Hon Abubakar Lawal Garba representing Yola North/South/Girei Federal Constituency who is a lawyer by profession, a banker by training and an Estate Developer who has used his positions in the past to assist his Community back home in Adamawa State.
In an interview with National Assembly Correspondent, Atek’ojo Samson Usman, he was very clear on his passion in the next four years on what he would pursue even as a first timer in the House of Representatives in order to influence constituency projects to his people.
Excerpts:
Can you please introduce yourself?
My name is Hon. Abubakar Lawal Garba. I represent Yola North/South/Girei Federal Constituency of Adamawa State in the National Assembly.
Assembly leadership crisis has created different impressions in the minds of different people. What do you think it portends to survival of our democracy?
First and foremost, I would like to apologise to Nigerians over that crisis particularly to my federal constituency. When it happened, there were public reactions the world over that the 8th Assembly had started with a mess. But if you look at any democracy, people disagree to agree and I hope that is the basis of that crisis. It was purely leadership crisis where some members are saying it should be this way, while others prefer the other way. Even in the same family, you will see crises and that is what we call individual differences, but I just hope that at the end of the day, we will all work for the corporate interest of the country. If you look at the merger of the parties that became All Progressives Congress (APC) today, some have ideologies and some do not have ideologies at all and in coming together now, that is what is happening; but the way I’m looking at things, we are going to work for Nigeria rather than our individual interests. I believe some of us have realized that and by the time the Assembly reopens next week, things would revert to normalcy.
Are you saying that the crisis is part of tenets of democracy?
Of course, it is part of tenets of democracy. I’m sure you will agree with me that it happened in other countries of the world. In Indian parliament for instance, they practice parliamentary system of government and the Prime Minister is the party leader, but they still fight. In advanced democracies like United States of America, you still see them fighting from time to time. In our own case here and in my personal sense of judgment, it is too early for this type of things to happen.
So what appeal do you have for your colleagues?
My appeal to may colleagues is to set aside personal interests in pursuit of national interests. I belong to the All Progressives Congress and this is the party that Nigerians came out massively to vote for. To be honest, the peoples Democratic Party that was in power had Military, Police, Money, but because they could not deliver in the last sixteen years, they were voted out. So if we were voted into power without money by Nigerians, their magnanimity should not be taken for a ride. We have to come out and in the overall interest of Nigerians, otherwise, by the time they will push us out, it will be worse than the PDP’s tragedy. This is really a lesson that keep reminding me in whatever I am doing that despite the fact that poverty was staring my people on the face, they could ignore PDP’s money and voted for us. What I’m to do to sustain the confidence reposed in me is what I am grappling with daily here. We must effect that change Nigerians voted for and I do not think there is an alternative to it and we can do it if we all cooperate with the system for the best interest of Nigerians.
So how would you appeal to Nigerians in this regard?
My appeal to Nigerians particularly media men is that you should be very critical, but objective in your reportage and also I want to plead with journalists to investigate issues before reporting it for purposes of accuracy. As a lawyer, and a banker, I don’t report what I’m not sure of. Please, we should not overheat the polity by inaccurate reportage.
What are the legislative agenda for your people back home, especially that insecurity in the North East still persists?
Well, I cannot personally call it my own legislative agenda, Hon. Yakubu Dogara, Speaker of the 8th Assembly came out with legislative agenda which I think is like legislative rules for us all and if it is executed to the latter, my federal constituency will benefit immensely from that. It talks of tackling unemployment, education, health, infrastructural development and those contemporary issues that Nigerians yearns for. Where I come from as you are all aware has insecurity problems and I will incorporate the possibility of seeing that there is peace and if we can have peace, I think we will do well for the people. I have told my constituents that it is not only when we have money that we will start executing projects, but they should prioritize so that when we eventually have the resources, we go into action immediately.
Recently, the federal government gave out a bailout of N804 billion to those states that were unable to pay their staff salaries, is that in tandem with the APC’s style of leadership despite that the process did not follow National Assembly approval?
This is not the issue of APC’s style of governance. In any responsible society where you have a child with problems, you will not sit, folding your hands, but making sure that you assist. In any responsible government, staff salary is a first line charge and so if for any reason you cannot pay me salary, how do you expect me to be working. Like the governor of Edo State, Adams Oshiomole was saying that some people look at salary as expenditure; agreed that it is an expenditure, but to the beneficiaries, it is an income. Though some people may criticize the government that tomorrow some state government may be reckless; it is true they may be reckless, but I believe President Muhammadu Buhari did this for a purpose that if they become reckless again, he will show them that it is not going to be business as usual. What President Muhammadu Buhari did now is the right step in the right direction because how can you keep somebody without paying his salary for close to 11 months. It breeds corruption because as head of family, if I go home daily without money for my family, I will be thinking otherwise.
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