Mr. Sinai Agunbiade is the majority leader of the Lagos State House of Assembly. In this interview, he insists that President Muhammadu Buhari’s anti-corruption crusade is not one-sided, noting that the President has done nothing wrong in prosecuting those involved in the Arms Deal probe among other issues.

By Ebun Sessou

Do you agree with those who say the anti-corruption crusade of President Buhari is one-sided?

For me, President Muhammadu Buhari has succeeded in putting to a halt the dangerous trend at which the treasury was being looted. If Buhari had not won the elections, most of those revelations would not have been revealed.

Agunbiade

Impunity would have reached an unbearable degree and magnitude in Nigerian. Eminent Nigerians that were highly dignified have also soiled their hands in the looting of the country’s treasury. The paltry sum of N100 million allegedly given to one of the dignified Nigerians showed that most of the so-called honourable Nigerians have lost their dignity because of money.

The President vowed to bring change to the country and part of that change is exposing those who have brought Nigeria into serious economic problem.

I believe, as Nigerians we are expected to support in the crusade and not frustrate it. There are more revelations yet to be exposed. So, I want to believe that those who say the crusade is sectional are part of those looting and destroying the treasuries of the country.

But do the authorities have to disregard the rule of law to achieve the change?

All I know is that the law is no respecter of anybody, and nobody is greater than the law of the land. But no two cases have the same facts. A lot of things go into legal processes, and to this extent, there might be reasons for whatever action the president put’s up. I am sure he would not want to disregard court decisions because he is a man who really symbolises the change we claim and that change is total.

As regards the issue of non compliance with court orders, I want to believe that he is not the chief legal officer of the country, though he is at the helms of affairs. It is those in-charge of our legal system that can address the issue very well.

But the law has to respect itself; no individual is greater than the law, and no individual can override the court. But there could be some legal machinery which are mitigating against our expectations in this regard. I am sure we will see what brought about all these.

As the majority leader of the House, some think the opposition is too soft on you?

If the House is in order, there is nothing to condemn. You can only condemn what you feel is not right. Unfortunately, Nigerians expect legislators to be throwing chairs on the floor of the House, so, they can condemn them more. Throwing chairs is not a symbol of a healthy opposition.

A progressive opposition must differentiate between the truth and lies. It is expedient to say that, six months into a-4-year legislative business is too little to judge whether the opposition party is doing its job or not. Condemning action means having a concrete evidence to buttress your point.

You recently called the attention of the House to ritual killings in one of the communities in your constituency. What is the current security situation in Ikorodu?

We had that case that time, and to the best of my knowledge, the Commissioner of Police rose to the occasion. Arrests were made, and I think those arrested are still being quizzed. The police is on top of the matter; surveillance has increased to forestall re-occurrence.