Iyasere: Edo National Assembly Continuity And Matter Arising.
By Elempe Dele, Edo.
I had the rare opportunity to interview m, Prince Francis Omo-Osunde Iyasere, a one time PDP Publicity Secretary in Edo State, and one time Member of the Presidential Committee on Peace and Conflict Resolution in the Niger-Delta, Chairman of Edo State Committee on Peace and Conflict Resolution, immediate past member South-South PDP Exco, on the issue of continuity of members of the National Assembly in Edo State who had been there for two terms. As usual, he bore his mind in his known frankness and intellectually convinced me that the issue should not even arise based on the premises being put forward by Proponents of Continuity. Prince Francis Omo-Osunde Iyasere, a seasoned strategist and politician are more than capable of talking about this theme.
Elempe: Sir, I want to be straightforward on the question concerning the issue of continuity as being advocated by some persons for our present crops of elected political office holders at the National Assembly from Edo State, specifically from your zone, South, under the guise that if elected for third terms, they will attain high ranks and their constituents and constituencies will benefit from it. What exactly is your take because I know you are a seasoned strategist and politician? I am very sure you read the article written by Osaze Jesuotobo titled, THE BEGINS IN NATIONAL POLITICS: YESTERDAY, TODAY AND TOMORROW. In the said article, he claimed that “the election of Presiding Officers and Principal Officers is based on Seniority…” among other things he alluded to. What is your response to this?
Iyasere: Dele, that logic is faulty and I must tell you candidly or anyone peddling that narrative. Osaze Jesuotobo seems to be oblivious of the truth and the facts. The only type of continuity I can support is the one graduating those who have served their constituents well at the lower chambers to go to the Senate, not the Methuselah type. And even as that, that graduation must be from the consent of the constituents, not a birthright. Take, for example, Dino Maley was in the lower house, was vibrant and outspoken there, he was later elected into the Senate. The intention is to appreciate the individual for a job well done, it ought not to be a recompensation for docility. And again, I think it is out of point to hastily conclude that what you get as a member of the National House of Assembly depends on how long you stay there. This is not true. Senator Saraki was just in his second term. After his re-election in the 2015 general elections, he was on 9 June 2015 elected unopposed as President of the Senate by an across the party alliance comprising PDP and APC Senators. Saraki had faced stiff opposition from Senator Ahmed Ibrahim Lawan who was a preferred candidate by a group of senators-elect within the APC. What gave him the senate president seat was not how old or how many times he returned, it was a high level playing politics that got him there. Whereas Manager was elected to the Senate on the People’s Democratic Party ticket for the Delta South Senatorial District in 2003, he has never smelt the positions being canvassed for by people who are connecting longevity in the house to compensation with these positions. Again, look at the case of Senator Omo-Agege, the Deputy Senate President, DSP. He was first elected in 2015 into the 8th senate. He emerged as the Deputy President of the Nigerian Senate of the 9th National Assembly on 11 June 2019 after he defeated his rival, Ike Ekweremadu with a margin of 31 votes to win the second leadership position of the National Assembly. He didn’t need to stay for the third term and above to get the position. So I fault these claims that one must stay for 3 or more terms before he can become a principal officer.
Elempe: So, what exactly do you think would make a house member or senator to be considered for a principal office sir?
Iyasere: Good question again Dele. There are a lot of factors that will necessitate a member being considered for principal office in the National Assembly. First, the member must be outspoken, agile, smart and very visible among others. Secondly, being a member of the ruling party is another major factor because party politics come to play in these considerations. Thirdly, the zone which the member comes from is a determinant too. For example, where the president, the vice president comes from most times determine where the principal officers of the National Assembly will go. This is so because of the spirit of equity, justice and Fairplay.
Elempe: I am being convinced by your argument. So what exactly is your conclusion on the issue of continuity in the National Assembly sir?
Iyasere: I am totally against it based on these premises that are being put forward, it’s a no-brainer, pipe dream and fickle. I think at most two terms is enough because anything more than that might result in boredom and could lead to non-performance. The National Assembly should not be made a retirement home. Let’s allow our young ones in politics to grow through the ranks. If this is not discouraged, this sit-at the National Assembly is not discarded, perhaps the likes of our respected Senator Roland Owie, Senator Ehigie Uzamere…would still have been in the house till today.
Elempe: Thanks sir for the time.
Iyasere: You are welcome Dele.
