The lawmaker representing Oyo South in the Senate, Sen. Adesoji Akanbi has revealed that he is interested in becoming the governor of the state.
But, he, however, added that such declaration depends on his constituents among other considerations.
Akanbi, who is a former member of the House of Representatives, spoke while responding to questions relating to his political ambition as 2019 beckons.
According to him, “I am just two years into government as a senator. I am still serving my people. Whatever I want to become after 2019 depends on my people and my contribution to the society.”
“I am not in a hurry. I have tried to become governor before, and that shows that I am interested. But, I have not declared to anybody. I am watching and waiting. The important thing is that I am a senator now and I want to bring dividends of democracy to my people through bills, motions and empowerment programmes,” Akanbi said.
Speaking on why the Confab report has not been implemented, he explained that the failure of the Federal Government to implement the 2014 National Conference report might not be unconnected with the fact that unelected representatives made up the conference that brought up the report.
Though he agreed that the recommendations of the Confab report were noteworthy, he said elected representatives, that is legislators, were those empowered to propose such amendments cum recommendations.
He noted that what was required was amendments to the constitution, a process that had been started by the current National Assembly.
He allayed fears that the process might amount to an exercise in futility, especially at the termination of the current National Assembly.
“Confab report is fantastic. I have gone through it. But, our fathers and leaders that brought about the report were not elected by Nigerians. The Senate/House of Representatives are those elected as representatives by the Nigerian populace as a whole. So, amendment is what we need and it is only the bicameral house that can do it. The legislators are the persons empowered to make amendments,” Akanbi argued.
On calls for restructuring, Akanbi expressed support for federalism that accommodates devolution of powers to states.
He added that devolution of powers, evident in regional government of the days of Chief Obafemi Awolowo, yielded remarkable developments in states and the country, at large.
