Politics might be regarded as a
dirty game in some quarters, but for the likes of the Deputy Majority Leader in
the Lagos State House of Assembly, Hon. Lola Fibisola Akande, it is an
opportunity through which one can reach his or her people.
That is what the
administrator-turned politician has been doing over the years and the people of
Ikeja Constituency 2, who she represents are the better for it.
In appreciation of what she has
been doing for her people, Lola is a recipient of many awards and lately she is
being compensated with the chieftaincy title of Akorede of Ikeja, and this she
holds dearly as it is coming from her people directly.
Akande, a chieftain of the newly
registered All Progressive Congress (APC), whose six years in the assembly has
been fulfilling and beneficial to her people spoke on issues concerning her
private life and sojourn in politics.
Can
you share your experiences as a lawmaker with us
Its been wonderful, exciting,
though sometimes you see some challenges, all in all, its been wonderful, I
would like to appreciate the people around me here, they have been very
friendly, we are just like one big family, no difference between male and
female, we have sound people around. I have learnt over the years and I am
still learning.
So,
when would you consider as your best moment in the House
That is a tough question, I have
never really thought of something like that at all, but the House has been very
exciting. I have co-sponsored Bills and sponsored motions and really my exciting
moment was when I came in new in 2007, I had been a politician for a very long
time, but that was the first time that I was elected into a public office and I
was excited. About two days ago, I was thinking of the day of our inauguration.
I came in with a convoy, the cameraman was recording the whole thing, it was
exciting, I was thinking of it, it was exciting having achieved what you have
been expecting for a long time and seeing it come into fruition was exciting,
not many people have such an opportunity.
What
impact have you been able to make on the people of your constituency and in the
state generally as a lawmaker and politician
Apart from my duties as a
lawmaker in the House of Assembly to pass laws, I don't forget to report to my
people at home. They bring in complaints, which are sorted out; sometimes you
need to take the issues into the floor of the House. Notwithstanding, I still
remember that I must contribute in improving their standard of living. On the
issue of employment, I assist them in securing jobs in areas, where they are
qualified, I ensure that I do empowerment programmes at least once in a year
like making sure that they go to vocational training centres, after that, I
empower them with the necessary tools, about two months ago, about 135 of them
were trained to acquire some skills and I gave them money to start trades.
Today, some of them are in Aswani Market, the woman that trains them is there
and they are really doing very well, you will be amazed at how far they have gone.
Some people got the forms and gave them to other people, and use the money you
give to them for some other things, but the rest are doing very well. Apart
from that, I usually distribute equipment to my constituents and give money to
those that ask for money. There was a time I gave money to some youth, heavy
sums to start something, unfortunately today; I have not seen anything they
have done with it. But, I organize public speaking competition for junior
secondary and primary schools as well as competition in some subjects and I
have been doing it since my first year in office and I keep doing it. The first
prize for junior and senior secondary schools is a cup and N50,000, the second
winner gets N25,000 and third N10,000, the primary schools' own is lesser than
that. I also ensure that I touch orphanages every time and at least I go there
once in a year, and sometimes, when I have something I send to them and I go
there physically too. I also touch the public through my organization, the
Lions Club, I remember, when I was the President of the club, now I am not so
active in the club, but as President of Ikeja Lions Club, my first project was
a library, which I raised funds for, and over half of the money came from my
pocket and it was sited at Omole Secondary School, Ogba, Ikeja. I did a bit of
furnishing too, it was a big project, it is still there and we handed it over
to the state Ministry of Education since then. Also, I co-sponsor Bills and I
raise motions on education and environment and the House usually supports it. I
have a Bill currently on sexual harassment; I know so many people go through
that, especially the women. Well, women too harass men, but the majority of the
people, who are sexually harassed, are women, especially in the university and
work places. Some people raised an eyebrow that how do you want to determine if
someone is sexually harassed, but I think we are in a digital age, where you
can use so many things to record, a biro will record, a phone will record, so
you can use anything to record the process. I know men will not like it because
they like to tease the women, but I think we should pass it into law to prevent
cases of rape because if you know that you cannot harass me by touching me
anyhow, you will not go far to say you want to rape me. Some girls spend extra
years in the universities because of it, they are failed in exams because of
it, even in work places, people are transferred from one place to another, it
happens everyday, I think we should put into a law. If you know you don't want
to sexually harass anybody, you won't go against the law. We have done the
first reading.
