From Fred Ezeh, Abuja
Senator Garba Musa Maidoki, of the Kebbi South Senatorial District, has accused the leadership of National Assembly of not being fair to all in its operations, warning that if something urgent is not done, the Senate might lose its respect and dignity, thus turning the Senate to a rubber stamp.
Senator Maidoki of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) also accused the Senate leadership led by Senator Godswill Akpabio, of not being fair and just in handling the affairs of the Senate.
In an interview with BBC Hausa Service, Senator Maidoki said he rarely gets opportunity to speak on the floor of the Senate because of some sentiments and interests, but he will not relent in his push for a better Senate and Nigeria, that will be beneficial to all irrespective of tribe, religion, political affiliations or other differences.
How is your journey to politics and Senate?
It’s an unexpected one. I can say that I joined politics by accident because I never had plan to do that. It was my people that demanded that I go represent them at the Senate. I think they saw my passion for the welfare and well-being of the people, hence, they pushed me to the Senate through their vote in the 2023 general elections. So, I can confirm that I am new in politics but that doesn’t mean I am new in the affairs of Nigeria.
What was your role in choosing the leadership of the Senate?
I am a member of the opposition party, PDP. As a result, we are not meant to produce the leadership of the National Assembly. It was the duty of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). During the process of election for the leadership of the Senate, there were several interests from all quarters including the Presidency. We, the members of the National Assembly had wanted leaders different from what the Presidency wanted. But at the end, the thing went their way, and we had no choice but to support whoever emerged.
You submitted to their interest, perhaps, because of the number?
It’s not the way you put it. We did what we think was good for the National Assembly, particularly the Senate. We voted for the person we had wanted. But unfortunately, our choice candidate didn’t emerge successful. But we have put that behind us and had thrown our support to the persons the President wanted who eventually emerged. We have repeatedly pledged our support and loyalty to the leadership, and we have been doing that wholeheartedly.
What’s your assessment of the style of the National Assembly leaders?
Sincerely speaking, there are lots of changes that are urgently needed to be done to the workings and activities of the Senate. Maybe I am seeing things and speaking from the position of first timer. But based on what I have seen or witnessed, there’s urgent need to amend certain things in the operations of the National Assembly.
What are the things that need urgent attention?
The Senate and by extension, the National Assembly, is increasingly losing its independence and voice to speak to the Executives. National Assembly ought to be a strong voice and arm of the government, but its leadership is becoming a tool in the hands of the Executives. For example, the issue of the 2024 budget. We, the first timers thought what we passed was what was signed by the President. We never knew that there was something else beneath. You can imagine that throughout the period of the debate for the budget, we were not given a copy of the 2024 budget neither were we given the breakdown of the figure. All that we were given were like five pages of what is relevant in your committee.
Did you complain about that?
We did but there was nothing that we could do because of certain things that are, perhaps, stronger than us. In fact, Committee leaders warned us before the exercise not to even temper with the budget document. Unfortunately, we couldn’t talk in unison because of several personal and political interests in the Senate. Patriotism is poor in the Senate. Another challenge there is that you are not sure of the loyalty of the lawmakers. You don’t know who is on your side and not. I can confirm to you that the way the 2024 budget was presented by the President was the same way it was passed. No scrutiny nor corrections was done to the document. Many of us cannot tell what was allocated to what because we had no access to the complete document.
Did you raise this matter at the floor of the Senate?
I couldn’t because there was no opportunity to do that despite several efforts. For instance, you can raise your hand several times during Senate sitting but you can’t speak if you are not permitted by the Senate President to speak. I had wanted to speak about several things that I see as wrong but I wasn’t given the opportunity to speak.
But as Chairman of a Committee, how can these challenges you identified be solved?
Unfortunately, there’s little or nothing we can do without the approval of the Senate President. We do what he wants in our Committee. As Committee Chairman, you are exercising the powers of the Senate President. Unfortunately, Senators are just interested in the Appropriation Committee where money is being disbursed. Aside that, there are three other Committees that are regarded as juicy committees but I am not interested in any of them. I am contented with the role I am playing in my committee. However, I have written to the Chairman of the Appropriation Committee three times for explanations on certain things about the budget but he neither responded to any of my letters nor provided the information requested.
People might think you are speaking this way because you couldn’t get what you wanted or Committee you had wanted.
That’s not true. I got all I wanted. In fact, rejected the offer of the Senate President to change my committee. I told him I am fine with this. However, during the allocation of the Committee, I thought that experience and capacity would be considered in assigning Senators to the various Committees but that wasn’t done. The leadership of the Senate used their prerogative to assign Senators to various Committees. My aim of coming to the National Assembly is to champion the cause of growth and development of Nigeria, and make certain basic corrections, but it seems difficult, but I won’t relent. I will continue to push with like minds until things are done correctly.
What was the first thing you did as Committee Chairman
Because I came with the mindset of making things work, I converged a stakeholders meeting immediately I took charge of the Committee. I assembled experts from the public and private sectors to discuss the way forward on several issues, and that was done. The report is being worked on, and once it’s done, I will present it at the general sitting of the Senate.
What are your major concerns with the Senate?
My fear is the Senate being turned into rubber stamp. Everybody knows that it’s the President that made the choice of Senate President, and he insisted that his choice candidate emerged. So, it’s difficult to go against the interest of the President.
But people expected a different Senate this time because of the number of opposition in the Senate. Why is it difficult to speak with one voice on this matter?
I can tell you that such thing will be difficult in the Senate because every Senator is after what he or she will get out of the national cake as Constituency project. Once that is done, such Senator keeps mute on any other thing that could have huge national impact. We are no longer patriotic as we should be. Everybody is after his or herself, and there’s little or no progress that we would achieve that way.
Previous Senate was seen as rubber stamp. Are you concerned that from all indications, the 10th Senate is going that way?
Sincerely speaking, lots of changes are urgently required in the activities and operations of the Senate. I was expecting the ranking members in the Senate to provide a guide for us the younger members, but that didn’t come as expected. Everyone is after whatever he or she will grab. Nevertheless, we would initiate the changes needed. 2024 budget was the first for us, and we witnessed and noted the abracadabra and manipulations therein. I can assure you that these errors won’t repeat itself again in the coming years. It’s not as if we would pick fight with the government, but these things won’t happen again. What we want is peace, growth and development of Nigeria.
But that has not been achieved as you would have wished?
Yes, but we are making progress little by little.
Nigeria’s economy was in serious challenge when we came to the National Assembly. A great danger was done to the economy previously that only deep wisdom and expertise were required to turn things around. Unfortunately, it’s not something that can be done as quickly as possible. But my major concern is the security of my people. In my constituency, over 100 villages were sacked by bandits. They were all forced to IDP camps or other locations. There hasn’t been any form of farming activities in those villages in the last five years. In addition to that, our roads have turned to death traps. Travelers spend over seven hours between Zuru to Kontogora. This is a journey of one hour, but because of bad road, motorists are forced to spend several hours on that road. We need to return to the farms and also be able to move our farm produce to Lagos. This will enhance food security and create financial empowerment for our people.
As a Senator, what are you doing to ensure that things are done well?
I have been loud in seeking improved security for the people. When opportunity was provided, I made my case known at the floor of the Senate and the world heard my voice. I am happy that my suggestions and moves yielded the desired result. Majority of the displaced persons have returned to their ancestral lands, and had commenced farming activities. In addition to that, I have spoken about the dilapidated state of our roads, and the Senate President has assured me that work would be done on it soon.