officials were not on ground and the refuse littered everywhere. I rented and paid for shovel from the residents of the area and started clearing the debris. The Permanent Secretary of the ministry later came to join me and that was how I prompted so many people to carry out the cleaning exercise. I will do more than that by the next cleaning exercise to encourage our youths and politicians to understand the need to prioritise service for the people and Governor Abdulrazaq has shown us the way.
How would you describe the engagements of your committee thus far?
My appointment as chairmen House Committee on Health and Environment was by Allah’s grace and support of the Speaker. I never lobbied for it. Although I am a graduate of Town and Regional Planning from the Kwara State Polytechnic, Ilorin, right before my election I have been dreaming of that position because my father was once a health officer and I learnt so many things from him. My appointment brought out the passion for the job. We have engaged in series of oversights and we will ensure our hospitals are fully equipped with drugs and personnel. With the assurance of the First Lady to support me all the way, the people will experience the next level as far as health is concerned.
You are one of the key figures that supported Hon Saheed Popoola’s speakership ambition but he lost…
I worked and led the campaign for him because of his experience as the only ranking lawmaker but we didn’t know the party will zone it to the north. We envisaged they will allow us choose for ourselves. Many people like Hon AbdulKareem Paku and Hon Bababoya were interested then. Speaker Danladi was not even in the picture then but we were very close and nobody knew. Many party leaders called me that they want it to go to Kwara North and when that narrative came in, the best bet for me was to support my friend. The Speaker has the charisma, capability and intelligence to pilot the affairs of the House and he has not disappointed so far.
But many expected Popoola to get the deputy speakership?
We wanted him to be considered for the position to serve as guide for the Speaker being the most experienced lawmaker now, but the party felt otherwise. I objected the decision publicly during a meeting with the All Progressives Congress (APC) leadership when the state chairman said they wanted the deputy speakership to go to Oke-Ero. But the party called me and pleaded that we should allow peace to reign. We spoke to Hon Popoola afterwards who reasoned with us and accepted fate. Everybody is working in unison now, this is not about Hon Popoola but Kwara State.
Critics believe lack of experience of the 9th legislature have been responsible for your actions thus far?
All our actions have been based on due process. Criticising us over suspension of chairmen is wrong. There was a petition and investigating them on seat without running into hitch would be difficult. That was why we later called for the suspension of the DPMs and treasurers who are like a pyramid working together. Suspension does not mean they are not coming back. They still receive salaries, we have been interacting and the committees are still doing their work.
You were recently accused of beating a tenant in Ilorin and removing his tooth, how true is this?
It is suicidal for two lawmakers to box someone to the point of removing his tooth in this age of social media. We came in with the O to ge mantra and have since graduated to Ise Ya. Now its Ise Nlo and we should be able to lay good example. It was Hon Gani Abolarin representing Ekiti constituency who has an apartment of 6 bedroom flats in Tanke. An occupant of one of the facilities who owed over six months rent was alleged of using the place for homosexual activities and other forms of atrocities. As a friend, I went with him when we learnt he was around after evading us for months. We knocked for more than two hours but they refused to open the burglary to their apartment. I then drove to the police station at ‘F’ Division and came back with two officers who had to force their way in because they refused to open the gate. They were arrested and the police took their statement and that of Hon Gani. The DPO later intervened and they promised to pay the money at the end of the month. So it was surprising to see on social media that we attacked him and removed his tooth. There was nothing like that. The DPO is there to confirm our story. In the statement he wrote with the police, he never said his tooth was removed to tell you the lie of that narrative. This is nothing but politics, and I will advise people not to promote falsehood against anybody because God is watching all of us. We are not violent people and are not thugs. I am a vocal person not a fighter and will continue to honour and respect my position.
You are one of the few that have moved a motion at the floor despite being a new to the system, what gave you the impetus to do that?
During the last environmental sanitation held on July 27, 2019 in Ilorin, I led others as the chairman House Committee on Health and Environment to various places like Pakata, Idi-Igba among others and we saw lot of mess. I felt the need to move a motion for the people to know the importance of the exercise and for the law to take its course for anybody that failed in that regard. I plan to use my personal vehicle with jingle across the city to sensitise the people and get then mobilised for the monthly cleaning a week to the exercise at my personal cost.
How do you want to be remembered after you leave office?
My prayer is for God not to leave me because I don’t want to leave my people but to continue to serve them. I was travelling penultimate week and I branched a community in my place unscheduled and the villagers were crying that this is the first time any politician will visit them without invitation. I asked about their problem and gave out the little with me. I want to be doing this and we are determined not to fail them. I urged the youth to be focused and prayerful. My story never seizes to amaze people who know how I started. My parents had little but I left them and went to Lagos to be doing odd jobs and other unthinkable menial jobs receiving N600. But today I pay people to build for me. The youth should not allow we politician to use them as thugs.
