Question: Barr. you have been in the civil space for a while now fighting injustice in our society. So why do you think an elective position will help you pursue this further?
Ibor: Yes, as you are aware we have worked together in the Civil Society space for some time now. The civil space is shrinking and why is it so. Basically, because of the actions and inactions of the Executive, legislative and judiciary arms of government. This is the cause of its shrink. So, we can not continue to fight from the outside. We need to get involved so that we can assist those heading the Executive, Legislative and Judiciary arms of government perform more effectively and efficiently.
Question: Why do you want to get involved?
Ibor: Yes, primarily to liberate the people from the shackles of poverty. Remember the duty of legislation is to make laws that will benefit the people, carrying out oversight function for the benefit of the people.
Question? Are you saying being totally in the Civil Space has not guaranteed you the opportunity to strengthen the too many injustices across the space?
Ibor: It is not enough. You see policy and law is everything. Government can make a man a woman. Yes, it is possible. We have advocated for a number of reforms in the state but when it comes to implementation, the answer is zero. Most times we have zero oversight. No matter how good a government is, if there are no credible legislative arm, the government will not progress. That Executive will fail.
Question? Should one blame the Executive for non implementation of Bills that the governor had assented to or could it be that the three triers of government had failed?
Ibor: The word rubber stamp has engulfed so many House of Assemblies nation wide. We have PDP that their legislators are “rubber stamp”. If you are my friend and you are wrong and I am not good enough to tell that you are wrong, then I am not a good friend. Remember, the governor was elected to govern. You don’t expect him to be everywhere at the same time. It is normal to oversight what the government is doing not by antagonizing him, but drawing his attention to something that needed to be corrected. It will help the governor to deliver the dividends of democracy to the people. Why did he appoint Commissioners, SAs and PAs? It is to extend his hands to deliver the dividends of democracy to the people. See these people don’t do what the governor wants them to do and most times the governor may not remember. But if you have a vibrant arm of the legislative that oversight the governor, things will begin to work. They will begin to draw the attention of the governor to areas that need help. That also helps the governor to review his work plan for a period. This will help to bring good governance to the people and the people will be happy. The governor is struggling with his re-election campaign today because the legislators failed to properly carry out their oversight function as prescribed in the Constitution.
Question: Can you throw more light when you say that Gov Otu is struggling for re-election campaign? The air is drumming Sweet Prince etc?
Ibor: I am aware of what I am saying. They are destroying his chances. It is political sycophancy. They are singing praises into their personal pocket. We are human beings we are easily carried away. Such people are everywhere. But if you have a staff who constantly reminds you of something that needs to be done, you are on the right path to succeed anytime and any day. You will do better and that is the role i intend to play when elected. Somebody mirroring you from behind. I will look at the governor and tell him what needs to be done at all times.
Question? What happens if you are the only voice, will you stand the chance to speak out?
Ibor: Okay, do you think that the governor would not want to succeed? Or to deliver the dividends of democracy to his people. The governor wants his people to fill the impact of his government and that is what I will be talking and projecting on the floor of the House always. Oh yeah, i am an elected member of the house and nobody can hold my space. I have my space as an elected member. It is actually to let the people know that I am not an opposition trying to destroy the government, but here to help the government to succeed.
Question? Out there you are seen as a Stubborn Human Rights Activist. What kind of remark is this. Are you worried over it?
Ibor: Stubborn for what? Like I said earlier I am a member of Public Private Partnership Council in the state and the governor wants it to work. We vet companies we get the best. The governor doesn’t teleguide us. And that is what the governor wants. I don’t follow the crowd but once I am convinced that what I am doing is right I pursue it outrightly.
Question: Why do you want to go to House of Assembly when there’s a representative there?
Ibor: Yes, we are yet to see the dividend of democracy for the past three years. We have not seen one thing for the three years he has been there. I challenge him to prove it. The beauty of democracy is result oriented projects and programs. Let him tell us how many laws he has promoted. Can he tell us how he has been over sighting the Appropriation Bills for Three years? Infact, he can’t explain even one thing. I challenge him publicly let him mention the laws he had sponsored let’s see. You can not solve problem with another problem. Hon Cyril Omini is a monumental problem to the state. Infact he is one of the biggest problems to this government as of today.
Question? What do you intend to do differently?
Ibor; I am going to promote good legislation and ensure proper budget oversight in the House when I am elected as a member. I’m going to promote transparency in government. My current MP is a burden to the government. He has failed his constituents in the past three years. The 11th Assembly is not for people with low acuem.
Question: What do you intend to do for your people when you get there?
Ibor: I am going to review all state laws by the grace of God. The biggest challenge we have in Nigeria is that our laws does not agree with the budget. We make laws and budgets but there are no oversight function for their implementation. Primarily I will make laws that will promote peace and unity in the state and in my local government. There has been series of communal clashes in the state over the years. We will do a lot of oversight on the Boundary Commission to address the root causes of these crisis.
Question: Increase in communal clashes in the state, how do you intend to tackle or reduce them?
Ibor: Yes we have these laws and Commissions and the are well funded but nothing good comes out of them. If we have a functional House of Assembly, there will be proper budget oversight and things will work well. It is difficult to evaluate something when there is no monitoring mechanism. And that is what I am going to bring to my people. I will also bring to them oversight in the health sector and judiciary. The judicial headquarters is broken. We shall digitalize its information accessibility henceforth. We will be promoting judicial autonomy in the state. Promote State police as well as local government autonomy in the state. We will go into education, agriculture, health, tourism and other sectors for proper oversight function.
Question: What made the House to fail in her Constitutional right? Where they not funded?
Ibor: What kind of funding does it require to carry out oversight function? The markings on our roads are wrongly marked. Most road users don’t obey road signs. People need to be accountable for the job given to them to execute via oversight function by the legislature and that is what we are going to introduce when elected.
