Hon. Jimoh Musa Omiatta is a member of Kogi State House of Assembly, representing Yagba East Constituency and has just been re-elected in the same capacity in the last state assembly election. In this interview with JAMES OYEWOLE, BAYO AKA and JUWON EKUNDAYO, he reeled out the modest achievements made during his first tenure as a legislator, why he stands eminently qualify to head the state assembly in this dispensation.
Excerpts.
Can we get to know you?
My name is Hon Jimoh Musa Omiatta. I represent Yagba East constituency in the Kogi State House of Assembly.
What has the experience been like in the last four years as a member of the state house of assembly?
As a member of Kogi State House of Assembly, it has been hectic but interesting. We had a lot of crisis at inception but after sometimes, the crisis was resolved and we now have one house. The crisis had to do with leadership tussle. We went to court, even up to Supreme Court level and it was decided in our favour. We had said minority cannot rule the majority. I was still in PDP that had majority then. The system wanted the minority- APC to be the leader of the House which made us go to court. But all said and done, we had a round table discussion with the Executive Governor and we resolved the issue. Since then, we have been witnessing peace in the House.
You must have followed the activities of the House before seeking to be elected. As a lawmaker, what have you been able to do differently?
Well, the idea was that the way I used to see it was different from the way I met it. I had thought that the moment you are an assembly member, you could get good things for your people but it has never been so. However, I have been able to do some modest things for my people differently through the motion I raised and followed to the latter. Thank God, today I can point to some achievements made through the motions I raised and which the State Government has acted on. For instance, when you talk about the Lokoja street light project, I moved the motion on the floor of the House and today, the streets of Lokoja have street light. There was also the Jegge/Isanlu Bridge in my constituency which collapsed but I immediately moved a motion calling on the state government to reconstruct the bridge. I equally moved motion on the electrification projects of not less than four wards which were hitherto in darkness: Igbagun, Oranre, Ife-Olukotun and Ere/Ponyan out of the ten wards in my constituency. Today, through the motion which I moved with proper follow up, the state government has been able to connect the wards to the national grid. The communities, as we speak, are enjoying power supply now. In Isanlu too, they used to experience epileptic or erratic power supply but I moved a motion on it and today, Isanlu enjoys not less than 18 hours power supply per day. Outside all the above, the position of the legislator and the executive is not the same but the mindset of our people is that you must be able to carry out projects and if you have not done that, then you have not done anything. I therefore took it upon myself to grade all the roads in my constituency from the beginning to the end except one community in the suburb of Isanlu. It was a huge project but I gave the community money.
You are the first from Yagba East to get a second term consecutively, what could be responsible for that?
From day one of my being elected member of the House, I had in mind that I would spend only four years because it had never happened for a lawmaker to get re-elected because we have an arrangement in place that makes it near impossible. But for me to be elected for a second term to represent my constituency, I take it to be a great privilege because I am not the best or the wisest. I had given touching people’s life uttermost importance without knowing that it would open door for me a second time. All that I was doing was just to ensure that I raise the bar of representation. Honestly, I didn’t have a second term in mind. It was only my own way to appreciate my people for the confidence reposed in me. This accounted for the several grading of township roads with my personal money. I graded Igbagun, Alu, Oranre township roads, from Alu to Igbo Ero which is about 15 kilometers, Ife-Olukotun, Poyan, Jegge township roads, from jegge to Ogbom and even Ogga which is in Yagba West LGA. I also graded all the suburbs of Isanlu roads which no legislator before me did. I didn’t know that my people were taking note of all these. I handled the issue of electricity project which none before me ventured into. I spent personal money which amounts to millions of naira. When it was getting beyond my power, I had to meet His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Kogi State for assistance. I told him to assist my constituency with N6 million being cost for the electrification project but he gave us N5 Million to handle the project. Today, power problem has been surmounted in the constituency. I also drew the attention of the State Government to the dams that are not functioning by way of moving a motion and urged that the dams in Yagba East – Isanlu, Ife-Olukotun and Ejuku be rehabilitated. The government, however, responded that the three could not be rehabilitated at once. That of Isanlu was slated for rehabilitation first, with the two others to follow later. Since it was like this, I resorted to self-help so that the South East axis: Ife-Olukotun and Ejuku could have portable water supply. I contracted a water Engineer to survey the area and do the costing for rehabilitating existing boreholes. Today, the people of the area are enjoying water supply pending the repair of the dams. My motion was not just to fix the Isanlu dam but to ensure that water is supplied to Isanlu environs when the dam is fixed. Same thing will be applicable to Ife-Olukotun and Ejuku where all the suburb communities will have water supply. By the next two years, by God’s grace, Yagbaland would no longer lack portable water supply. Towards the end of our first tenure, a top government official wanted me to have a shot at the Yagba Federal Constituency seat to which I replied that the collective project of Ygba East is to gun for Kogi West Senatorial seat and I could not deviate from my people’s project. Thereafter, there were calls in Lokoja that I should go for a second term in the state assembly but I responded that we have an arrangement in place and I can’t possibly work against that arrangement. However the calls for me to go for a second term grew louder at home and so I have to oblige them. Almost everywhere, the slogan was Omiatta for second term.
