The Deputy Speaker, Kwara State House of Assembly, Prof. Mohammed Yisa, in this interview with SUCCESS NWOGU speaks on national issues and others.

What is your assessment of President Goodluck Jonathan's administration?

It appears there is no President with the way things are just happening in Nigeria. It is most unfortunate that things are going this way. In other countries, if a citizen becomes a victim of kidnapping or abduction, the nation stands to make sure that such person is rescued and this is usually spearheaded by the President of the country.

But since April that our girls were abducted in Chibok, up till now, we have not seen them and you cannot even hear anything tangible that the government is doing to get the girls rescued. It is most unfortunate.

You will also discover that in the last few years, there has been high level of corruption in government and again the leadership of the country has not taken any serious action against those who perpetuate such corruption. One will begin to wonder why the nation is being run in this manner.

So you believe that President Goodluck Jonathan is not performing?

In my opinion, it is as if he was not prepared for the job he campaigned for. It appears that he does not even know what to do. It is unfortunate that instead of him to concentrate on how to effectively run the country, the new agenda of the government is how to return Jonathan back to power. Instead of thinking about how to bring an end to insecurity, corruption, poverty, give our people stable power supply, improve infrastructure and the education sector and other dividends of democracy, the President has been focusing on how to get re-elected.

How will you convince the public that Kwara State lawmakers are not puppets of Senator Bukola Saraki?

The Kwara State House of Assembly members are not Saraki's puppets; Saraki has not brought any bill. The government brings bills and the House of Assembly looks at them and on many occasions, government-sponsored bills have been rejected or returned. If anybody wants to say that members of the House of Assembly are Saraki's yes-men, the person must be deceiving the public.

Of course, Saraki along others approved our nominations to contest the election into the House, and for that we appreciate all those who played a role. But none of them has interfered in the way the House is being run and the proceedings of the House. So, it will not be right for anybody to think that we are Saraki's puppets.

Do you support the creation of more states?

Of course, I think the nation could do with few additional states. But as was suggested at the National Conference to create 18 more states, I do not think it is okay. I think many of those states will not be viable. I support creation of few more states to address genuine agitations and outcry against marginalisation by some people. Some states are too large for management. If you look at the old structure, it appears that some states have been divided more times than other states. If you look at a state like Niger, it is too large.

There is an allegation that Bukola Saraki is acquiring the property of Kwara State illegally for his wife? How many of such property can you recall?

I am not aware of such acquisition of state property for his wife. But I do know that the Saraki family has been very rich; that is not in doubt at all. But I am not aware that Dr. Bukola Saraki is acquiring property either for himself or for his wife or for his immediate family.

It is being said that some members of the state assembly who defected from the Peoples Democratic Party to the All Progressives Congress are negotiating their return to the PDP? How many are involved?

No! That must be misinformation; I am not aware of any lawmaker negotiating to return to PDP. I met with almost all the members in the House of Assembly and none has indicated interest in going back to the PDP. Everybody is aware why we left the PDP and nothing has changed up till now that will warrant anybody to go back to the PDP.

As a prominent member of Saraki's dynasty, who will you say between Senator Bukola Saraki and Senator Gbemisola Saraki inherited Dr. Olusola Saraki's political dynasty?

We know that if we are talking of Baba Saraki's dynasty, the leadership falls on Dr. Bukola Saraki. He has taken firm control of that dynasty. When you talk about the Saraki dynasty, some people only look at his children but that perception is wrong. We are all members of the dynasty. All those who have benefited from the political power, generosity and kindness of Dr. Olusola Saraki are members of that dynasty, except those who are ingrates. We are many and we are expanding the dynasty under the leadership of Dr. Bukola Saraki, who has been leading successfully.

He has surpassed some of the attributes of Baba Saraki. If we talk of generosity, kindness and access to the people, I can tell you that Dr. Bukola Saraki is even more generous, kind and more accessible to the people than his father. Almost every week, he is in town to interact with the expanded members of the dynasty.

Bukola is the leader. It cannot be Gbemisola Saraki because that was what was being insinuated. One of the objectives of the PDP in Kwara State is to destroy Saraki dynasty and Gbemi is supporting the PDP. So, how can you be a leader of a dynasty and still be a member of a party that is out to destroy that dynasty?

How will you describe the leadership style of Bukola Saraki particularly in relation to a statement credited to one of your kinsmen, a former senator who described Bukola as a dictator?

I don't think he knew what he was saying and I don’t think he is somebody that should be taken seriously. This is somebody who on a platter of gold became a Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria through Saraki's dynasty. After serving as a senator for four years, he was again nominated as a federal commissioner in the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission for five years. He was at Nupe Day celebration at Bida where Dr. Bukola Saraki was turbaned as Turakin Rana Kasa. In fact, he was seriously involved in the activities that led to his turbaning. Rana Kasa means somebody who is in charge of people, who is relating with the people and making people happy. For this man who was part of the activities to now describe Bukola Saraki as a dictator, I don't think he knew what he was saying and he should not be taken as a serious person.

People are insinuating that the impact of Shonga farms has not been felt, as a Professor of Agricultural Engineering, what is your reaction to this?

Those who say Shonga farms have not made any impact on the people don’t know what the farms represent and they have not taken time to find out. The Zimbabwean farmers were brought to Kwara State to expand agricultural production; to create employment, to bring about technology transfer and to bring about infrastructural development, among others.

Today, infrastructural facilities like electricity, water supply, telecommunications network and others were brought to the farm and its environ. Then, on the issue of technology transfer, as of the time the farm was established, the farmers were predominantly peasant with farms of about two hectares. But because of the influence of technology, they now farm about 20 hectares.

The advent of Shonga farms resulted in the establishment of Malete youth training farm. There is real mass production of crops like cassava, soya beans and maize in Shonga farms. There is no other place where an individual farmer cultivates about 600 hectares, it is only in Shonga farms.

Today, if you buy chicken from Shoprite, you may be eating chicken from Shonga farms. Fresh milk is being taken from Shonga farms by WAMCO, the producer of peak milk. The milk we drink, either powder or liquid, is coming from Shonga farms. If we talk about employment, these farmers employed about 4,000 people at the peak period and they pay monthly wages which is more than the monthly income of a local government worker. These farmers have also succeeded in bringing Fulani cattle rearers on board. So, the multiple effects of Shonga farms and many other commercial farmers to the state cannot be overemphasised.

How will you describe the relationship between the legislative and executive arms of government in Kwara State?

The House is working hand-in-hand with the executive and judiciary arms of government to ensure that the dividends of democracy are delivered to the people. The state Assembly is not like other Assemblies in some states where there are frictions.

As far as we are concerned, the welfare of the people of Kwara State is our primary concern. So, there is no cause for misunderstanding between us. The House has remained united, peaceful and hardworking. We have passed 42 bills into law and adopted over 120 motions. We are pursuing the same agenda with the executive and judiciary arms of the government.