Democracy: Task ahead still daunting, says Ekiti Rep

Dr. Ifeoluwa Arowosoge, who represents Emure/Gbonyin/Ekiti East at the House of Representatives, speaks with Musa Odoshimokhe on the nation’s democratic journey, the Jonathan administration’s transformation agenda and the task of leading Nigeria to fufilling her potentials as a  leading economy, among other issues. 

How would you describe your experience in the House in the last one year?

I am proud to be part of the Seventh National Assembly. The National Assembly is people-oriented, bearing in mind that over 100 million people are today living on less than the equivalent of one dollar per day. There is urgent need to effectively halt our nation’s gradual descent into the state of nature characterized by continual fear, danger of violent death, solitary and poverty. Our efforts have been geared towards our responsibilities to make laws for the peace, order and good governance as entrenched in Section 4 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended). We will continue to collaborate with government at all levels on the provision of social amenities for the people through efficient oversight functions and legislative activities. The 7th National Assembly will continue to be focused, creative, purposeful and decisive to enable it attain its laudable goals, and so assist the nation to meet up to its obligations in terms of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and government’s Transformation Agenda. 

How would you react to the spate of terror attacks going in the country? 

It is a terrible thing that must be condemned by all and sundry. We are all Nigerians and we should be our brothers’ keepers. This type of attacks is alien to our culture. It should be condemned by all peace-loving people both Muslims and Christians alike. The increasing spate of bombing in the country has contributed to the near collapse of the economy, particularly, in the North. 

The bombing campaigns can be hinged on poverty, moral decadence, bad leadership, poor management, illiteracy, corruption, religious-extremism and importation of negative foreign values through negative exposure to technology. We must find solution to it through modern technology, advance information gathering, compulsory and qualitative education at all levels, good leadership free from corruption, and job for the unemployed youths, otherwise the country will continue to grope in the dark for a very long time. It is regrettable that after 51 years of independence, the country is yet to develop its social and material resources. With the vast resources Nigeria is endowed with, it is possible to provide free education at all levels, provide social amenities and employment for our teaming youth and other citizens, if the resources are properly harnessed.

So, what should be done? 

We must encourage interfaith dialogue in other to bring about religious peace and harmony. To ensure that the various ethnic groups in the country co-exist peacefully, government should address the loose ends of the country’s political environment and political problems besetting the nation. Political leaders should be honest and proactive in the business of governance in order to check the culture of rivalry, thuggery, hatred and bloodletting. Govt. should put in place very super high-tech security gadgets both within and at our borders so as to nip in the bud all security threat from any part of the country. Boko Haram and other militant groups must never be allowed to gain more recruits and converts. This can only be done by developing a comprehensive strategy of rooting out corruption at the highest levels of government, imputing economic development plans for the youth, respecting the rule of law and following due process in all government affairs. 

Employment tame is a major challenge. How do  you think the governments should the monster?

Agriculture was the mainstay of the Nation’s economy before the discovery of oil.  Virtually every available land in Nigeria is very arable. The reality at the moment is that we are hardly able to feed ourselves, despite the fact that every available space is fertile and good for farming of whatever sort. A nation that once fed itself and was leading in export produce such as cotton, cocoa, oil palm and groundnut has now been relegated to the background both in the world and in Africa. About N1.3 trillion was expended on importation of wheat, rice, sugar and fish in 2011. Government must speed up actions to ensure that our people go back to the land and create massive employment for the teeming unemployed youths who are now the foot soldiers for all criminal activities. We have passed resolutions at the plenary to re-position Agriculture and make it the biggest sector in terms of job and wealth creation. Government at all levels should take the lead in encouraging the young ones to go back into farming.