FEDERAL LAWMAKER-ELECT, HON. AYODEJI OUTLINES PLANS FOR APAPA CONSTITUENCY, OKAYS GBAJABIAMILA SPEAKERSHIP

The newly elected member of House of Representatives, representing Apapa Federal Constituency, Hon. Ayodeji Adebayo Joseph has outlined his plans for the people of his constituency. In an exclusive interview conducted by Naijahottestgist staff writer/editor, Kola Popson, Hon. Ayodeji dwells extensively on so many problems confronting Apapa constituency and how he plans to address them at the National Assembly. Also, he firmly supports the candidacy of Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila for the position of the Speaker of the House, should the position be zoned to southwest.

Excerpts
NAIJAHOTTESTGIST: Good afternoon sir. Our audience would like to meet you.

HON. AYODEJI: Good afternoon, my brother. My name is Ayodeji Adebayo Joseph, the immediate past Executive Chairman of Apapa Local Government; and now House of Representatives member-elect representing Apapa Federal Constituency.

NAIJAHOTTESTGIST: Sir, you have just been given the mandate by your people in Apapa Federal Constituency to represent them at the lower Chamber of the 8th National Assembly. Congratulations on this sir. Now that you have the mandate, people are curious; they really want to know how you intend to give back to the people that have voted you in. What are your plans for your people and constituency?

HON. AYODEJI: Well, I was elected to represent them, and I intend representing them well. I intend giving them the type of representation they have never had before. Everybody knows the peculiar nature of Apapa. So, you can’t go and represent your people without talking about the traffic situation and the road. Those are two very important areas one needs to start with. In terms of traffic congestion, what are the causes of the problem? You talk about lifting of fuel and then the Port in Apapa. And I want to believe there are certain guidelines given to the stakeholders before they were granted approval. That is, they must all have loading point, but with the situation on ground now, it is obvious that many of them do not have loading base. Therefore, we need to go back to what was signed in the agreement before they were given approval to operate. I really want to believe if they had abided by the agreement, the chaotic traffic situation we have now in Apapa wouldn’t have been like that.
NAIJAHOTTESTGIST: Sir, does that mean your first assignment at the National Assembly will be on curbing the unwarranted traffic congestion experienced daily in Apapa?
HON. AYODEJI: There are so many important issues that I am determined to tender at the floor of the House. However, the traffic situation in my constituency needs urgent treatment as it affects daily activities and businesses of my people. The issue of the indiscriminate sighting of tank farms within Apapa has to be addressed. I have been saying it, even when I was chairman, that this is too risky. God forbids, little fire, and Apapa will go off in flame because of this reckless attitude. I don’t want this happen to my people. So there is need to raise this issue that there should be a proper structure for the operational activities of the fuel tankers to avoid unnecessary outbreak of fire.

NAIJAHOTTESTGIST: What a good point you have noted there. Sir, what other things should the people of your constituency expect from you as their representative?
HON. AYODEJI: Like I have said earlier, there are many motions I intend making that would have a positive impact on them. I am not comfortable with the mode of transportation of fuel from Apapa. Our party, APC is talking about change. The change I want to see is to move from transporting fuel by tankers to using rail. The rail system has to be refined. These are very key areas to me that I must push forward on the floor of the National Assembly.
Another thing that I would also want to talk about is that the Federal Government of Nigeria makes so much money from Apapa. Apapa should also get a special status from it. You can’t compare the influx of vehicles into Apapa and the kind of infrastructure provided by the federal government. I can’t remember the last time federal government worked on Apapa road. The federal government is making so much money from Apapa, so it should give back more to her people. This may be in terms of increase in allocation or providing adequate infrastructures. Also, some of our youths in Apapa should be given preference in terms of employment within the area. There are so many companies, banks. How many of our people do they employ in their companies? This shouldn’t be so. When you go to Niger Delta, they tell you they need to get particular quota in terms of employment their people get from the companies operating within their communities. Some of these oil companies even give their youths scholarship. So I expect that this is replicated for my people in Apapa too. The kind of revenue federal government makes from Apapa is mind blowing. Therefore, I am going to tender this on the floor of the House. I really have a lot of work to do at the National Assembly.

NAIJAHOTTESTGIST: And may God see you through sir.
HON. AYODEJI: Amen.

