We were never rubber-stamp to Tinubu’s govt. – Ikuforiji, Ex-Lagos Speaker
…Says, ‘Asiwaju gave adequate room for legislative autonomy’
Razaq Bamidele
A former Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Adeyemi Sabitu Ikuforiji has said that, members of the legislative House under him in the government of then governor, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, were never a rubber-stamp, saying “we performed our duties diligently so much that at times we had to square it up with him to iron out issues properly in the general interest of the good people of the state.”
Ikuforiji made the disclosure during a Zoom interactive session with him by the members of the Media and Publicity Committee of the All Progressives Congress Presidential Campaign Council for Lagos State under the chairmanship of former Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Hon. Kehinde Bamigbetan.
Fielding questions from his Zoom guests, the 65-year-old Epe, Lagos State born experienced legislator gave kudos to the APC presidential candidate in the coming February 25 election for being pioneer of autonomy for legislature in Nigeria, describing him as a thorough bred democrat who is concerned too much for the welfare of the citizenry.
Ikuforiji recalled that, Sen.Bola Tinubu signed into law the first self-accounting bill of state legislature in the country, assuring that, “if he becomes the president, robust executive/legislative relationship would be guaranteed and frictions that always retard progress and development in any country would be absent in Nigeria.”
While commending the APC presidential flag bearer for his commitment to the principle of separation of powers as enshrined in the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Ikuforiji disclosed that, “Tinubu was well exposed to the democratic system in the United States and began politics as a senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” reasoning that, “that must have influenced him to agree with the lawmakers to make the law in the first term of his administration.”
He said, “the fact the National Assembly passed a bill last year compelling state governments to enact the self-accounting laws for their Houses of Assembly shows that Tinubu is a trail blazer and visionary administrator,” enthusing that, “Presidency under Tinubu will ensure harmonious relationship with the National Assembly to fast-track socio-economic development of the country as well as political stability.”
Ikuforiji, who became the longest serving Speaker for ten years (2005-2015) noted that the cordial relationship that existed between the executive and Legislative arms of government was responsible for a new Lagos uncovered by the Tinubu led-Administration, adding that, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu made it possible for the Lagos House of Assembly to become the envy of other houses due to the autonomy of the Legislative House under him.
“The freedom the House enjoyed during the Tinubu government is unparalleled.
You will recall that it was a tug of war then between the former President Olusegun Obasanjo and the National Assembly, whereas the financial autonomy the House enjoyed made it possible for peace to reign supreme in the state.” he submitted.
He further disclosed that there was mutual respect between himself as Speaker and Tinubu as governor revealing that, “if he wants to do something that I believe won’t fly, I would tell him so and because he knew that the development of the House of Assembly as a democratic institution guided me, he would think about it again.”
He said a lot of discussion between the executive preceded the enactment of bills into laws so that both arms could agree on the importance of such laws for the public good, noting that, as the policemen of the system, members of the House performed oversight functions on ministries, departments and agencies without the interference of Governor Tinubu.
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Rather, Tinubu as governor made it clear to commissioners and permanent secretaries to supply all the necessary information to enable lawmakers perform their oversight functions, describing the APC Presidential candidate as a good listener who worked with the legislators to make laws which led to the giant strides of the state.
Speaking earlier, the Lagos Chairman, APC PCC Media and Publicity Committee, Hon Kehinde Bamgbetan said the session was to bring back the memory of how the Tinubu led government worked closely with the House of Assembly in the overall benefits of the good people of Lagos, explaining that the forum was also aimed at showcasing what Nigerians will benefit under the Tinubu Presidency in terms of Legislative interventions.
