You have been elevated to the position of Deputy Leader in the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, what does the position mean to you?
It’s a call to higher service because primarily I was elected to represent my people and make laws for Akwa Ibom State, so the issue of becoming the Deputy Leader is an added responsibility which I will discharge to the best of my ability and to the interest of my constituency and of course the interest of Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly.
Shortly before the reshuffling of positions in the House of Assembly, we heard issues of rumblings in the 6th Assembly were members rose against each throwing tantrums publicly at each other’s bills and motions publicly. Members were accused of sponsoring media attack on the property charge bill and later on some members were accused of plotting to impeach the Speaker, Barr Onofiok Luke. Within this mix, the House leadership was reshuffled. Do you think, the reshuffling has nothing to do with all of these issues?
Let’s take it one by one; you talked about the rumbling in the House and also the Real Property Charge Bill. Of course going by parliamentary practice any member has the right to oppose or support any motion or bill.
The Real Property Charge Bill was brought to the floor of the House, some members supported while some opposed the bill. But some members got it wrong because even if you disagree with the bill it is the matter of the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly and not a matter that should be reduced to social media.
If for any reason, you saw your name on a bill that you didn’t support as a co-sponsor, you still have a chance to decline it because the bill was read for the first time. By the time the bill is read the first time, members should have copies in case you were not consulted and your name was included. So the bill was read for the first time and I did not hear any comment from any member that he has seen his name as a co-sponsor on a bill that he did not support. When the bill was read the second time we never heard such thing on the floor of the House until the bill passed second reading.
So I am of the opinion that if any member was to oppose the bill, such person or persons didn’t need to go to social media to ventilate such position, the Speaker is there, you can write to the Speaker, you can raise whatever suggestion or sentiments you have during plenary or even during the Executive session, so I think it was not very neat and proper for some members to have taken to social media to exempt themselves. But having said so, I have said that any member has the right to support or oppose any motion or bill.
So your position is that the way some members went about distancing themselves from the bill was not proper?
Yes, I have stated so that it was very wrong and by all standards, it is against parliamentary practice anywhere in the World. You don’t go to the social media to issue a disclaimer or a press statement about what happened in the House.
But is it proper for me to sponsor a motion or bill and I put your name without consulting you?
No, it is not proper, but what I’m saying is that the lead sponsor of the bill Hon. Usoro Akpanusoh has also said that all members whose names were in that list as co-sponsors of that bill were consulted and they supported it. My argument however is that even if for any reason you were not consulted, you had an opportunity at the Executive session and first reading to air your view because the bill was circulated to members so that they can make their observations.
So all those who later came to claim that they were not consulted should have asked questions like, I was not consulted on that bill or I am not a co-sponsor of the bill why is my name here? That is the point I’m making but we did not hear that even at the point of second reading because in the parliamentary, we work with numbers.
You may take your own position different from what your colleagues took but at the end of the day, what is the majority opinion? That is what matters but then; you should not even be bothered. You may even feel that people will not know the position that you took. But the House will know when the answer is published whether you were for or against.
Sir, just last week two of the principal officers of the House who publicly opposed the Property Charge Bill and were also accused of plotting to impeach the Speaker were relieved of their duties, what really happened, is it that the Speaker and his “cabal” took vengeance on them?
Well, I want to answer that question by drawing your attention to Order 1, Rule 6 of the Standing Order of the House which gives members of the ruling party the right to change the House officers with a simple majority, and PDP members of Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly who are the majority saw the need to effect change for a better service delivery.
Are you saying that the change was effected because these people did not deliver well in the discharge of their duties?
I have not said so, but for you to lead your people is a function of confidence, so if for any reason you don’t longer enjoy the confidence of your people they have the right to resort to the Standing Order and effect the change.
How was the change effected was it through a motion or suggestion?
It was in accordance with the provisions of the Standing Order of the House. Now, 17 members of the PDP out of 25 had to send a memo say notice to the speaker through a letter that they are changing the occupants of the office of the Deputy House Leader and the Deputy Chief Whip and because it was with the accordance with the Standing Order of the House, the speaker had to announce same. So, I can tell you gentlemen that the change of baton of the Deputy Leader and Deputy Chief Whip was not witch hunting.
But those close to the affected officers said the affected lawmakers were shocked, that they never anticipated such change?
Of course, even in the Executive arm of Government, by the time the cabinet is dissolved, it is a way of injecting new blood into the executive and to make it move smoother than what it was. You don’t need to be consulted that you are going to be removed because apparently you are not a signatory to your removal. So if you were not consulted and you were not part of the arrangement then ordinarily you have to be surprise. But whatever the case maybe, actions taken were in accordance with the provisions of the law.
How do you reconcile the rumour that these members so removed from their positions are part of the five members that were alleged to have plotted the impeachment of the Speaker?
I take that as a coincidence.
Was this coincidence not a coincidental way of punishing them?
I don’t see that as a form of punishing them because I keep referring to the Standing Order that members of a particular party agreed on something constitutional and went ahead to implement it. Assuming we had a full fleshed opposition (members of the opposition party) in the House and for any reason, that opposition party has reasons to change maybe the Minority Leader or Minority Whip, they will refer to the Standing Order and write to the Speaker.
