Hon. Olanrewaju lsmail (Sunmi) Odesanya was elected to represent the people of Ikorodu Constituency I as Member of the Lagos State House of Assembly between 2003 and 2007 and he’s a former Commissioner of the Lagos State House of Assembly Commission between 2012 and 2017.
He was just 34 years when he was elected to the State Assembly where he was the darling of other members of the Assembly and that of his constituents with his oratory prowess and other legislative engagements.
Sunmi is seeking to represent Lagos East constituents as a Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria on the platform of the All progressives Congress (APC) following the sudden death of the former occupant of the seat, Sen. Adebayo Osinowo.
In this interview with Kunle Adelabu, the Founder/Reporter –in – Chief, THE IMPACT Newspaper, Hon. Sunmi bears his mind on why he’s vying for the much coveted position, his agenda, why he is the best bet for his party among others. Excerpts:
THE IMPACT: You have at different times represented the Ikorodu Constituency 1 at the Lagos State House of Assembly and also served as a Commissioner in the Assembly Commission, how have these experiences impacted on Ikorodu and Lagos as a whole?
Hon. Sunmi: Well, I was 34 years when I was elected and I still acknowledge the support, enthusiasm and ovation that l was accorded by the people of Ikorodu. Low and beyond, I did my best when I was there and I can remember that you were a member of the family. When I say family member, I mean part of the media that kept eagle eyes on my stewardship. First of its kind, I had a feedback forum as a Representative. The maiden edition was chaired by Prince Abiodun Ogunleye, while he held sway as chairman of our party, Alliance for Democracy (AD) then at the Ikorodu town hall. The second edition was chaired by Prince A.W.O. Kassim of blessed memory. The third edition was chaired by Chief Babatunde Okushola Benson, SAN. We had others that I cannot recall right now. The essence of the feedback was just in fulfillment of my electoral promises and judging from the yearnings of our people, they needed to have a feedback mechanism to educate and inform them on our activities at the hollow chamber.
I chaired the House committee on Human Rights, the first of its kind. The Assembly remains the first Parliament in Nigeria that organised a special plenary to mark the World Human Rights Day. We did that consistently with scholars invited. The then Attorney – General then and now the Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osibajo, came and presented a paper. Also, scholars like Prof. Akin Oyebode with the University of Lagos, then, a guru in international law, also presented a paper. So also was Prof. Akin Ibidapo – Obe, a guru in Constitutional Law, and a host of other stakeholders were assembled.
I am not a green – horn when it comes to Parliamentary business, lt is, however, pretty sad that we lost Sen. Bayo Osinowo. We were both at the same entry point into the Assembly in 2003. A wonderful man who was full of life. He was very humorous, generous and endowed with native intelligence. It is sad that we lost him. How best can we honour Bayo Osinowo having died untimely? How best can the leadership of APC appreciate what we called experience? That’s where I want to succeed Bayo Osinowo. The experience I had will be plough back into the Upper Chamber of the National Assembly. I am not going to be a starter. I have a lot to offer.
THE IMPACT: In terms of having a lot to offer, let me ask you about your programmes. What do you want to offer if eventually you are elected into the Upper Chamber to represent the good people of Lagos East District?
Hon. Sunmi: If you may recall that I joined the race exactly 30 days after the demise of Bayo Osinowo, being conscious of the pains and anguish we had mourning him. Like I said in my letter written to the APC Apex body in the Division that nature abhor vacuum, so also is the law of the land. On social the media, which I am sure that you are monitoring, I spoke about legislative audit. A focused lawmaker who is not a fresher knows the meaning of legislative audit. How do I mean? It is an appraisal of the existing laws through which you differentiate what we called dead – letter laws. An example is the Land Use Charge law repealed by Sanwo – Olu recently. It was anti – people and just on paper which couldn’t be implemented. There are a number of laws like that that have been enacted by the National Assembly. As lawmaker, I will take the legal audit before having a vision to either repeal or amend. You can’t just wake up and start talking. You need to take a cursory look at the existing laws. Based on experience, I want to operate on the three cardinal tripods of Legislation, Representation and Oversight. I have a lot to offer. Notwithstanding the decision of the Apex court on the controversial creation of the local government areas. The apex court ruled that the creation is inchoate and not illegal, thus, requiring the needful to be done. The draughtsman should go back to the drawing board and do the needful. I have also spoken about special status for Lagos. Let’s appreciate Sen. Remi Tinubu. We need a stronger synergy with other lawmakers to get it done. These are what I intend to do.
