Senator Rilwan Adesoji Akanbi has said that the need to contribute to the economy of Oyo State and put smiles on the faces of traders are some of the reason why he bought empowerment materials from traders in Ibadan and other parts of the state.
According to Akanbi, who explained that empowerment should be a continuous process, it will retrogressive to go outside the state with millions of naira and purchase things that are sold in Ibadan.
The former Reps member who now represents Oyo South senatorial district said: “When I did my mega rally, some people brought proposals from outside the state, telling us they can supply empowerment materials. Compare to prices here, you will want to patronise them but I had made up my mind that in my own little way, I will contribute to the economic development of the state. You can go all round and ask, I didn’t buy anything outside the state. My empowerment has been continuous and not even once have I ever bought from outside something that is sold here. Others should also do so. By so doing, we are helping our state,” he noted.
Explaining how legislative work is “energy sapping”, the lawmaker said: we always spend the early part of our days in the chamber, from 10am to 2pm or 3pm. After plenary, each of us may attend between two and three committee meetings, and that means one may not leave the National Assembly Complex until about 7pm. And by the time you get home, you have to prepare for the next day. Except you want to be a dormant senator, you have to prepare for the next day.”
He continued: “Apart from that, how will you be a member of a committee and you are about to go out for an oversight visit and you won’t prepare yourself? You have to prepare yourself. If you want to be a successful and effective lawmaker, you have to read a lot, do your research and be deep; you have to make a lot of consultations because you might end up being in a committee or a sector you were not familiar with before you came to the National Assembly. Personally, I won’t feel comfortable to be in a gathering, meeting, session or on an oversight duty without making a substantial contribution. And you can’t do that in this place if you are lazy.”
Contrary to insinuation that most male lawmakers in Abuja are socialites who love women, Akanbi said he does not have the time for Abuja girls.
Hear him: It is a no for me. My personal experience is that after getting home, I say my prayers and I don’t go out anymore. I have one of my aides who stays with me. After eating, we will move into the library to spend one or two hours everyday to prepare for the next day. Whoever is doing that (socialising), I wonder where they have the time to do such. Most of the time, I get home between 7pm and 8pm. After eating, we move into the library till around 10pm or 11pm; we look through our notes to prepare for the next day.
“I don’t want to be a dormant lawmaker. There were several new terrains I wasn’t familiar with before becoming a senator. I was in the gas sector before becoming a senator but I’m now on the Senate Committee on Petroleum (Gas). Go and check my performance on the committee, you will think that I have been a gas expert for decades. I had to go and do a research on gas,” he added.
