Hon. Titus Alams.
Rt. Hon. Titus Ayuba Alams, a former Speaker in the Plateau State House of Assembly represented Bokkos State Constituency from 2011 to 2015. Although a politician, he is also a businessman and a farmer, he spoke with MARIE-THERESE NANLONG in JOS on politics, security and other issues in the State.
EXCERPTS:
You were the Speaker of Plateau State House of Assembly and at that time, the House was accused of being so subservient to the Executive arm of government. As an insider, what was the true situation?
People said so, if we were like that, the development we left behind would not have been. What we did was not to say that anything that the Executive did was right but we tried to do was the Legislative arm of government, the Executive and the Judiciary, we looked at it that we are one as instruments that move governance forward. What we were trying to do was to work together and see how Plateau can move forward. From every indication, the synergy created, the enablement, the things we did; people looked at them as if we were not doing them well but you can see the legacies we left behind in the State.
Like what?
Plateau State has never had it like what it had when we were in office. The schools, education, the hospitals, we had done our best from 2011 to 2015, nobody in Plateau would say we did not do well, we did our best. Whether we like it or not, the issue of the Assembly being looked at as a rubber stamp, the whole thing is enshrined in the constitution. Until all those things are settled; the autonomy properly given, that is when you will get the Assembly that will be very robust. I still say even with the situation, the Assembly still does its best; it is only when you are there that you know what the Assembly is supposed to do, we did our best and I am sure any other Assembly that come will still be looked at as a rubber stamp but they are equally doing their best.
The issue of autonomy, what do you think are the fears about the Legislature getting full autonomy?
Whatever fear that is there is not real, sometimes there may be a feeling that because of autonomy, the legislators may not work on Bills the way the Executive wants, they may not look at things the same way. Another thing is the scarce resources, that we don’t have enough to share to all the tiers of government, even when they are together, how do they cope? The way the economy is, even when you get the autonomy, you may not be able to perform effectively; all the same, it will help because when every arm is autonomous, so many things will happen. But if we want to serve the people properly, I don’t think this issue of autonomy will be a problem. We were talking about local government, now they say everybody go and pay your staff independently, they are now struggling to see how they can cope and go about it, if you give the autonomy, they will see how to go about it.
You are talking about scarce resources, you were owed when you were in office, with the paucity of fund, would you and your colleagues be willing to forfeit the debt to government?
The debt is a continuous process, even when the other people came, they had some of their entitlements that were not paid but were later paid. The governor has always told us that he will take care of those issues and if he does, well, he has done it to some other, not fully but he has shown concern to do it. He has not said he will not pay but when he gets money, he will pay. We are trusting that he will but if he won’t, fine.
Your Party, PDP is going through challenges, it seems nothing can be done to settle aggrieved people, with this attitude, how do you intend to get effective opposition or credible candidates to contest elections in 2023?
Every Party has its challenges, in the PDP, we are very mature, His Excellency, Dr. Saraki’s committee has visited the State, we have gone to Abuja to discuss, some issues are in court. I am very happy because Chris Hassan (the State Chairman) the other day said we have almost solved the problems, we have reached some percentage. That then means our meeting with the reconciliation committee and our meeting with all the elders in the State, all our elders were present. Former governor Jang, Senators Useni, Mantu; former Chairman Sango, all of the National Assembly members, House of Assembly members, we were talking and we are trusting God that we will resolve all the party issues.
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We are not talking camps in PDP, we are not talking factions, it is just children of the same father arguing on the same thing. You have one child saying let’s do it this way and another child says let’s do it that way but we are sure the problems will be solved.
Let’s talk about insecurity in Nigeria, particularly in Bokkos, your local government area. There has been series of killings there and recently, even a physically challenged person was killed. What is actually happening, what do you think can be done to solve the problem?
We are all aware of the insecurity in Nigeria, that of Bokkos is very bad. The other time we were in Bokkos for the sensitization on this population issue, the STF commander there briefed us, they are doing their best. You can even see how they (armed men) got to the State University in Bokkos and what they did there. We are beginning to wonder if this issue of boko haram is a reality because boko (western education) they say is haram (forbidden) because they are trying to completely wipe out education, we do not know but the case in Bokkos is very pathetic, the situation is terrible. It is not just Bokkos but everywhere, we have seen the local government trying its best, the vigilante groups, the traditional rulers, the security. The other issue is not for public discourse but Bokkos needs to sit tight. What happened in Benue is another example, you heard what the governor said, you saw what happened at the National Assembly, their reactions. It is a general problem but that of Bokkos, we thought it was reducing but do you know that a father of a friend, Major Dadel was killed, a very humble man, respected elder in that community was followed right inside his house as was killed, we are burying him on Friday.
Any political ambition in 2023?
Well, we are seriously consulting but my community in Bokkos has asked and in a very serious note that I go in for the Senate seat for Plateau Central but we are consulting because it is not the issue of my community alone but the five local government areas in the zone.