It is being rumoured that you are gunning for the Speakership of Kogi State House of Assembly. Can we hear from you?
It is not a rumour, it is a fact. I am sure you are familiar with the rudiments of becoming the Speaker of the assembly. When you have completed a season, you move to another one, you seek for a principal position. You are aware that in Kogi State, we have three main tribes spread in the three senatorial districts. The Governor comes from Kogi Central, so the Speaker is not expected from there, the Deputy Governor is from Kogi East, so the Speaker is not expected from there, and therefore, it is only Kogi West that can agitate for the Speaker’s seat. Since I belong to Kogi West and I am a ranking member in the House, I am eminently qualified to vie for the seat. Of course, three of us are qualified: the current Speaker, Prince Matthew Kolawole from Kabba/Bunu, Hon Idris from Lokoja and my very self from Yagba East constituency. Having mentioned this, we have to look at how we stand. Look at the history of Speakership from inception in Kogi State, Yagba East has never produced it. We have seven Local Governments that make up Kogi West Senatorial District. Out of these seven Local Government Areas, Ijumu and Yagba East constituencies have never produced the Speaker and from the five that have produced the Speaker, some Local Governments have produced the Speaker twice.
Leaving the issue of Local Governments, let us go to constituency issue, only two of the constituencies have never produced the Speaker. These two constituencies are Yagba East and Ijumu, but Ijumu cannot agitate for the seat of Speaker because they have produced the Senator for upwards of 12 years and they still have it for the next four years, so they will be having it for 16 years. What prompts me to go for the Speaker’s seat is because I am favoured to emerge victorious. I cannot see how we can have Senate seat in one constituency and others do not have anything and yet the Speaker’s seat will still go there. I know I will get it because the present government believes in equity, fairness and justice. And with this in place, I am supposed to have it. It is not just about Omiatta agitating for the position of the Speaker, it is the collective decision of Yagba people of Yagba Federal constituency both home and abroad.
When you finally get it, what do you intend to do?
I will make a great difference just the same way I made a difference in my constituency. Let me explain what I will do by rehearsing a saying of our people, they say when one is expecting a baby, the name of the expectant baby is best known to the father of the baby. So let me keep my plans to myself for now, but I can assure you that it is going to be Kogi’s most glorious moment.
What is your take on the view that the legislator is a rubber stamp in the hands of the executive?
It depends on how you look at it. Part of our work is to lobby and in the course of lobbying, anything can happen. I can do anything to get good things, especially dividends of democracy for my constituents. The whole thing depends on the leadership style. The style of some leaders may make people to think that you are an appendage of the executive arm of government. It depends on how people view it.
What should people expect from the next assembly?
People should expect performances far better than the previous ones. People should expect good laws. They should go beyond sitting in the assembly where things are harmonized. They should rather go to the fields, go to their constituents for town hall meetings to feel their pulse. As the Speaker, you are expected to go round the state so as to have good feedback from the people. So far, only Rt Hon Clarence Olafemi has handled the office of the Speaker as expected. He used it to advance the well-being of all the people of the state.
What is your take on the judiciary and legislative independence?
It is a good one. It is a nice one as it will take away a lot of burdens off the executive. The snag is it may come late. With such independence, the legislators will be able to access the executive and vice versa. It is good for our democracy and it shows that our democracy is truly growing.
How do you relax?
It is the day that God calls one that relaxation starts. I am a workaholic person, I hardly relax until I have achieved set target. Why do I need to rest when I have not gotten what I want? One of my desires is always working on how to make Yagba a better place.
What is your take on fashion?
Fashion is good and it depends on how you define it. I know where your question is headed. Many people insinuate that I wear white all the time for diabolical reasons. It is far from it. I have been putting on white clothes right from my secondary school days and it is common in my family, we put on native clothes mostly in my family. Fashion for me is what makes me comfortable.
Your best food?
I am an African man to the core. I have travelled wide and each time I travel, I always look for African food or restaurants. Specifically, when I am at home, I prefer pounded yam. But outside, I may go for semovita or garri and groundnut cake. I don’t eat bread or biscuits, far from it.
What you like most.
It is hitting my target. My question always is have I gotten what I set out to get for myself today? Once that is achieved, I get fulfilled.
The day you will never forget?
It was the day I was transferred from Kano to Lagos State in my former company. This was because I never expected I could be transferred away from Kano where I had just settled down. I was beginning to enjoy my new found friends when suddenly I was informed that I had been transferred on the excuse that I was rated very well. But I knew it was just a ploy to ease me out. Again, it was the same period that Evangelist Reinhard Bonnke came to Kano State and there was religious violence and where I used to live was the most affected. One of my friends who attended the send-forth organized for me was killed. However, I thank God that Lagos became my starting point to limelight. They posted me to Lagos in wickedness but God turned it to a place where I made it. I rose through the ranks to become Regional Manager in Lagos. Thereafter, I resigned three times and each time my resignation was rejected based on the fact that there was nobody to replace me. I was only allowed to go after I found a suitable replacement for myself.
In a few words, what are the qualities that stand you out among your peers?
I will never take liberty for license. If I believe in a cause, I will fight it to the end. In short, I am a straight forward person which makes me unique.