THE IMPACT: Many do not also know that you had a stint in journalism at the Nigeria Institute of Journalism (NIJ) and you are also a Director on the Factor Newsmagazine board. In view of this, do you intend looking into the media sector on the issue of failure of many media companies in paying journalists salaries and other entitlements which negates most things that Freedom of Information Act was established to achieve? Are you going to audit laws related to media practice with focus on repositioning them?
Hon. Sunmi: Interestingly, I truly had a stint with NIJ and l was with the institution for a while before I got admitted into the University of Lagos (UNILAG) to study Law, but then, journalism is another profession that I love so much. Of course, the FOI Act is in existence but that does not say that we cannot look into it and other laws regulating media practice. They would be part of my legal audit if need be.
THE IMPACT: Let’s look at the Lagos East Senatorial District with five local governments, 11 Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) and about 90 Wards. How do you intend to win across these political delineations in the primary and general election?
Hon. Sunmi: You know that our party, APC, has a formidable structure. If I emerge as the candidate of my party, it’s going to be a landslide victory in the bye – election even if Obama becomes the flag bearer of the other party. I have embarked on consultations and have moved around the nooks and crannies of Lagos East. I am not a stranger in many of the Divisions and Local Governments. But the party is supreme and as a democrat, I will abide by whatever decision that the party made. I also believe that such decision will meet the yearnings of the people because we have democrats at the top of the party’s echelon.
THE IMPACT: While you were at the Assembly, you were noted for your oratory prowess, legislative competence and street credibility among your constituents, but some people are saying that you may have lost these features since you have left the Assembly, do you think you still have these capacities?
Hon. Sunmi: This is why I have decided to join the race. I still have them and even stronger. Once a Parliamentarian, always a Parliamentarian. I am still the young amiable lawmaker that people used to know. Don’t also forget that I also served as Legislative Commissioner and I appreciated the then Speaker, Rt. Hon. Adeyemi Ikuforiji, and the former Governor Babatunde Fashola, SAN, for deeming it fit that I needed to plough back my experience. The question was asked then by the Rt. Hon. Speaker, that, “how do I feel to standing on my feet to be screened?”, and I responded that “it was nostalgic”. Though, the work as a Commissioner was more of administrative and legislative support, but whenever I have the opportunity to represent the people as a Parliamentarian, I can’t lose guard. Mark my words, once you are a Parliamentarian, the experience is everything and shouldn’t be a waste. That’s why I am imploring the party leadership to invest in my experience.
THE IMPACT: Since you have been there as a Parliamentarian and also as a Commissioner in the administrative aspect of the legislature, what should the people be expecting from you if you eventually become the Senator representing the Lagos East Senatorial District? What are the new things that you will be bringing into the Upper Chamber?
Hon. Sunmi: I intend to initiate e-parliament apart from other programmes. This will afford constituents to reach their Senator directly and quickly. It’s going to be mentoring in nature where registered members are all going to be Parliamentarians. It’s going to be meant for discussion for issues on Nigeria and Lagos East Senatorial District. We are going to be entertaining questions, provide answers and ideas. It’s going to be cross fertilisation of ideas.
THE IMPACT: Lastly sir, how do you see your chances of emerging the party’s flagbearer among other bigwigs vying for the Senatorial position. I want you to see this within the context of the clamour that your party leadership should consider somebody from Ikorodu as its candidate?
Hon. Sunmi: lnterestingly, each of the aspirants has a beautiful and commendable profile. I will use your medium to implore the party echelon dominated by Democrats with a wide range of experience to consider lkorodu. Zoning the position to Ikorodu has always been our agitation and clamour, hence, I want to appeal to the party leaders to give Ikorodu the opportunity to present a candidate for the senatorial position considering the intimidating profile of aspirants that we have. By and large, don’t forget my slogan, ‘Que sera sera’ (what will be, will be). Generally, I am eminently qualified to speak for Lagos if given the opportunity. I have been a legislator and also an attorney at law and coupled with my street credibility, the landslide victory of the party is assured at the poll.
