Lagos State House of Assembly Deputy Speaker Wasiu Eshinlokun-Sanni, in this interview with MUSA ODOSHIMOKHE, explains why the House is collaborating with the executive to make the state better.
How will you score the eight Lagos State House of Assembly since inception?
The achievement of the Lagos State House of Assembly is quite obvious. The House has been doing its work, with the people of the state as the focal point. We have worked on not less than 35 bills. We have reflected on many motions on the floor, treating each on its merit. The budget was passed in record time. The budget was done with the speed that would enable the government to hit the ground running. We have been supportive and collaborating with the government for the purpose of ensuring that the state is better. We have taken the burden to intervene on the welfare of the people. I think we have been doing our best; there is no doubt about that. We will not stop to serve the people as lawmakers and ensure that there is not gap between governance and lawmaking, as far as Lagosians are concerned.
Lagos State Government stated it would no longer restrict movement on sanitation, are there laws to support this position?
I think it is still an idea that the executive is tinkering with. But, when they are ready, they will talk to us and I believe the House will handle the matter on its merit. I believe the government wants us to understand that there are other better ways of achieving cleanliness in the state than restricting people to their houses. If the bill is brought to us, we will look at it whether it is in tandem with the aspiration of the state. The state may have identified problem with the old ways and it is seeking to look for an alternative to it. May be, the idea of keeping people indoor during such exercises might be counter-productive. The state definitely has reason for any policy or prgramme it wants to embark on, when it is brought to the floor, we will look at the matter and act in accordance to the law.
How are you combining your position as Deputy Speaker and representing your constituency?
The job of a legislature is synonymous with providing collective service to everybody. What you do in the House is a collective responsibility. The motion that you move, would have to be supported by others. You do not have to look at your constituency alone, when you are moving the motion. Others have to support your ideas or proposals. They need to back you up before your bills will see the light of the day. You do not just look at things beneficial to your constituency alone, but across the board. That is the only way you can have the input and support of the others. So, whatever we have done is for the benefit of Lagosians. For me as a representative of Lagos Island, I have been doing what I was elected to do. I have been contributing to motions; personally I have four bills that had passed through first reading. So far, that is the highest any member has sponsored. I have the one on Local Government Service Commission, the one public finances, the one internal committee for local government/council development areas which have passed through first reading.
President Muhammadu Buhari has declined to assent the budget passed by the Senate. do you think he suspects foul play?
Is it no sensible for him to re-examine what he sent? It was in the news that when the bill was sent to them, we heard different stories concerning budget padding and others new developments. The money budgeted for the elderly was taken out of the budget which was in the budget initially. I think it is only reasonable to reflect on what he sent to them, whether it was the same thing he got back.
Your constituency is expecting much from you, what do you really have for them?
Lagos Island has always been lucky, no matter who is representing them or the person serving as governor of the state. Lagos Island on its own has lot to offer the state and I know that plans are there to turn the Race Course into tourist centre. We learnt that the light rail commencing from the Island will be completed this year. It is very obvious that Lagos Island is the commercial nerve centre of Lagos. I know that what Lagos State is to Nigeria that is what Lagos Island is to Lagos State. You still have most of the bank headquarters in Lagos Island even though the federal capital is now Abuja. We have WEMA Bank, Union Bank, UBA and First Bank on Marina, Lagos. Each day over three million people do business on Lagos Island. If you want to verify this, just step on the top of Eko Bridge and take a look on the Island. You will see the huge vehicular movement, the sea of human heads; this is a pointer to it that Lagos Island is the hub of commercial in the state. If you want Lagos State to move, then Lagos Island must move. When I was there as council chairman, we embarked on Lagos Island transportation system. The project was almost 100 per cent completed during my tenure. Lagos Island will soon have its transportation system that will complement the BRT. It will be known as Lagos Island Traffic Authority formerly known as Lagos Municipal Transport Authority. The World Bank bought into the idea and funded the project.
The Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Timi Frank stated your party is divided, what do make of this?
The statements of the Deputy National Publicity Secretary and the National Publicity Secretary are entitled to their views. A political party is an aggregation of various interest groups. It is all about conflicts and conflicts resolution. That is democracy in the real sense of the word. Just as the majority has their ways, the minority must also be heard. For me, I don’t see any conflict in the party. People always have different opinions, but them the majority must rule. The deputy publicity secretary may have reasons why he stated what he stated. But, I must say this is not the era of politicking, this is the era of governance. The party has worked very hard for the enthronement of the APC at the centre. The government that has been voted into power must work for the people.
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The Nation