How
were you able to convince your husband to allow you join politics considering
the fears of some men about female politicians becoming wayward after some time
Whatever you hear about
politicians happens everywhere, in the schools, in workplaces, even this issue
of sexual harassment. We are all human beings, so anybody that is disciplined
enough should be wherever he wants to be. My husband is somebody that believes
in people, if you want to be wayward, you will be, even some housewives are
wayward, so why would you say it is only politicians that can be wayward. I
personally don't agree with that. My husband is liberal; he believes that you
should do what can make you happy, especially if it does not affect him
negatively. He believes you should do something that you can say you have
attained your ambition. When I was going in, he encouraged me and he still
encourages me and he even assisted me with money, when I wanted to contest
initially. Men should take a cue from him and it is left for the women to do
what they are there for.
How
do you handle your home as a mother and wife with your public office
It is true, it is a bit tasking,
but by the time I was fully involved in politics, my children were already
grown-ups, they are all graduates of many years. So, I don't have any problem
with that. Talking about my husband, I have a cook at home and when I am
around, I go to kitchen, my husband too loves cooking, so I don't have any
problem with that, even when I am at home, he joins me in the kitchen, he has
been like that even before we got married. I am lucky with the set up I have.
Will
you encourage any of your children to go into politics
Yes, even my last child is
interested, she loves what her mum does, but presently she is doing her ACCA,
let her finish that first.
How
do you cope with some of the things politicians do during elections
It is amazing that at this stage
and time we should still have violence during our elections. I think we should
be improving rather than retrogressing, it is a shame that we are still like
this, there should not be anything like maiming, killing, fighting, it
shouldn't happen, do your campaign, let me do my campaign, let the better
candidate win, why must you kill because you want to rule, is that the work you
are going there to do. You want to assist people; you want to improve their
standard of living, which is what you want to do. One thing I believe and which
people should believe is that God's time is the best, if God wants you to be
there, even if your opponents fight till thy kingdom come, you will be there.
The thing is that do your best, even if somebody is blocking you, something
will happen and he will leave the road for you. So, if you have sincerity of
purpose, all these things won't be there. I don't think killing should happen
during elections at all.
What
do you cherish most as a lawmaker and politician
What I have noticed over the
years is that I feel so happy, when I am empowering my constituents, I feel so
accomplished. What is your money for if you cannot really assist people, you
see some of them shedding tears over little money. When I cannot solve people's
problem, I feel sad, that is why it is better I don't hear about it at all
because once you tell me, it would be in my dreams. My siblings and I learnt
this from our late father, when he was alive, he paid people's school fees and
he was always sharing.
You have been a teacher, a
businesswoman, administrator and politician, which one gives you satisfaction
It is being a politician, I enjoy
it, the day I don't see my constituent, one or two of them like this, I would
start wondering what is wrong. I love this job.
How
did you come about the chieftaincy title of Akorede of Ikeja
They have been giving me
chieftaincy titles since 1991, for one reason or the other, I did not perform
the Iwuye ceremony, even last year, I ought to do one, but I didn't do it, but
this is my base, it is compulsory I do it, moreover the title is a very good
one, I have taken two titles, I took one in Ishaga and I was made Gbobaniyi in
Amuwo Odofin Area of Lagos State. I just decided that this time around, I just
must do this, they know my worth, I have done so many things, dug boreholes,
gave out transformers in my constituency, people come for assistance for house
rents, school fess of their children and other assistance.
Is your husband also interested
in titles, we guess you should be given along with him
My husband is not interested in
chieftaincy titles; he likes just being a doctor.
What
of your awards, how would you describe them
You cannot put on a light and put
it under the table, whatever you are doing, people are watching you, and that
is what they have seen, they have read about it and heard about it, that was
why I was given the awards. The one I look forward to is Zik Award, I was not
around, when I was about to be given, so next time I would like to take it.
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