Hon. Bashiru Omolaja Bolarinwa represents Lagos Mainland Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives.

In this interview, the Action Congress (AC) chieftain posit, that Nigeria has moved from bad to worse under the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Bolarinwa who is popularly called B. O. B. by his admirers hinged this on the fact that Nigerians are worse off today, while the promises made by the party still remain a mirage.

The two-term council boss also speaks on the Oshiomhole’s triumph in Edo, the judiciary, performance of AC Reps, Gov. Fashola’s administration and how the new Edo government can succeed.

Excerpts:
Edo tribunal ruling
It is unlike what we have been experiencing in recent times. For this particular one, I want to commend the judiciary. The judiciary I will say was very fair as far as that matter was concerned. I don’t want to believe that the judiciary did that because of the personalities involved in that particular matter. Prof. Osunbor is a professor of Law, Adams Oshiomhole too, a strong labour leader. I guess even that was why the President of the Appeal Court himself had to sit on the matter, to see there is no room for anybody to find any fault. So, I want to commend the judiciary and I want to seize this opportunity to appeal to other judges to try as much as possible to be fair on any matter they are sitting on because the success of democracy in Nigeria, relies greatly on the judiciary.

Conflicting judgments
You see, I am not a lawyer, but there is one thing that amazes me about Nigerian lawyers. You see two lawyers having different opinions on the same matter. For those of us that are not lawyers, such a thing puts us in very difficult position, so to say. Just like somebody said, that, what should be important to us is our conscience: If we know that this country belongs to us, and like the popular saying “as you lay your bed, so you lie on it,” though a common saying, it appears that as common as the saying is, the import of it, we don’t most times take it.

If any of us, be it a lawyer, be it a politician, or anybody finding himself in whatever position realizes that this country is ours and we must do everything to make the country progress, if we share that belief, definitely, it will reflect in the way we do things, because it will now be a matter of conscience. You will know even though I am a lawyer, to protect the interest of my country is more paramount, than protecting my selfish interest. Even though, I am a politician, I must see that when I contest, I must not see myself as getting to that office at all cost. If it is true, that I am going there to serve the people, that is also a matter of conscience. I think not until we actually play such up, I do not see us moving forward.

AC and judgments
You can see that there is a clear distinction between AC and PDP. From the onset, AC made it clear that we are not interested in Government of National Unity. It is because the leadership of the party felt that the PDP will not in anyway favour the masses of this country, and because we are operating from different angles, we are not bound to see things same way. Even from the onset, we know very well, that in most states, PDP robbed us and quite unfortunately, the type of system we run is, he who pays the piper dictates the tune. That is the type of system we run. PDP controls the Federal Government, and it was this Federal Government that appointed the leadership of the body directly in charge of the judiciary and even the INEC, the very body that organized the controversial elections.

The leadership of these places were appointed by the Federal Government. That is why when things came up, we most times, find fault in them. In fact, it is in few cases like that of Edo which was a very clear one. A very clear one that the judiciary even found it difficult to actually upturn. That is why AC most times, would always complain because even from the onset, we have been put at a disadvantaged position. So, the few cases which you see was when it became glaring that it can no longer be hidden. The PDP and other parties are not operating on the same pedestal. So, that is why we see things differently from the way PDP sees it.

Implications of Edo judgment
The implication is that is in a way that there is a ray of hope. That in Nigerian judiciary, we still have few judges that can be fair. That we still have few of them that can listen to their conscience. That is the thing. I won’t deceive you, it is not that in most places, we have not been losing hope. So, when this one came, even though at the lower tribunal, Oshiomhole was declared winner, we still entertained fears because like I said, it made us happy, and shows us there is a ray of hope.

Ten years of PDP
As each day passes, things get from worse to worst. When Obasanjo came in 1999, what was the exchange rate? What is the exchange rate now? When Obasanjo came in 1999, how many mega watts was being supplied by the then NEPA? What do we have now? As a matter of fact, that is where the whole thing hinges on. I want to say from 1999 to date, Nigerians have even gotten poorer, than they were in 1999. We have so many artisans that have turned to Okada riders. Why? Why? Because the trade which they learnt, if they don’t get electricity to work with, no way. So, they have been thrown out of business. So, I don’t know what they are celebrating. They have no cause to celebrate anything, as far as I am concerned.

Electoral reforms
The government has the capacity to do so, if they are serious about it. My own appeal is just that, as government has promised, it should live up to its promise. It should also be sincere about it. They should not come up with electoral reform that will favour their party. They must do electoral reform in the interest of Nigeria and for the future of this country. So, that is just my advice.

AC Reps and opposition role
In fairness, AC is doing that as much as possible. In fact, I want to give kudos, to Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, the AC leader in the House and also to the leader of the opposition, Hon. Ali Ndume of ANPP.