Hon. Akintoye Albert is a member of the House of Representatives representing Irele-Okitipupa Federal Constituency. In this interview with OJO OYEWAMIDE, the Deputy Chairman, House Committee on Niger-Delta, speaks on local government autonomy, removal of immunity clause from the constitution, child marriage and other topical issues. Excerpts:
You have been in the House of Representatives in the last two years. How has it been and how has your representation impact on the people of your constituency?
We give thanks to God for what we have been able to achieve. He has helped us a lot to be able to carry the load. I am the Deputy Chairman of the House Committee on the Niger-Delta. I am also a member of the House Committees on the Nigeria Navy, Petroleum Upstream, Legislative Compliance, Steel Development, Special Duties and Inter-Parliamentary Relations.
I have been able to move motions on certain issues that affect our constituents such as the devastating fire disaster at Iju- Osun in Irele Local Government Area; the ravaging ecological problems in Irele and Okitipupa local government areas and the construction of an over-head bridge and pedestrian walk-ways across the Lagos- Benin road at accident flash points in Ore.
I have also influenced some on-going projects including the construction of the road from Agadagba-Iju-Osun-Akotogbo- Yopiara-Iyansan and a bridge across Ovia River to Edo state; the construction of a Skill Acquisition Center in Ajagba, Irele Local Government Area; the construction of a Police Station at Iju-Odo in Okitipupa Local Government Area; the drilling of boreholes at different locations in the federal constituency.
We have given several scholarship awards to brilliant secondary and university students. We have also embarked on some empowerment programmes for youths, women and even men. So far, we have been able to bring joy to our constituents.
You are a stalwart of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP in Ondo State and the only legislator on the platform of the party in the House of Representatives from the state. How would you assess the present status of the PDP in the state?
I say it anywhere that I was the only PDP candidate that won election in Ondo State into the House in 2011. And in the House of Representatives, everybody knows me. When we have sittings, I always introduce myself as Hon. Akintoye Albert representing Irele-Okitipupa Federal Constituency and the entire PDP in Ondo State. The future of the state chapter of the PDP is very bright. Why I am saying this is that the Labour Party, LP, government in the state is not performing well. Two, the PDP, having been in government before, has a lot to point to as its achievements to the people of the state. I would like to refer you to the immediate past government of Dr. Olusegun Agagu. We all saw what the government was able to do. Look at the roads and bridges it constructed in the coaster area of the state. We are not witnessing anything like that now. The truth must be told and we must not deceive ourselves. Former Governor Agagu performed so wonderfully that people of the state are now feeling nostalgic about his government.
That is what gives members of the PDP in Ondo State the confidence and hope that the party will win election anytime, any day. I don't think the manipulation that has been characterising the conduct of elections in the last couple of years in the state will last forever. I pray that we should all be alive to witness the coming elections. We will all see what will happen in the state.
There is this rumour of your planned defection to the LP. The belief is that being the only PDP member of the House of Representatives elected from the state, you may want to change parties to actualise your reelection into the House. What's your reaction?
This is laughable. I would be the last person to cross to any other party. If I want to re-contest, I will do so on the platform of the PDP and I will win. But I would like to tell you that I am yet to declare my interest in re-contesting the seat. I am still consulting leaders and members of my party.
I will consult my God and if He says I should recontest, I will. Nobody can stop me. So, I don't need to cross to another party to win any election in the state. The rumour of my planned defection to another party is a lie.
What informed the resolution of the House to scrap the State Independent Electoral Commissions, SIECs?
I think it is better to allow the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to conduct all elections in the country. The elections conducted by INEC are more acceptable to our people.
The SIECs are being manipulated by the state governors. When there is a local government election in any state, before the end of the election, you would see the governor announcing candidates of his party as the winners. Look at the last local government election in Lagos State. They cancelled the results of the areas where the PDP candidates won and returned the candidates of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN.
So, if INEC is allowed to conduct the local government election, the election would be free and fair. The commission would be neutral. That was why the House decided that INEC should be allowed to conduct all elections in the country. Our people have been complaining about how state governors manipulate the local government elections. More than 80 percent of the people in the country support the scrapping of the SIECs. Personally, I prefer INEC to conduct all elections in the country.
But some people are of the opinion that INEC can also be manipulated?
It is not possible. INEC is being controlled by the Federal Government. I don't see any reason why the commission will allow itself to be manipulated when conducting local government elections. I could remember my own election in 2011. Some people in the state did not want me to win the election. They tried all sorts of tricks.
The results of the election in my ward were even cancelled. But at the end of the day, I was returned. So, my election into the House of Representatives was possible because INEC conducted the poll. If it was an election conducted by ODSIEC, even if I defeated my opponent by a wide margin, I would not have been declared as winner.
The lower chamber voted for local government autonomy. But governors and some interests are against it. As a former council chairman, why do you think local governments deserve to be free from the control of the state governments?
I was a Caretaker Chairman of Irele Local Government for almost eight months. I was later elected as the Executive Chairman in 2003 and re-elected in 2007. Therefore, I understand the system.
I am very close to my people. I know them, what they want and what they don't want. I must say that it has got to the stage where we must allow the local governments to operate on their own. Chairmen of local governments are elected like the state governors.
Let them stay in their local government areas and operate freely. Let the money come directly from the federation account to the local governments so that they can execute laudable projects that will be of meaningful effect to the people at the grassroots.
The practice of writing to the state governors for approval before local governments can execute any project must stop if we want true development at the grassroots level.
Why did the House decided to vote for the removal of the immunity clause in the Nigerian Constitution?
It will lessen corruption. Those in power would be very careful if they know that they would face the consequences if they break the law.
Don't you think the president, governors and their deputies would be distracted by court cases if they don't enjoy constitutional immunity?
Are you telling me now that there are no court cases everywhere? It will continue like that. It will continue immunity or no immunity. You see, what we want in this country is progress. We cannot allow the country to remain stagnant. We must show to the whole world that we detest the virus of corruption and that we are sincerely committed to fighting the scourge.
Do you think it is right for the National Assembly to have taken over functions of the Rivers State House of Assembly on the account of the political crisis in the state?
That is why we are there. We are there to do the right thing at the right time. And that decision that we took is the best to help the people of Rivers State. We took the decision to prevent the possible escalation of the political crisis in the state. The constitution of the country supports our action. It is our duty to prevent anything that can truncate our democracy.
What do you have to say about the underage marriage controversy going on in the country? It is unspeakable.
Some people are really crazy in this country. How would any rational person say that a girl of 12 0r 13 years of age should go and marry?
She cannot cope. Somebody who does not even know how to cook, who does not know how to respect her father first, who is yet to be really educated, you are saying she is old enough to marry. If you don't know, you are killing that girl. It is madness.
A senator from your state said he voted for child marriage in error...
I read about it in the newspapers and I felt sorry for the senator. Why are you there if you don't know what you are doing? Some people will say think before you do. It is not when the head is off that you should start weeping and crying.
Anyway, when I later found out what happened, I really sympathised with the senator. I think he deserves everybody's understanding and pardon since he has come out openly to say he regretted his action.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has finally registered the All Progressive Congress (APC). Some people believe the new party is capable of wrestling power from the PDP in 2015. What is your reaction?
The registration of the APC is a good and interesting development. It shows that our democracy is growing. Yes, it will help to put the PDP on its toes. But don't forget that the PDP is a well-entrenched party. It is present in every corner of the country. I don't think the new party will be able to displace the PDP in 2015.
National Mirror