Hon. Stella Foluke Osafile, representing Amuwo Constituency 1 within the Lagos State Home of Meeting, is the one Labour Party member within the Meeting. Osafile, who advocates a return to the parliamentary system of presidency in Nigeria, referred to as on politicians to help and allow the system to perform successfully. She additionally inspired extra girls to take part in politics, emphasising that an elevated presence of feminine politicians will profit the nation. On this interview with OLADIPUPO AWOJOBI, she shared her views on these points and extra. Excerpts:
How has it been for you as the one member of the Labour Party within the Meeting?
The journey has been okay up to now. Two of us have been right here, however we misplaced one seat on the courtroom. When you ask me if it has been rosy, I’d say sure and no, although we’re executed with politicking and election and we at the moment are within the dispensation of governance. As soon as you’re right here, you’re for Lagos State, each different factor is secondary.
How have been you capable of finding your toes among the many menfolk as a lady in politics?
Ladies in politics is only a delusion as a result of it’s like every other occupation, add worth to your self and ensure you are an individual of fine character. After getting the capability, go for it. For ladies in politics, I’d say I’ve a bonus as a result of I gained’t contemplate myself a small lady age clever; my kids are out of their early life, so I don’t have younger kids and that gave me a little bit of lever- age. Maritally, I’ve been in a position to steadiness it. So, for youthful girls that wish to are available, it could be a bit difficult for them. This is a bonus for me, all my kids are grown up, it’s solely me and my husband at house. For ladies coming into politics, they need to ensure they’ve sufficient help system akin to from their husband, maid, and siblings in order that in case you are not there, they’d stand in for you. For ladies in politics, it’s no huge deal, it’s like every other occupation. Typically they are saying politi- cians keep out late, nurses too keep out late as they do night time duties, docs go for night time duties and pastors go for night time vigils, identical goes for politicians. In case your assembly extends to the night time, so be it. However thank God for know-how, you may have your conferences on-line. So, girls ought to leverage on that, the extra girls in politics, the higher for Nigeria. With girls there can be much less violence and the processes of entering into workplace can be cheaper.
Are you saying that ladies deal with issues higher economically than males…
Ladies is not going to marry 4 husbands in contrast to males that may marry 4 wives. Simply give girls powder and jewelry; so we have now much less calls for than males.
What of the problem of sexual harassment that would include vying for political places of work for girls?
Sure it’s not low-cost going into politics. I wish to say that we have now a greater leverage in my social gathering, they gave girls higher hand to acquire our nomination kinds freed from cost they usually just remember to undergo the identical course of in a really clear method. However in my case, I had already paid for the shape earlier than I knew that it was free for girls and the bodily challenged to encourage extra girls to return on board. You understand our personal mantra within the Labour Party; ‘ we don’t give cash’ and that helped me. Once they ask me if I gave individuals cash, I instructed them I didn’t pay anyone and that individuals willingly voted for me. So, for girls, we have now extra alternatives. If I used to be instructed how a lot the entire thing would value me as much as the tribunal, I’d flee, not solely run. However as a result of, I had already dived into it earlier than we went to the tribunal and I had gained an election, I couldn’t flip again, so it’s not low-cost. I do know that there are such a lot of girls that may do it even financially, however some concern violence. If you’re not a violent individual, don’t envisage that violence would come to you, have a constructive thoughts, and be optimistic. Life is conflict anyway, so struggle your personal conflict in your personal house and nook and see the way it seems. You may get your fingers burnt, so be it. However when you don’t launch out, you’ll not know the nitty gritty of the workplace and that’s what I’d inform girls. Don’t sit on the consolation of your own home anticipating them to present it to you, you need to struggle for it.
Will you say the democracy we’re practising in Nigeria has paid off?
