EXCLUSIVE: Oyo State Will Emulate Fayose's Resolution on Herdsmen/Farmers Clashes. | Hon Owolabi.

As it is our custom to keep the public abreast on the state of things in the State Assembly and how their honourable members are representing them, here is another exclusive chat with Honourable member representing Ibadan North East Constituency 2, where he explained how Oyo State government can tackle the clashes between Fulani Herdsmen and Farmer in the state by emulate former governor of Ekiti state, Mr Ayodele Fayose, by providing lands for farmer to ply their trade so as to curb herdsmen from disturbing people's business.

Qs: Can we meet you Sir?

Hon Owolabi: I am from Ibadan North East, a son of surveyor O .S owolabi and by the grace of God,  honourable member of Oyo State House of Assembly representing the good people of Ibadan North-East State Constituency 2. Let me seize this opportunity to thank my people for their support by the honour of which am here today and to equally assure that I will make them the top on my priority list as we count on God for success.

Qs:What motivated you to go into politics?

Hon Owolabi: My father is a politician cum surveyor and had been actively involved since when we were very young. As a matter of fact he contested for the same seat am occupying now and won in the year 1997 under  DPN then, but it all was lurched to a halt as a result of transition from military rule coupled with the death of the then military head of state, General Sani Abacha.

Again in 1999, he contested under PDP for the seat of a local govt chairman Ibadan North East.

Qs: In a recent sitting at the plenary Hon. Olawumi moved a motion concerning the destitute living under Mokola bridge, what is your take on the motion Sir?

Hon Owolabi: The truth of the matter is that these people most of them are Nigerians and deserve our care as a government, though there possibly will be some among them that are not from here and it is government's responsibility to ensure their safe return to their homeland which I think is the main thing as we can only accommodate them for a while.

Qs: Some years back former governor of Lagos moved them out of Lagos, can this same move be adopted here in Oyo State?

Hon Owolabi: There are ways to approach problems. We cannot condemn the approach adopted by Lagos state government by returning them to their state but there are other better approaches that can still be used aside that.  We just have to move the destitute out of our streets. There is no way we can invite investors in without having them pass through those places. Their humanities will be respected but at the same time our streets must be free from the destitute.

Qs:  The house greased the governor's palm on his proclamation recently on OYSIEC. Can you shed more light on the stand of the house?

Hon Owolabi: The truth is that the past administration were on the seat of power for 8years and deemed it not fit to conduct local government election until  when the administration was rounding up which is not supposed to be. It was clear to all that was a kangaroo election. The truth we know is that it was only the ruling party then that participated  in the election and it won all the seats. You don't call that election.

Qs: Youths participation in politics, why must youths take charge?

Hon Owolabi: In Oyo state most of the honourable house members we have now are youths. we are sending message to the masses that we can take charge and we are ready to serve in the good sense of services

Qs: But a senator reportedly slapped a lady at an adult toy shop in Abuja and he is also a youth, don't you think people will have different opinion about the youths judging from that ugly incidence?

Hon Owolabi: When you have a group of people there are differences between them. What senator Abbo did is wrong but the fact remains that not all the youths have anger issues, the fact that you can control your anger goes a long way especially if you are seen as a leader

Qs:The herdsmen farmers' issue, what's your view on it?

Hon Owolabi: The problem of herdsmen and farmers will be settled by the state governor very soon. we have encountered a lot of problems, clashes at different states and at different levels.  We are not going to solve our problem in Oyo state by creating cattle colony. There is a provision for farmers to have a land to ply their trade. We are not going to encourage herdsmen disturbing other people's business, that cannot happen here in Oyo state that was why I cited former governor Fayose's actions in Ekiti. There are many other ways of solving this problem: we have the vigilante, the Forest guards,  Civil defence, police operation burst. They cannot know the terrain very well like the local hunters. Am only saying the local hunters when employed can curb the excess of the criminal herders.

Qs: Every representative has a bill to present, what bill are you planning to bring to the floor of the house?

Hon Owolabi: All of us just came on board and we all have a lot of bills to present take for example I have a bill on people living with disabilities but when I came in I realized it has been passed before but never implemented. The effectiveness is what we need to take into notice, it is like having a law that people are are not using, we must make sure the bills are being implemented.

Qs:Talking about NURTW, what's your stand on it?

Hon Owolabi:There are different parties at the National Union but what we are after is the security of life and property that is why the union stands dissolved. We must ensure security and safety of the people of Oyo state and the governor is on top of the situation and I believe he knows what is best vis-à-vis the issue. We can also generate IGR from this but not at the detriment of the people of the state.

Qs: What should be expected from you from the people in your constituency?

Hon Owolabi: They should expect the best in governance. Previous honourables did not impact as expected but I am assuring them of the best and by Gods grace I will do my best to make their life better.

Qs: How accessible are you to the people of your constituency?

Hon Owolabi: very soon my constituency office will soon be opened. People from my constituency have my number. I am very accessible.