No fewer than two members of the House of Representatives from Niger and Kano states have publicly expressed interest in quitting active politics at the expiration of the present administration in 2019.
Abubakar Chika (APC-Niger) who first made his intention known via separate letters addressed to the Speaker Yakubu Dogara and Chairman of All Progressive Congress (APC) expressed dispelaure over the performance of the present administration to deliver on its campaign promises to the citizenry.
In the same vein, Bashir Baballe (APC-Kano) who spoke during the debate on the general principles of the 2018 budget estimates during Wednesday plenary session, decried the inability of the present administration to address various socio-economic challenges bedeviling the country.
“Let me inform the House that I have no intention of coming back to the House, we didn’t achieve much with the capital aspect of the 2017 budget. In 2015 we entered a social contract with Nigerians. When we leave here what would be said about what we have done here.
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“Because of poor revenue generation, the question is what have you done to increase revenue generation, yes Mr. President came and talk about the huge chunk voted for capital expenditure, we need to make a distinction between administrative and developmental component of the budget
“Some ministry spend N300 million out of the 500 million voted for capital project on administrative training. Another issue we need to look at is the projected oil production of 2.5 million barrel per day, and the current oil price of $62, we need to ask ourselves, why is the oil price currently at this price?
“There are two reason; geopolitical upheaval in the Middle East, if today we have some peace in this region, the oil price would come down, and the second reason is the little peace we are having in the Niger Delta, if today there is any crisis in the Niger Delta, then we are going to have a drop in the production volume.
“I have not seen any step taken by the government to address this uncertainty, yes there is the ogoni clean up.
“The issue of agriculture, little has been done on the issue of agriculture, I have listened to the minister of agriculture talk about the several hectares of land set aside for the irrigation farming but I asked the Chairman of committee on agriculture, supply the list or information on the hectares.
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“This is a clarion call for us to do the needful, we have till 2019 to deliver the promises we made to Nigerians. So this budget and 2019 budget is the only hope we have. We need to shine a microscopic light on the budget. Where ever there is capital development,” Baballe, who doubles as Deputy Chairman of the House Committee on National Planning and Economic Development said.
While reacting, Yussuff Lasun, Deputy Speaker who presided over the session, however cautioned that such decision may be borne out of peer group pressure, saying: “I hope you are not subjected to peer group pressure, because Chika just announced his resignation from politics and I know you two are friends.”
Meanwhile the House is expected to conclude the debate on the 2018 budget estimate during Thursday plenary and refer it to the House Committee on Appropriations while other standing committees are expected to serve as sub-committees that will engage Ministers and heads of various agencies, parastatals and commissions.
KEHINDE AKINTOLA, Abuja