It should not be seen that they were being punish for whatever reasons but I keep saying that for you to lead your people is a function of confidence and it must be stressed that we were all elected first and foremost as members of the House of Assembly, any other office is merely additional. You still remain the member of the House of Assembly and it does not stop you from performing your primary function as a member of that House.
But were they found wanting by the leadership of the House?
The decision was not taken by the leadership of the House; the decision was taken by members of PDP in the House. The speaker was not a signatory to the change, his duty was merely to announce and once he was convinced that it was in accordance with the standing order, he had no option than to announce same.
There is rumour that the House has been divided into two factions, is this true and if it is yes, which of the factions do you belong?
I am not aware of that. I know we have PDP members on the one hand, 25 in number and just one APC member and you are talking of factions? I do not know of any such faction in this parliament. We have just one faction and that faction is the 6th Assembly faction. We are all in one folk. We belong to one family. And so even with the reshuffling, we still belong to one fold. And let me also tell you that one of those members so disengaged have even congratulated the new members of the leadership and have pledged to work with the new members of the leadership, and as I’m talking to you now we just came out from the plenary, the affected two members were at the plenary and contributed positively to what went on at the plenary.
You talked about the issue of confidence, are you by implication saying that members of the PDP in the House of Assembly had to notify the Speaker on their sack because they no longer had confidence in the two affected members?
I will repeat myself. If out of the 25 PDP members that we have in the House of Assembly, and few members are picked to lead, it shows that the members have confidence in those leading. So if for any reason they want to change, they have the right to; because the Standing Order gives them the right to change.
Let us look at the issue of the member representing Uruan State Constituency who is the immediate past Deputy House Leader, his situation seems pathetic that after demoting him he was also removed as the Chairman, House Services committee?
I will answer that question by asking another question before I explain. Has he been given another committee to chair? So it follows that he is still a chairman of a committee. All members of House of Assembly are Chairmen of a particular committee and before this change was made the committee was chaired by some other persons. So what then is pathetic? Unless you want to give the impression that some committees are better than others.
Of course you know that some committees are more lucrative than others?
I wouldn’t know that, and in any case it is the prerogative of the Speaker.
He derives his powers from Order 10, Rule 2 which says that it is the duty of the Speaker to nominate or appoint who chairs a particular committee. So he knows how we perform or functions and maybe he knows where we better fit in.
But we have very few committees that are working in the House of Assembly, what is the problem?
Maybe you are measuring the issue of committees based on public hearing or public outing. That doesn’t mean that the committees are not working. We have oversight functions and we have been doing it without necessarily letting the public know but at the point of public hearing you must publicize because people must come. I am the Chairman, House Committee on Information, and I interface with the Ministry of Information and its subsidiaries without necessarily going to the press. I will not buy the idea that some committees are dormant but if the need arises that the duties of the committee come to public, and then we have to come.
What we are trying to find out is that some committees are more hard working than others...why?
It depends on the duties of that committee. For instance, after the presentation of the Appropriation Bill by Governor Udom Emmanuel in December last year, the fact is that the committee on Finance and Appropriation must start work immediately so that Government work must continue and therefore everybody would see that the committee is working because there is a duty that must be performed at that point.
Do we have a Chairman, House Committee on Environment?
Yes, there is a Chairman and that is the Deputy Chief Chip and member representing Eket State Constituency.
I’m asking this because refuge are scattered everywhere in the city of Uyo and the House of Assembly is not oversighting over this?
His duty is to oversight not to carry refuse and I know of a fact that he has been interfacing a lot with the relevant Ministry. You must know the fact that refuge is generated every minute so it may not be that easy.
Do we also have Chairman, House Committee on Education?
Yes, Committee on Education is headed by Hon. Samuel Ufuo, member representing Mbo State Constituency.
But we have problems everywhere in our schools yet we have not heard of any intervention from the Committee?
Okay, let me tell you, are you aware that there was problems in Akwa Ibom State University were some staff were wrongly removed and it took the intervention of the Committee on Education which I am a member, for the affected staff to be reinstated? Are you also aware that the same Committee on Education has intervened in the College of Education crises where some lecturers were unjustly removed and we got the attention of the House to ensure lecturers were reinstated and we are working currently with the Head of the Civil Service to ensure that the resolution of the House is carried out? We are doing other things but for the mere fact that we don’t bring them to the public does not mean that the committee is not working.
Which Committee should have oversight functions over the Civil Service Training Centre?
That should be the Committee on Labour and Productivity.
The story of that place is very pathetic, is there anything the committee should do to remedy that place?
You also have a duty. If you have any information that should be brought to the knowledge of the Committee then do it. Assuming the Committee is not aware of what you are saying now. So you have to also contribute and bring the information to the knowledge of the Committee.
Now, let us come back. Within that time there was a kind of crisis in the House of Assembly, some bills and motions were thrown away without even being looked at simply because it came from members that are of the other side. For instance motion on Illicit Bread that was brought to the floor of the House by the member representing Nsit Atai State Constituency, Hon. Mark Esset, the way members reacted went a long way to show that there was a division in the House?
