By Demola Akinyemi

Dr. Rafiu Ibrahim, FCIB represents Ifelo dun/Offa/Oyun Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives. A banker turned lawmaker he asserts in this interview his determination to make a difference in the representation of his federal constituency.
Excerpts:

You emphasized quality representation as your goal during the campaigns, what do you mean by quality?
Quality! A product guaranteed to deliver good service to the user. Simple! The people of Kwara State have matured in their choice of political leaders. The quality I am referring to is the professional, academic and political experience of the National Assembly Squad of 2011.

What is new about the 2011 Squad as you put it?
For one we have three distinguished senators led by the immediate past Governor Dr. Bukola Saraki CON. His achievements in roads, power supply, commercial agriculture, Investment, promotion, housing and establishing Kwara State University are without precedent in the forty four year old history of the state.

Then you have another former Governor Sha’aba Lafiagi don’t forget his antecedents as managing director of Bacita Sugar in the late 80s. Senator Ajibola is a senior senator. Now coming to the House of Representatives, we have two Ph.Ds, three former commissioners, a grassroots mobilizer and a ranking member. It is a perfect combination of education, political stature and legislative maturity.

But how can these credentials you are talking about translate into dividends of democracy for the people of Kwara? Jebba Road is a death trap, Ajasse Road is a car wrecker, Kaiama road is an apology to say the least, with colonial era bridges and the complete absence of a road between Kishi and Kaiama?

You must first commend Bukola Saraki for the one hundred and twenty six kilometer road from Oyo-State boundary through Ilesha Baruba-Okuta-Yashukura Kosubosu road up to Chikanda. Remember this is a federal road, yet Governor Saraki took it upon himself to ensure that Baruten is motorable all year round. The current governor AbdulFatah Ahmed is a product of the Bukola dispensation, he knows what to do. We at the National Assembly will support him to attract positive attention to those roads you have mentioned. You know part of Ajasse Road lies in my constituency. Already the contract has been awarded, so I am duty bound to use legislative oversight to ensure the proper implementation and completion.

Many politicians tend to forget their homestead when they get to the urban and sophisticated environment of Abuja how do we know you won’t be different?

For one our leader, Senator Bukola Saraki will not allow it. Our Governor AbdulFattah Ahmed also will not permit us to slide into complacency.  Then our party the PDP is committed to ensuring regular interaction with our constituencies.

We have a duty not to disappoint.  Remember those of us in the current National Assembly team left our businesses and professions to hearken to the call of the people, I for one, want my foot prints in the sands of time as an achiever when the history of Ifelodun/Offa and Oyun is written. In concentric circles the progression is in Kwara, North Central Nigeria and the nation at large are my priorities as poles of development.

A lot f Nigerians feel the National Assembly is getting too much of the nation’s resources and contributing too little.

Rafiu Adebayo Ibrahim is only one out of 360 members. Nevertheless I can say the seventh National Assembly Insha Allah will do everything to better the lives of our constituents.