NAIJAHOTTESTGIST: On the issue of who becomes the next Speaker of the Federal House of Representatives, I am putting it to you now sir that do you have any candidate in mind that you are determined to give your vote and support to when the time comes for the House to decide?
HON. AYODEJI: (smiles) Well, the number one thing is what our party says. I am a loyal party person. If the party says it is one Igbo man that they want as the Speaker of the House, I will stand with the decision, or whatever instructions they give us in respect to that.

NAIJAHOTTESTGIST: Maybe I should rephrase the question. Sir, even if the party decides that this vital position should be zoned to a particular zone, southwest for instance as being speculated around, you have more than one person contesting for this same position from the zone. So, this will likely amount to a situation where it has to be decided by members of the House through election. And if…
HON. AYODEJI (cuts in) If it is finally zoned to southwest, then there will be no election because there is Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila who has done extremely well. So I see no reason for any member from the southwest to say he wants to contest against Hon. Gbajabiamiala. This was the man that led the party members of the House very well when we were in the opposition. Now that we are taking over, I see no reason Hon. Gbajabiamila shouldn’t be made the speaker.

 

NAIJAHOTTESTGIST: If I get you right sir, if the speakership is zoned to the southwest, your belief is that it is only Hon. Gbajabiamila that has the best experience and qualities needed to lead House of Representatives?
HON. AYODEJI: Even if not zoned to the southwest but opened to all zones in Nigeria as a whole, Hon. Gbajabiamila is a very good candidate for the position of the speaker.

NAIJAHOTTESTGIST: Alright sir. Over the years now, PDP has been the one dominating both Chambers of the National Assembly and other positions at the federal level. But now that the reverse is about to be the case as the handover date draws nearer, what should Nigerians expect differently and positively from the incoming APC government?
HON. AYODEJI: Well, our president, that is, the President-elect, has always been talking about fighting corruption. And I must be frank with you; we really have to do things properly. On my phone, you have the display picture of ‘war against indiscipline’. That means we are all in support of the orderliness that our president-elect is bringing on board. And you know when there is law and order that people strictly abide with, things will be done appropriately. No one would tell the other what to do when there is strict adherence to the rule of law. And that is going the very big way for us as a nation.
Also the issue of electricity will be addressed properly by the APC incoming government. The situation of our country when it comes to power generation and distribution is so bad. My little boy was saying that he really wants to leave the country. I said why? And he said it is because of power. If my little boy could complain about power, then I wonder what most companies, industries and small scale businesses that require the service of power supply to function effectively will say. I want to believe if we can make power readily available to the people, it would affect a lot of things positively.
Like I have said earlier, we also need to refine our transportation system. Like what Lagos State government is doing in the rail system, the development has to cut across all states of the federation.
Education is another thing that APC government will take very serious. It is my belief that education will thrive well in APC led government. Today our educational system is below the average level. That is why you will see many people sending their children to study abroad.
As stated in the manifesto of our party, the problem of unemployment will be given adequate attention and treatment. We understand that the problem of unemployment did not just start today, it started long time ago. So gradually I want to believe our party will address the issue of unemployment to a possible minimal level that Nigerians will notice the differences.

NAIJAHOTTESTGIST: Nigerians have been clamouring for the need to reduce and slash the expenses of the National Assembly members. Sir, what is your stand on this?
HON. AYODEJI: Yes it has to be done. It just has to be reduced to a minimal and reasonable level. In fact, this is one of the reasons that democracy in Nigeria is very expensive. There should be reduction of expenses and salaries for all political appointees and elected officers at the three tiers of government. This will result to a situation where people will be elected on what good they can do for the country, and not based on the financial and other benefits politicians stand to gain from.

 

NAIJAHOTTESTGIST: Before I let you off the seat sir, your last message to Nigerians, especially the people of your constituency.
HON. AYODEJI: To Nigerians, I want to really thank them for embracing the change. And I am very sure the change they have chosen will be for better, and not worse. Bear in mind that the change you have voted for will affect every aspect of your lives positively. Just believe in us and give your utmost support to President Buhari led government. It is my words that the wind of change will blow positively your ways.
To my people specifically in Apapa Federal constituency, I say a big thank for believing in me and giving the mandate to represent you at the Federal House of Representatives. You voted me into the Federal House of Representatives barely few months after I had left my position as the Executive Chairman of Apapa Local Government Council. This means you believe so much in me, and I shall reciprocate your kindness and the trust you have in me by giving you the kind of representation you have never had before. By the grace of God, I will not disappoint you. Apapa will be a better place for all.

NAIJAHOTTESTGIST: Thank you so much Honourable, so wonderful it has been talking to you sir.
HON. AYODEJI: Thank you for having me.