Parliament is always for and against. Okay, this is another question that I will answer by asking another question. How many motions and bills were thrown out? Let me start with the Establishment and Control of Private Hospital Bill that was brought to the floor of the House by Hon. Aniekan Uko. At plenary, I spoke in favour of that bill but I also observed that more work needed to be done especially when we realised that we had a law in place already. And that bill passed through second reading at the plenary. It was at the point of public hearing that the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Dominic Ukpong expressed some reservations about the bill so it was not even the members of the House that threw away the bill, and that is the essence of public hearing. It is our tradition that if we want to pass a law, we have to invite the public for contributions, inputs as well as suggestions. After all, the bill is for them and not for us alone.
Now let us go to the issue of motion on Illicit Bread, after all the deliberations, what was agreed was that more jobs needed to be done on the motion so it was at that point the sponsor of the motion, Hon Mark Esset had to apply for the withdrawal of the motion in order to do some more work and re-present.
The motion was not even thrown out it was the mover of the motion that when he saw the way members were going, saw the need to withdraw the motion, do some work and bring it so that the people could understand what he was talking about. And he had said that he will bring it back. We’ve been called rubber-stamped, that anything that is brought to the House of Assembly will pass. So this is one instance that we proved to the people that we are not rubber-stamped. I want to remind you that the motion was withdrawn by the sponsor of that motion.
When are we expecting to have a public hearing on the Real Property Charge Bill?
As soon as the logistics are ready. We will involve Akwa Ibom people, if there is any bill that must be taken to the public domain; it is the Real Property Charge Bill.
As the Chairman, House Committee on Information, are you satisfied with the level of the implementation of 2016 budget?
I am not just the Information Chairman, but also the Deputy Chairman of Appropriation Committee, based on the brief and inspection that we conducted to project sites, we are satisfied that the 2016 budget was properly implemented to the extent of the funds that were available because I keep telling people that a budget estimate is a mere statement.
We are all aware of the dwindling economy as at 2015, the short falls from the Federations Account and therefore some projects in the Appropriation had to suffer setback. We appreciate that, it is not the situation where the money is available and the projects are not done. The money is not there so from the little that was available we are convinced that it was properly applied.
Tell us about the Paris Club refund, has the Governor notified the House and what is the advice from the House?
Yes, the Governor has notified us we have put it into the budget that would be signed into law in the next few minutes. The Governor had to write to the House that this money has come and this is how he is going to appropriate it which has formed part of the 2017 budget.
What do you think this money will do to Akwa Ibom people?
It will change the fortunes of Akaw Ibom people especially like in the areas that is seeking for attention.
Like which of the areas?
Infrastructural development, payment of salaries as well as arrears of pensioners.
What has really been the achievement of this Assembly?
Responsibility bestowed on us is to make laws for the good people of Akwa Ibom State and I am aware that we are carrying out that responsibility to the best of my ability and knowledge.
Please be specific, what have you people achieved for Akwa Ibom People so far?
Firstly, for the government to do anything they need money and therefore we don’t pass the appropriation law if the government cannot hit the ground running. We had considered the appropriation bill which would be passed into law today. We have assisted the executive to deliver on their mandate. You may also remember that the bill for a law to protect the Physically Challenged persons was passed into law which is waiting ascent by the Governor. We have also passed a law creating Micro Finance outfit for Akwa Ibom State Government. We passed a law for the Administration and Collection of Revenue for Akwa Ibom State, and many other motions and bills.
As the member representing Ibiono Ibom State Constituency which is a part of Uyo Senatorial District and a lawyer by profession, what is your take on the recent ruling of the Federal High court judgement delivered by Justice F.O. Riman between Senator Bassey Albert and Hon. Bassey Etim?
Well, I have not read the judgement but I want to say that I was surprised at that judgement because I was a major player at the primary and I know the petitioner Bassey Etim was not even present at the stadium were the PDP primaries was conducted. So for him to now go to the court to get what he could not get from the electorate, I don’t know how I could explain that because he was not present when the primaries was conducted.
There is this rumour that Senator Bassey Albert never bought form for that position?
I know of the fact that Senator Bassey Albert completed his form to vie for the seat as Senator representing Uyo Senatorial District and I know certain persons who sponsored him.
People are saying that you are contesting for Itu/Ibiono Ibom Federal Constituency come 2019, is it true?
Somebody came to my office and said he was told that I am going to contest for a third term and i responded by telling him that I am part of what we call Ididep Declaration in Ibiono Ibom, in Ididep Declaration we had agreed that no matter how you perform in a particular office you cannot go for a third term so that another area will also get that same office. I cannot go for a third term, and I want to thank my people for even finding me worthy to be given a second term but having said so, I’m still available for service in the higher office than the current position and I’m still willing and ready to serve my people.
But people have said a lot of things about your next political move. Would you want to comment on that?
Nsibiet, many people have also said a lot of things about you especially in recent times so...........(General laughter)
Thank you!
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