The speaker of Kogi State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon Aliyu Umar is no doubt a man of intellect, a consummate politician, humble to a fault, savvy and intellectually honed for our contemporary politics. In this interview with journalists as part of his reaction to Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo’s First Anniversary, he tells us how far so far; especially as it concerns legislative – executive relationship. Excerpts:

Kindly introduce yourself to our readers, sir

My name is Rt Hon Aliyu Umar Yusuf, FCNA; the Speaker of the Kogi State House of Assembly. I am privileged to be the 13th Speaker and I currently head the 8th Assembly in the state. As I always say, I feel really lucky to be heading the most intelligent, committed, brilliant and united set of legislators in the state.

I have a background in accounting. I graduated from Salem University Lokoja, Kogi State Polytechnic, Lokoja and the National Institute of Accountancy, Jos, Plateau State. I am a member of the Association of National Accountancy of Nigeria (ANAN). I am a retired civil servant. I retired as a Deputy Director with the Kogi State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB). Even while in active civil service, I never left my political background having been groomed by some of the best political brains in the history of the State, who were the active politicians we had even before the state’s creation. I feel privileged to have had the opportunity to learn under the tutelage of elder statesmen and men of impeccable characters like the Late Pa Sunday Awoniyi, Late Alhaji Sule Iyaji, Late Stephen Achema, Late Alhaji Ahmed Tijani (AT) Ahmed, Late Alhaji Aliyu Autan-Yaya, Distinguished Senator Tunde Ogbeha, and other political figures of yesteryears. I can also say that modern political figures in the state, including the immediate past Governor of the State, His Excellency, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, Rt Hon Clarence Olafemi, Rt Hon Abdulrahman Dangana and many that are too numerous for me to mention form the core of contemporary politicians who I can also say have had impact on my political career one way or the other.

What is your view about Gov Ahmed Usman Ododo’s One Year in Office?

I can tell you with all confidence that so far, so good. One word I can use to describe the administration so far is that it has been eventful and surreal. It has become obvious to all that Governor Ododo is truly a Chief servant. He has been a dedicated servant since the immediate past administration where he served as the State Auditor General for Local Government. He gave his service and didn’t take credit. Even as the Governor, he doesn’t always want to take credit for many things he does even though it is clear that he is a man with milk of human kindness running through his veins and doing wonders for Kogi people. He has made true consolidation his cardinal objective, as you can see from the way he did not allow for a vacuum in any sector of the State. Infrastructural development, upgrade of the state security architecture, improved welfare for civil servants, innovative ideas in the state economic development, improved inter-governmental relationship, widening of the State’s tax net and others have been his objectives, and he is actively working to ensure they are realized. Every time I come to the office, I look at the recently completed Zone Eight to the Crusher Road project and the ongoing beautification, and I marvel. The projects ongoing around that area have given life to the social and economic activities of the people living in that part of the State Capital and have even birthed new economic opportunities. Nightlife is back in that area. The same can be said of the Zone Eight to Barracks, Zango and Zariagi Road. The proposed health sector and the ultramodern Lokoja International Market around that axis is also something that gives a lot of development prospects to that area. I feel excited each time I think of the possibilities that abound as a result of the projects ongoing and proposed in the state by the present administration.

Let’s come back to the executive-legislative relationship under the current government…

On this, I must give gratitude to the Governor for his pragmatic steps that led to the absolute autonomy the state legislature enjoys. I know the judiciary also enjoys autonomy. So, the relationship has been very cordial and mutually respectful. The issue of autonomy is something we have clamoured for a long time. Many states of the country only wish they enjoy the level of autonomy and independence that we enjoy in the state. But I thank God for the person of the Governor for encouraging and ensuring that the autonomy works to extricate the view that the legislature has been the apron string of the executive. So, our relationship has been cordial, respectful and in the interest of the people of the State.

Quickly address the issue of the suspicion in the public that the current legislature in Kogi State is a rubber stamp of the executive…

(Laughs)… whenever I hear people say something like that, I laugh. We are not a robber stamp by any stretch of the imagination. Let me tell you something, what some people out there see as a working legislature is a situation where lawmakers are seen or they read in the media that the lawmaking arm is having a face-off with the executive. I have said this in many forums that it is a wrong notion. The legislature must collaborate with other arms of government for to ensure the development of the state. Nigerian democracy has evolved since the return of this system of government in 1999. People should know that government is beyond textbook knowledge. States in Nigeria have their peculiarities and people should know that. Nigeria as a nation is still developing with many social and infrastructural challenges. Also among the 36 states of the country, some were created before others. You cannot compare states created in 1967 with the ones that were created in 1976. In the same way, you cannot compare those created in 1987 and those created in 1991 and 1996, respectively. In the same vein, you cannot compare the resources of the states. These are factors many people don’t look at when making comments about the executive-legislative relationship. These are indices that determine the level of development which plays key roles in the relationship that exists among or between arms of government. I said that you cannot compare Nigeria and America in the same way you cannot compare us with many African, European, or Asian countries because some of them are bigger than us in size and resources, and we are bigger than many using this yardstick. As a people, we should only encourage policies and programmes that would attract development to our people. For example, I come from a rural community. My people do not have roads, and they are largely rural farmers. There are many communities like that in the state. So, as a legislator, you now expect me to start fighting the executive and other arms of government instead of collaborating to bring development to them? Does that make any sense? It may make sense to others, but to me, it does not. I thank God that my colleagues in the Assembly also share the same view and are committed to working closely with every stakeholder, particularly the executive, to ensure they improve the living conditions of their constituents. To me, that is purposeful representation.

So, people should cut their elected representatives some slack and allow them to put in their best for their development. Democracy thrives only in an atmosphere of collaboration and working with others. That does not mean where we need to ask questions, we don’t. We do. The essence of lawmaking is to make laws, perform oversight functions, and carry out investigations, among others. We are doing all of that and more. But this is democracy and people are allowed to express their views, even though many of the views lack objectivity and the criticisms lack constructiveness. But that is the beauty of democracy. The fact that somebody is saying the legislature is a robber stamp does not make it true.

There is a rave review from other members about the way you are leading them. What is the secret to that?

What do you mean by rave reviews?

I mean, they are praising you for what they describe as transparency and openness…

Oh…well, but that should be the essence of leadership. To me, I feel that we are all lawmakers elected to represent all of our constituents in the 25 state constituencies. It is in their magnanimity that they have allowed me to lead them as the Speaker. So, I owe it to them to be open and ensure accountability and transparency in leading the house. It comes to me naturally.

What is your message to the people of the State as we get into the second year of Ahmed Usman Ododo’s government?

Well, as we go into the second year under the administration, I have no doubt the state will witness more development across all sectors. I’ll employ all of us to be patient and allow our leaders to bring development to all parts of the State. The Governor is doing a lot and is never resting in his desire to bring improvement to all parts of the state so that Kogi attains the level of development that it deserves.