Hon Ibrahim Olarewaju recently resigned as Senior Special Assistant to the president on National Assembly (House of Representatives) to contest again for the Ekiti North federal constituency II – Ido-Osi/Ilejemeje/Moba constituency in 2027. In this interview with ‘YOMI AYELESO, the former lawmaker who represented the constituency between 2019 and 2023 speaks on his resignation, chances of picking the ticket of the All Progressives Congress (APC) among other issues in the polity.
WHAT informed your decision to resign to contest the 2027 elections despite being close to power?
What principally informed my decision was the yearning and the cravings of my people from my constituency. Of course, I was in the seat of power, fairly comfortable with what I was doing. The work was quite challenging, but also very rewarding. It was a huge experience for me, traversing between Mr. President and the Parliament. It exposed me to a lot of policy processes and gave me the opportunity to meet many people. However, I am first and foremost an Ekiti man before being an appointee of Mr. President. When my people called on me and said they needed me, I could not say no. That ultimately informed my resignation.
As a former occupant of the seat, what do you think was the reason for the call to serve again?
Without attempting to compare myself with anyone, one thing I know is that I made myself very accessible to my people. If you call my line and I cannot pick, I would always respond either by asking you to send a text or a message. I often tell people that if a member of the House of Representatives says he is too busy to pick calls for two or three days, that is not true. As a legislator, your job revolves around three key responsibilities; Representation, lawmaking, and oversight. But the most important to the people is representation. If they cannot reach you, then what exactly are you representing? My people knew they could reach me anytime, any day, and that made a difference. Also, there is no single one of the 32 communities in my constituency where I did not execute at least one project. It may be small -like solar lights or a borehole, but I ensured equitable distribution. Just a few days ago, I passed through a community and saw a borehole I installed about four years ago still functioning effectively, even in the dry season. That, to me, is gratifying. I receive calls regularly. In fact, people have given me a nickname—“Mr. empowerment.” That name humbles me and constantly pushes me to do more. As they say, the reward for good work is more work.Within the last 48 hours of being home, I have already received numerous requests for tailoring machines, generators, and other empowerment tools. I have become synonymous with this, and I thank God for the little I have been able to do. So when my people say, “Please come back, we need more,” I have no option but to answer the call.
Given the changes in the political and economic landscape since your last tenure, what areas would you prioritize if given another opportunity?
What my constituency needs most is federal presence and attention. This could come in form of higher institutions, industries, or health facilities anything that can attract development. We are in the northern part of Ekiti, largely rural. Without something to draw people and investment, development becomes difficult. Even our farmers often consume what they produce because there is no structured market. With federal presence, economic activities will increase. Farmers can earn more, young people will get jobs, and graduates will have opportunities. That is my biggest concern, bringing federal government attention to my constituency.
Looking at the internal dynamics of your party, the APC, what gives you the confidence to step into this race or you have been assured of the ticket?
The APC knows how it does its things, and as a member, I understand the system. The most important consideration for our leaders is quality representation. Many leaders have told me, “We appreciate what you have done; come back and do more.” That gives me confidence. I am a lawyer with over 25 years post-call experience, and I understand my people well.
When I arrived in my hometown recently, within minutes, the entire place was filled with people celebrating my return singing, drumming, and rejoicing. It was overwhelming. I had to ask myself what I had done to deserve such love. That reception, to me, is a clear signal of acceptance. I am fully prepared. I am already on the field, and the reception has been very encouraging. I don’t dwell on opponents I am focused on winning. I am confident my people will support me massively. I am not one known for bragging, but from what I have seen, the support is clear.
Based on your experience both as a former legislator and presidential aide, what improvements would you like to see as regards our laws, especially on the constitution and the Electoral ActNigeria does not lack laws; we have sufficient legal frameworks. What we need is the will to enforce them. As we move forward, we may need to amend or improve certain sections, but fundamentally, the problem is not the absence of laws, it is implementation. The effectiveness of laws lies largely with the judiciary. Judges must be bold and courageous enough to enforce them. A law is only as strong as its enforcement. It should not be one law for the rich and another for the poor.
Some critics say the current National Assembly is too close to the executive and described it as a rubber stamp. What is your reaction?
The fact that the legislature is not in conflict with the executive does not mean something is wrong. In fact, unnecessary conflict can be counterproductive. If two elephants fight, it is the grass that suffers, and in this wise, the people.
The current harmony exists partly because of experience. The President and key officials understand the workings of the legislature because they were former legislatures. This allows for effective communication and conflict resolution before issues escalate. That is the essence of governance, collaboration, not confrontation. During the administration of late President Muhammadu Buhari that we had Senator Bukola Saraki as Senate President which people always talked about, what did we achieve then from those disagreements ? We didn’t make progress. We just like to see negative news as a people in this country.
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