It’s like asking a 25-year-old individual if he has achieved his goal of coming to earth; that’s how I see our democracy. We’re solely 25 years outdated on this dispensation, we’re not there, however we will get there if and once we enable the system to take its rightful place, that is the place we discovered ourselves. A 25-year-old man just isn’t an ideal man. The very best time to work on it’s now to guarantee that all of the loopholes are blocked if we’re inten- tional about this democracy or else we’re enjoying. We are able to simply be enjoying anyhow, we have now gone by way of the first, the overall election and the tribunal. We now have seen how individuals can benefit from loopholes. If we don’t block such loopholes, then we’re enjoying.
How finest do you assume we will go about it as a result of these usually are not one of the best occasions for us, and what recommendation do you’ve got for the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) each on the state and federal ranges?
It seems as if the longer term is bleak, it’s a hopeless state of affairs. However I wish to be very optimistic that there will likely be gentle on the finish of the tunnel. The APC authorities is making an attempt to fux the economic system to the detriment of the generality of the populace. It ought to be one step at a time. You possibly can’t right all of the ills of the previous in at some point. The removing of gasoline subsidy has cascaded down and affected all the pieces and they’re now making an attempt to cushion the impact. I simply felt that these plans ought to have been put in place and could also be sub- sidy may have been eliminated in 2025. All these insurance policies akin to CNG autos and others ought to have been put in place first. All of us agreed that gasoline subsidy should go, however it was an enormous shock and that’s the state of affairs that we’re in now.
Don’t you assume that that the democracy we’re practising just isn’t okay as a few of the insurance policies of the federal government must have been authorised by the Nationwide Meeting or the state homes of Meeting because the case could also be?
There’s something referred to as government recklessness. Earlier than you make any pronouncement, it ought to undergo the parliament. You understand the tongue is an unruly member of the physique, it’s stuffed with lethal poison. The assertion was made even earlier than the present Nationwide Meeting was inaugurated. These are a few of the errors that we have to right and you can’t inform your boss that he’s incorrect in his presence.
Is that not a part of the failure of the presidential system of presidency as individuals say that if we practise parliamentary system of presidency it will have been higher, do you assume we must always return to the 1963 Structure?
So be it, we have now been practising the presidential system of presidency for 25 years. And we had the temporary interval from 1979 to 1983. From 1960 to 1966, we practised parliamentary and we stopped after the army intervention. We by no means had that privilege to check the 2, however for me, the presidential system of presidency is just too costly.
The Labour Party appears to be divided between Lamidi Apapa and Julius Abure teams, with what is going on now? Do you see a future within the social gathering as 2027 is quick approaching?
Whenever you talked about social gathering, who’s the social gathering, it’s the people there. However thank God, no Lamidi Apapa or Julius Abure faction anymore. The courtroom has been in a position to settle it they usually have even reconciled. There is no such thing as a good society. So, if there’s a disaster within the social gathering, they are going to quarrel and settle it. Typically I ask what is basically hap- pening, however even when the Lord Jesus Christ was on earth, they fought him they usually killed him when he was even doing good. As it’s now, since there are human beings within the political events, there would at all times be quarrels and they’ll settle. So, there aren’t any extra factions within the Labour Party. You don’t clear up your drawback by operating away from it. So, we are going to struggle and reconcile.
How do you join along with your individuals in Amuwo Odofin Constituency 1?
I can’t say I’m good, however I’m at all times with my individuals. I’m with them usually and the connection is cordial and I pray it continues.
As we transfer in direction of the subsequent normal elections, what can be your cost to the political class and the overall populace, and what’s your view about our electoral system?
My cost to the political class is for them to permit the system to run by itself. Our electoral system would have been good if we had allowed it to run by itself. We should always enable the system to work, let’s not shortchange it or lower corners. The way in which the legislation is, it seems seamless. Let’s go to the polling sales space, and permit INEC end result viewing centre (irev) to work. Allow us to enable the system to work, it’s not only for us, however for the generations coming behind. What legacy are we going to depart for them? Is it the legacy of violence? No. We’re people, and Africa and the entire world are ready for Nigeria to get it proper. As soon as we get it proper in our little house and little nook, no one would wish to ‘japa’ (run awayl and I pray that as many who have ‘japa would ‘japada’ (come again house) in good well being. If the system runs and works everybody will profit; the land is inexperienced.
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