Hon. Bolaji Yusuf Ayinla , fondly called BYA is representing Mushin Federal Constituency 2 at the National Assembly, Ayinla had earlier represented the same constituency at the Lagos State House of Assembly for 12 years from 2003-2015. On the sideline of his 59th birthday celebration on Monday, 10th October, 2016 in Lagos, the lawmaker granted an exclusive interview to the Managing Editor, Complete News, Eni Olukotun where he bare his mind on the alleged gang-up against the national leader of the APC, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu among other matters of national importance . Excerpt:
How do you feel today being your 59th birthday?
I feel very good and I thanked my God. He is the best and the greatest. I am very happy with my family. In all my trips, he protected me. I thank my God and I glorify him. It is not by my power. It is by God’s grace.
People that were born before me had gone. But God in his grace and mercy kept me till day. I feel very grateful and I will worship my God till I die.
You have cognate experience in legislative matters as a formal ranked member of the Lagos State House of Assembly, can you tells us the experience so far at the lower chamber of the National Assembly ?
The basic job of the legislators is to make laws and do oversight functions. Those are the two major jobs of a legislator. Once you are perfect in lawmaking and oversight function, the rest is an extra.
There is a little variation in the process at the national assembly compared to the Lagos State House of Assembly. There is wider representation. If you are dutiful and patience, legislative work is simple and you will do it successful without problems. Our legislative depends on the yearnings of our constituents and our state.
Have you sponsored any bill since you got to the 8th National Assembly?
Not yet, first and foremost I have my own way of handling my legislative business. I sought for votes from my constituents which they gave me. Therefore, I often make recourse to them through stakeholders’ consultations to know what they actually need.
Somebody in Sokoto might need water while the need of my own constituents is road. If bill is not needed in your constituency and you concentrate on sponsoring bill, it is a waste of time. It may be something else that your constituency needs, it is better to concentrate on that.
For instance, if your state needs roads and you pre-occupy yourself with fight for water, it will be a thankless venture.
So, I always take my time. If you recall earlier, the Alfas (Islamic clerics) that officiated this birthday celebration made a demand of me which I will ensure I fulfill. They want trained Alfa to be employed in our schools to be teaching Islamic Religious Studies(IRK) which will further enhanced their dignity. I will start working on it from next week by God’s grace.
Aside the intervention for the Islamic teachers, what other plans do you have for your constituents?
I have been briefed about the needs of my people and we are already at implementation stage. We have started that already. We have them documented in a magazine which I will give you before you leave here.
We gave over 250 beneficiaries the sum of N20,000 (twenty-thousand) and we are planning another round where over two hundred people will also benefit N20,000 (twenty-thousand) to support their petty trades.
We are not relenting in effort at ensuring that our people are independent rather than resorting to begging for money and becoming notorious fellows.
What is your reactions to the allegation of corruption and budget padding that is rocking the House of Representatives where you belong?
They have to do their findings very well. I was not around during the heat of the controversy but I know that the leadership of the House will not bring themselves so low to that level. Let them check very well.
Until someone is arraigned and convicted in a court of competent jurisdiction, you cannot label the person guilty. As far as I am concerned, whoever has got proof against them should bring in out but I know it is a fruitless effort.
They should check very well rather than blackmailing people becuacse when you blackmailed people and they are later found to be innocent, even when you tendered apology, the damage had already be done.
I want the parties to use maturity in this matter. The imbroglio is even delaying us from working regularly. I wish House leadership God’s guidance.
Are you not even more disturbed that the allegation is coming from a ranked member, Hon Abdulmumin Jibrin?
You see anybody can say anything. Such allegations could even come from the speaker but it must be thoroughly investigated to determine the veracity or otherwise.
Look at the case of the Senate President Bukola Saraki and his deputy Ike Ekweremadu , Federal Government had dropped the case against them after the blackmail.
What do you have to say about the alleged gang-up against the national leader of the All Progressives Congress, APC Asiwaju Bola Tinubu?
I pray for him to overcome his forces. Asiwaju (Tinubu) has done well for many of us. And people should not pay him with evil if they cannot reciprocate with good deed. I have never been part of ganging up against leaders.
As far as I am concern, I will never run anybody down. I am a man of peace and I always see to extend peace wherever I go.
Asiwaju (Tinubu) is not a small boy that anybody can gang up against, you can’t! most especially if someone is your leader, the gang-up will fail.
Ganging up for what? What has Tinubu done? Is he the way he has been doing it that he used to nurture these elements that is not good again? Or is it the way he has been handling things that you are complaining about? Yes, you can seek private audience when you are aggrieved but not taking it public.
It should be one -on-one , in a peaceful manner. I don’t pray for anybody to fall from exalted position, and I don’t pray anybody should fall me down too. That is my own approach.
On the current biting recession, what advice do you have for the government?
The government should engage tested professionals with cognate experience. We are not the first country to be in a recession and we are not going to be the last nation to experience it. There is always a way out when professionals use their expertise to deal with it.
It is not a big deal. It has happened to powerful countries in the past, they survived it. Let the specialists help us out. Just like medical doctors, sometimes, they run into problems in the theatre but they find solutions.
