Mark Useni, a member representing Takum, Ussa, Donga and Yantu special development area at the House of Representatives, recently won his case at the Court of Appeal. In this interview with our senior reporter Chuwang Dungs, said Nigerians are unfair to their representatives. He also spoke on other national issues. Excerpts.
What have you to say about the long road to your victory at the courts?
You will recall that I had been in court right from the primary election beginning from the Federal High Court to the Court of Appeal and it ended at the Supreme Court and I got judgement at the Supreme Court just 28 days to the election. Then I went to the election. Soon after the election, there was a supplementary election which I won again. And at the tribunal, three cases were filed against my election. The tribunal affirmed my case. One of the candidates, Rimam Shawulu, filed a case against me at the appeal court and today the court affirmed my election. One other thing the Court of Appeal established today was that supplementary elections cannot be held twice. That was one of the issues that Shawulu canvassed for. So the court said clearly that the supplementary election comes only once.
It is a remedial election. It is not an entirely new process. The court therefore dismissed his appeal and agreed with my lawyers on the two grounds of preliminary objections that were filed. I am very happy that the judiciary has once again proven to be the last hope of the common Nigerian.
And to me I have been spurred to do more. I am six months in the House of Representatives and so far by the grace of God I have been doing my job very well despite the distraction that has been caused by this legal process. I have sponsored three bills. I have co- sponsored three other bills for the good not only of my constituency but of Nigerians. I have also attracted projects to my state and constituency. At the moment there are three new schools that are being built in Taraba State by the privilege of serving as chairman of the House Committee on Basic Education. So with this legal process done, you have the assurance that by the grace of God I am going to do my best to represent my people properly. The last time my constituency experienced purposeful representation was when Sam Tsokwa was in the House of Representatives. Bwacha did extremely well when he was representing our constituency. But the last eight years before I took over, has been an era of cankerworm. We lost representation. So by the grace of God I have started. This is six months. The whole thing is there for all to see. I want to assure you that we would work together with other stakeholders to make sure that our people are properly represented.
Can we know where those projects are located?
We have one of the schools in Kona. We have one in Vakude in Sardauna and the other one in Bete.
Most Nigerians are questioning the rationale behind the purchase of expensive vehicles for National Assembly members despite the economic hardship being faced…
…Cuts in: I don’t understand what you mean by expensive vehicles?
The Prado jeeps bought for National Assembly members…
Let me say that Nigerians are very unfair to their Representatives. I was a member of the State House of Assembly. Members of the Assembly did use Toyota Prado, some used Land Cruisers. So I don’t know the rationale behind the complaint that a member of the House of Representatives would use a Prado SUV. What is expensive about a Prado SUV? They are not bullet proof vehicles. A Minister of the Federal Republic uses three or four SUVs, that is not an issue by public perception.
You find MDs of agencies, directors of Ministries using Land Cruisers. These are people that are not elected and it doesn’t matter to anybody. You find vice chancellors, chief executives of MDAs using SUVs in some cases bulletproof SUVs, why is the one for National Assembly members a specialty. That I use a Prado even though I have not seen the Prado yet, as a member of the National Assembly, should not be an issue. What should concern us is whether the House is functioning. This is a distraction, probably sponsored to pitch the public against the House of which I know has failed because I know Nigerians understand.
What is your assessment of the Tinubu administration so far?
I have told many who cared to listen, if you understand the point where President Tinubu took over the leadership of Nigeria, you will appreciate that he was able to stabilize the country in terms of economy, the hitherto rising security issues; there are security issues and he is contending with them. You will observe that really he was prepared for the job as he said. All we need to do as Nigerians is to give the President the necessary co-operation for him to succeed. Don’t forget, he was also distracted from the beginning with court cases. No matter how strong you are, once you are in court on a political matter, it would unsettle you. Despite that, the man has been able to roll out economic policies to address our challenges and we believe that he will succeed. This is his first budget which by the grace of God we will pass on the 30th of this month. And following the passage of the budget, I want to assure you that I have gone through the budget document and there are very laudable projects and activities that would address the myriad of problems that we have as a nation. My assessment is that the President is doing very well and given the necessary co-operation, he will take us out of the woods.
Can you clear the air on the speculations going round that you are planning to cross carpet to your former party, the PDP?
I am a proud member of the APC and we have been working hard with the presidency to make sure it works well for Taraba and it works well for Nigeria. I don’t think this is time for Nigerians to be concerned about political parties. We are at the level of governance. All of us that have been elected and those of us that have been appointed, we have a duty to deliver on our various mandates. By the way, we have just finished from the courts, elections are far away from here. But I want to assure you that I am very comfortable with the All Progressives Congress. And we are working very hard to attract our friends, those in the PDP. I have been telling them to come and join me so that we would do it at the center in order to deliver the dividends of democracy to our people. The government at the State is PDP which is led by His Excellency, Governor Agbu Kefas. We are collaborating to help Taraba move away from the dark days that our elder brother just left behind. If you understand the situation on ground, you will have no option, whoever you are, whatever party you are but to collaborate with the governor because he has come to take over the State that has been badly battered. After Governor Nyame and Governor Suntai did very well and put things on ground, the last administration could not sustain these developments. Rather you are aware of how bad the former governor ran the State. So as someone who has been on the corridors of power for the past 20 years, I have no option but to cooperate with Governor Agbu Kefas, notwithstanding my political affiliation to make sure that it works well for Taraba. If truly we are in politics for the good of the people, then we must put our heads together to help the state. The governor has been doing very well. He came all out and reached out to stakeholders at the national level to make sure that he brings an end to security issues, to make sure that he restores the lost glory of the State in the area of education and physical development. So why shouldn’t we collaborate with such a person to help the state. If we did not do so, that means we are anti-people. And I am too experienced not to do so because I am in politics for the good of the people and for the development of the State. So the issue of the party: PDP, APC, APGA, PPA, doesn’t arise at this time. What matters is that Taraba must develop and we must get it right at this time.
What is your relationship with APC’s gubernatorial candidate in the last election, Emmanuel Bwacha?
Our relationship is very fine. I just spoke with Senator Bwacha. He is not just a political associate but he is a brother to me. And don’t forget, Senator Bwacha was the first of all the candidates to congratulate Governor Agbu Kefas. He did that even when the results were not officially announced. That tells you that he is a man who is interested in a peaceful Taraba that would grow. If he has done so, it tells you that he does not have any negative intention against the present government. You also know that my party was not in court against the present government. We congratulated him, wished him well and we would continue to support him to succeed.
