Hon Mohammad Lawal Idirisu, is a political colossus in Ajaokuta Local Government Area. He is a two-time House of Representative Member, representing Ajaokuta Federal Constituency at the Lower Chamber of the National Assembly, Abuja. He was able to attract development to his immediate constituency through his office which was spread across the nocks and crannies of the Federal Constituency. With this credible achievement, the people and political stakeholders of Ajaokuta Local Government Area, woke up on a faithful day urging him to come out and contest for third term in the next National Assembly contest to further exhibit what he is in him. Hon. Lawal recently chat with our Abuja correspondence ABDULWAHEED OLAMIDE of Arewa Trust Newspaper, Abuja, where he speaks on politics, his achievement so far, and other sundry issues. 
Excerpts:
Q: Sir, Your Mission and Why Your People Liking You for a Third Term?
Lawal: My mission in politics is to make my mark in the development of my people and the area I represents in general. Also, my mission is the desire of my people to elect dedicated leaders with uncommon passion for promoting the seemingly elusive infrastructural and human development in Ajaokuta Local Government Area. Am a leader who can rise above primordial clannish, ethnic, divide and rule policy and undue sentiments. I believe these are the leadership qualities that my people have discovered in me that prompted them urging me to bid for a third term in office.
Q: Your Lessons and Interest in Politics?
Lawal: Politics is very interesting; you meet different people with different character in different places at different times. It is a place of all shades of ideas and it is about give and take. Dialogue is the fulcrum of politics. As we meet people on a daily basis, we learn a lot. In the Chambers, Legislators contribute their ideas to the development of the nation. There is therefore a lot to learn in politics. So far, I have learnt many things as a national legislator and it has helped me a lot in bringing dividends of democracy to the people of my constituency. Generally, my interest in politics is to ensure that my people get what belongs to them from the federal government, so the interest and welfare of my people has been my priority from onset.
Q: Why Your People Rooting for Your Third Term in Office?
Lawal: First and foremost, let me thank Almighty Allah that has given me this opportunity to served my people credibly for two-term in the National Assembly. Whatever you achieve in life, it is God Almighty who is at the centre of it all. Importantly, I have lived an open life in politics, the pains of my people have always been my concerns on a daily basis. In the few years that I have been at the Lower Chamber of the National Assembly, I have ensured that the dividends of Democracy get to the door-steps of my people. I have built blocks of classrooms, offered scholarships to the less-privileged students; Pay WAEC/NECO fees to the hundreds of less-privileged secondary school students; sponsored free skills and vocational training to both women and youths in the area. The program was coordinated by grassroot leaders who ensured that the benefit of the scheme get to the desired grassroot women and the youths. I believe that when our women and youths are adequately empowered, our land will experience more socio-economic growth in no distance future. This is my unwavering resolve if given further opportunity. As one of my cardinal points, I also empowered women with financial assistance to boost their businesses in order to reduce their economic burdens; I also powered political stakeholders in the area with new brand motor vehicles of different brands and capacity, in order to ease their mobility in the area; acquired and distributed Motor-cycles to hundreds of youths in the area in order to reduce perennial youth unemployment; construct functional motorized boreholes across the fourteen (14) Wards of the Federal Constituency, in order to ease perennial water problem in the area. This just a few among many that I have done. Am not therefore surprise today that my people are calling on my humble-self to go for a third term in office in order to consolidate on my achievement. I consider it as a pay back to my credible representation and achievement in the Lower Chamber of the National Assembly.
Q: Sir, you suddenly left APC to NNPP, what actually informed your action and people would like to know present your relationship with Governor Yahaya Bello after leaving your former party, APC?
