Talebearers

ASIWAJU BOLA TINUBU IS NIGERIA’S FATHER OF DEMOCRACY

-Lagos Lawmaker, Dayo Fafunmi

A National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu recently clocked 62 years of age and this was marked with pomp and ceremony by his friends, colleagues, political children and associates.

For the lawmaker representing Ifako/Ijaiye Constituency 1 in the Lagos State House of Assembly, Hon. Dayo Saka Fafunmi, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu is a father of democracy in Nigeria and an icon, who should be celebrated for his selflessness and leadership qualities.

Fafunmi also speaks on the on-going constitutional conference and the challenging security situation in the country in this interview he granted us recently.

How would you react to the 70% voting formula adopted at the on-going constitutional conference in Abuja?

This would make it more difficult for our constitution to be amended, this also negates the 2/3 majority enshrined in our judicial system. It is difficult to actually define what 2/3 means, is there anything like 66.67% of humans. I think 70% is a step ahead of 2/3, so for every amendment in the constitution, you need 70% votes, this makes it more difficult to amend the constitution and this is good for us.

However, I would like to add that constitutional amendment is not what we ought to embark upon regularly, American Constitution has been there for years, even Britain does not have a written constitution, basically their constitution is un-codified, it is not in one document. Endorsement of 70% would make the amendment process difficult.

Would you say something tangible would come out of the constitution conference despite the position of your party on the issue?

I am someone that believes in change, but where you have such a constitutional confab, it is the future of the nation that should be discussed there. But, when you have people, who are octogenarians, people who are above 90 or almost 100 years of age, some of whom destroyed this country through their actions in the past, you still want to give them the responsibility of determining the future of generations yet unborn, it would be difficult to get something from them. Most of them took us to where we are today and they are taking us to where they think we should be. I don’t see anything good coming out of them, I don’t see anything extra-ordinary coming out of them or the confab. Our problem as a country is not limited by constitution, who are the people to be the change element. The mindset for the change must be there. It is a collective will of the people. If you as a leader want to effect change, and the followers are not willing, then where will the change come from?

Suspected Boko Haram members reportedly attacked SSS Headquarters in Abuja, how would you describe this and how do you see the security situation in the country as election is approaching?

This issue of Boko Haram sect is a national issue, which I think is beyond the PDP-led government, this is the time, when all hands must be on deck to handle it. Party leaders and professionals that are Nigerians, who are competent in handling security issues, should not leave it in the hands of the ruling class. Let other political parties aside the Federal Government proffer solution to this lingering crisis of Boko Haram insurgents. If we continue to allow President Goodluck Jonathan to handle our security issue alone, it could lead to something else.

Such issues that are of national interest should not be left with someone who has not proven himself to be able to deliver or meet the needs of the people of Nigeria. He should open up to other people; he should know that this thing might consume him as a leader. The United States of America is fighting terrorism all over the world today not just in America; they go to the base of terrorists to deal with them. Why do you think they are in Afghanistan, they are not interested in spending their hard earned money on terrorism, their interest is to protect Americans as a whole. The issue here is if Boko Haram members could attack our national security agents and agencies without any intelligence report, and those who are meant to give the intelligence reports are being attacked, I am beginning to lose hope in the whole system. As an individual and as a Nigerian, I want to say that the President should know that he should meet people that can help, it goes beyond the PDP, it is a national calamity. If Boko Haram members could go as far as attacking innocent students in Federal Government Colleges, these are brilliant students, whose lives were cut short. For them to go to Eagles Square in Abuja, where the President was to address the people, and bomb the place is a serious matter, they attacked Police headquarters, police stations, army barracks, this means if we do not give it a timely approach, they would cause much destruction. If it is a region that is being affected, why not condone off the region, tighten the security, take advantage of the air force, you don’t have to employ only military officers for the task, hire some locals who could use the communications and telecommunication equipment, and decentralize the police. Let local governments help them at this point, let someone be in charge of the equipment and they would alert you when they notice any movement, we can curtail the crisis if we don’t just see it as the business of the police, army, or Joint Task Force (JTF), it is our national problem that needs to be addressed.

Your National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu recently celebrated his birthday, how would you describe him as a person at this time?

This is a man, who has given us the true meaning of democracy, this is a man, who understands, what it takes to be in the opposition, and this is a man that every Nigerian should be proud of for challenging the activities of the PDP. If not for him, Nigeria would have been a one-party state. When the PDP did a ‘magic’ and won all the states in the South West, this man remained standing, for me, I see him as a father of democracy, someone we should be grateful to for rising to the occasion. Some other people would have been contented with saving Lagos State alone and say they are in control, but this man has been able to cover more grounds than expected due to his exposure amongst other things.

Who are we not to celebrate the icon of democracy, a true leader? We wish him happy birthday and many more life of serving the nation and the very best that Almighty Allah has planned for him.

Would you encourage him to contest for the position of the nation’s vice-presidency as some people have been saying?

Tell me the qualification as enshrined in the constitution of Nigeria that stops him from doing that. It is his own personal decision, but someone who has sacrificed a lot for the people, though I cannot speak for him, I feel he would probably wants to remain a national leader of repute and someone who would ensure justice and fairness in the country.