Jockey for juicy committees in House: It’s all politics — Dimeji Bankole

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Mr. Dimeji Bankole came to national renown in October 2007 when he, in his second term, emerged as speaker of the House of Representatives and steered the affairs of the House to the end of its term in 2011. He did not seek a return to the House despite remaining a member of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, the platform upon which he came to the House.

Dimeji, son of Chief Alani Bankole, himself, a former national officer of the defunct National Party of Nigeria, NPN and also chieftain of the former All Nigeria Peoples Party, ANPP, Dimeji has since his exit as speaker, remained on the periphery of the political circus in his native Ogun State. An attempt by him, allegedly at the instance of former President Goodluck Jonathan, to unify the party in Ogun State was laced with much intrigues as some political stakeholders saw his bid as an attempt to undermine them.

Speaker Bankole, 46 tomorrow, was a guest at a recent youth programme in Lagos, and on the sidelines of the programme, he spoke in an interview on the recent crisis that engulfed the House of Representatives over the distribution of Committees, on the challenges before the Muhammadu Buhari administration among other issues. Excerpts:

You have been lying low for some time now. Are you still in the PDP?

Of course I am in the PDP. I do not have to contest to be in politics. I chose not to contest.

What is your assessment of the Buhari government so far?

It is too early.

But if you are to set an agenda for the APC led government, what do you think the administration should focus on?

Every particular sector in Nigeria has issues. The Buhari government, just like all governments before, needs to settle those issues.

I cannot decide for them but there are a lot of problems before them I can assure you.

What is your take on the crisis rocking the House of Representatives, arising from the recent composition of committees by the House leadership?

Well, it is just pure politics and I am sure we will pass this as well.

What should be expected of you now?

Right now, I will keep engaging the young Nigerians and encouraging them to be of strong character and get involved in their country.

The PDP was in power for 16 years but lost power to the opposition, what do you think caused the loss?

Well, the PDP could have done better, no doubt. Nigerians decided they wanted something else and they got it.

I wish this government the best but be rest assured that if Nigerians are not satisfied with them (APC), they will change them.

Was the party entangled by a leadership problem?

Leadership in this country is not rocket science. There has been a change in leadership in the last six months and Nigerians believe it is part of democracy and are planning to give this government a chance and see what happens.

What is your perspective on the Boko Haram insurgency?

It is a major problem for us and we need to think as Nigerians first before thinking as members of political parties. I don’t believe that this government or past governments like its citizens being killed by any one.

Political issue

The fact of the matter is that we are all in this together and we have to make sure that we give the government the support to make sure they solve it.

I think it is too early to judge this government (Buhari’s government) on Boko Haram or any other issue. I am not in agreement making this (Boko Haram) a political issue or a party issue. For now, we should be concerned about all those young people that are being killed and make the best that this thing comes to a stop.

How do you see your interaction with the young professionals, who are interested in changing the country?

The fact that they have started it, you need to applaud them for it, they have decided to come home because a lot of young Nigerians do not come anymore.

They have decided to come home and take the bull by the horn and struggle here in Nigeria with us and they are now looking for solutions to the problem beyond their personal benefit. They care about the country and the should be encouraged to do so.

Source: Vanguard