Lawal: In the Nigeria Constitution, freedom of association is very much allowed. So, I exercised my fundamental human right to belong to an association or political party of my choice. Politics is not a religion as they say! Politics is all about give and take, even brothers of the same parents do quarrel and they would settle. Intrigues in politics is the oil which lubricates the political scene, that is the beauty of democracy. Yes, my relationship with Governor Yahaya Adoza Bello is still very still intact and cordial and he remains my governor. I still hold him in esteem and a brother of note. Being in different political party, has nothing to do with our personal and brotherly relationship. So, my respect for him as the Executive governor of Kogi state remain unshakeable.
Q: What actually inspired you to seek for Third Term in Office?
Lawal: First and foremost, I am not limited in the number of times that I can represent my people in the legislative house, as entrenched in Electoral Law of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. My seeking for third term in office is to further use the Legislative position to mobilise all possible political leverage and social networks in the House that I have built so far, for the development of Ajaokuta Federal Constituency, as a strong virile constituency among others in the country. And more so, my people say they want me back to serve them more and consolidate on the good job and the huge influence of dividends of democracy I have impacted on them so far. The good people of Ajaokuta local government and the political stakeholders in the area now joined together urging me to re-contest the 2023 National Assembly election to represent them again in the Lower Chamber of the National Assembly. They are supporting my bid, because they believe if they entrust their mandate in my care, they would never be disappointed.
Q: Sir, as Chairman, House Committee on National Population Census, Nigeria would want to know how far your Committee and the Commission being preparing to give Nigerians credible and fair population census come 2023 and advice to your people of Kogi Central, Ajaokuta in particular towards the forthcoming census?
Lawal: Thank you very much for this question. One neglected area which is key influence in government policy formulation is the population count. My committee has held Public Hearings with the Chairman National Population Commission, there they disclosed and assured the nation that next year census would be credible and successful. This is because the Commission under the leadership of Alhaji Kwarra, has acquired modern instrument, that is, Census Dashboard and Mobile Device Management Location that will enhance the quality of data collection during the census exercise across the country. The instrument has the capacity to display real-time performance of census data. At lease with this huge preparation, I strongly hope we would deliver.
Meanwhile, I advise my people of Kogi Central and Nigeria in general to take it as personal responsibility to embark on aggressive sensitization and enlightenment to our people to come out en-mass and participate in the forthcoming population counting, in order to give impressive figure. The result of 2006 population census was a disappointment that should be allowed to repeat itself. As the Chairman of the House Committee on Population Census, I would use my good offices in collaboration with National Population Commission, to embark on proper and aggressive sensitization and enlightenment program to our people, so that the 2006 low turnout would not repeat itself. For instance, in Kogi Central Senatorial District, you could quickly recall that in 2006 census, result shows that East had 1,479,144; West with 906,244; which Central had 928,655. The difference between Central and the West at the moment is just 22,411. However, we should take cognizance of the fact that while the industries located in Kogi Central are not in operation like in the West where Obajana Cement factory and State Capital are located, hence the high population in the West over Central. This notwithstanding, I hereby appeal and urge our people of Kogi Central to mobilize towards the forthcoming population census for impressive turnout that would subsequently make significant impact in the counting.
Q: Sir, before we call it a day, what would be your factual advice to your people towards the 2023 general election, on how they should conduct themselves before, during and after the election?
Lawal: Ajaokuta Local Government electorates should learn to be each other brother’s keeper before and during the elections. Unnecessary criticism and bickering will lead us nowhere. We should conduct ourselves in good order during the electioneering campaign, during the election proper, and so on. Our youths, in particular, should note that election is not war, we are all brothers and sisters, they should not allow be used by some inordinate politicians to foment trouble. Our people should vote wisely; they should vote strategically; they should vote for democracy and politicians with good track records of credible deliverance of dividends of democracy in their previous assignment, because democratic responsibility is all about selfless services to the people. We should vote for where we are involved, we should not vote to enslave our conscience, because if we sell our conscience now, we will be done for it. I am going to urge our people to critically review the past records of all the contestants.
Thank you Sir, for granting us the opportunity to chat with you. Hope your door would remain open when we keep knocking.
Lawal: Thanks, you are always welcome!
