Hon Mojisolaoluwa Alli-Macaulay representing Amuwo Odofin I constituency in the Lagos state House of Assembly says domesticating orientation reforms will address many socio-economic and political issues in the state. TEMITOPE MUSOWO brings excerpts.
What is your reaction to President Muhammadu Buhari’s inclusion of women in ministerial list?
I want to actually commend President Buhari for even considering the number of women we have on the list. I wasn’t even expecting this number of women to the list.
Why?
Before now, except during the time of President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan when we had more women representation, in the last dispensation we didn’t have much representation of women in his ministerial list. Going by antecedent, I was expecting this much. Now, that we have these number of women minister-designate, let’s me grateful. We can do better going by Beijing conference recommendation, especially because Nigeria is really far behind in terms of female representation in the polity.
We need Nigeria to push more women forward. If you look at Namibia for instance and other African countries, they have more of their women in the polity. Namibia, for instance, 60 percent of their legislators, are women.
So if that little country of Namibia could do that why not replicate in Nigeria that claims to be the giant of Africa? Nigeria is actually shortchanging herself because at the global village a lot of European countries have their women driving their polity and economies. That is why they are successful a lot of women put in everything. We are natural and divine multipliers, a woman put in everything to ensure there is perfect implementation of whatever obligations she has been given. So if Nigeria is lagging behind in this matter then she is actually shortchanging herself. Nonetheless, I still want to thank the president and hope to see more women in governance in Nigeria.
Some have said Nigerian women are their own worst enemies in political progression?
That used to be true in the past, not any more. Recently, I attended women conference in Abuja and it was emphasized that that narrative must change: We have to stop this idea of being against each other but has attitude has dropped compared to what has been happening in the recent past.
I see more women groups springing up like the Lagos state Women in Politics, they have the National Women in Politics as well, I have seen their platforms and how dedicated they are. I see a lot of women using their own money to sponsor women during the time of election; they were holding seminars, workshops, conferences to encourage more women to participate in the polity, so I see a lot of change compared to what it used to be in the past.
Women now are realizing this and are being supportive. The narrative is changing gradually, it is a process and I know very soon we will get there because the class of women that I don’t even expect to be in politics are venturing into politics now and that for me is a green light that we are getting somewhere, steady but surely women would come forward.
How will assist legally to Lagosians orientate?
I have made observation orientation of the people about their environment and socio-economic and political activities.
So I suggested on the floor of the state assembly and it was graciously taken by all members that we should try to domesticate the National Orientation Agency here in Lagos state. We have it as an agency independent of any ministry not under the ministry of information because that ministry is already overburdened with all sorts of functions.
So I think for more effective implementation, we would rather have an independent agency and it would be more effective in the coordination and engagement of the people of Lagos state on orientation.
In the United States for instance, from the airport one begins to align with the dictate of the government on the way people behave there because they have the orientation and information on etiquette and the consequences for not abiding by the national norm. It shouldn’t be different in Lagos.
So those are some of the things that I feel Lagos state can actually begin to work towards to domesticate orientation reforms. So that is one the bills I wish should be passed by the house. The others are on the welfare of the elderly people and women, among others.
As a first term state lawmaker for Amuwo Odofin what should they look forward to?
My agenda for Amuwo Odofin will be to empower women because once empowered you employed a nation, children, and all other ethnic groups, social cultures or backgrounds. Once a woman is empowered she can break any boundaries between ethnicity or religious backgrounds or representation. I am looking forward to the time when the women of Amuwo Odofin will be fully liberated in terms of self emancipation and self independence. That will be my priority
So I want to see Amuwo Odofin in general where the women are fully liberated, then of course again the youths who are not employed, I see them every day and I am saddened. It breaks my heart when I see the youths unengaged meaningfully.
The way forward is to find a balance that ensures that they get empowered. The serious-minded and educated among them can step forward with their CV’s, we would assist that are ready to learn vocations, because everyone can’t white collar jobs.
How do you plan to tackle the road network challenge in your constituency?
I have been to the Lagos state public works and they have been to Amuwo Odofin, Festac and Mile 2 Area and we’ve checked all the roads and graciously the chairman of the local government is doing some major repairs on some of these roads. So I am just coming to complement his works so that we can have more spread of good road networks in Amuwo Odofin.
Now concerning Abule Ado there won’t be palliatives because it requires major roads construction there, I have spoken with the Deputy Governor Dr Obafemi Hamzat concerning Abule Ado, so if there is a way they can actually connect Abule Ado to 7th Avenue using a pedestrian or a mini motorable bridge where people can come in to avoid the express it would reduce traffic decongestion in that axis.
He has assured me but the problem we have now is the financial implication of it, so we would have to hold on on that for now he was definitely going to look into it, that had been brought to notice of the state government, bothering on the road network in my local government and
I am sure you will notice that a few weeks back we came to flag off Lagos Badagry Expressway in continuation of the construction of 10 lane expressway alongside the CCECC, which is also under way. The government is really working assiduously to ensure that the Badagry division of Lagos state to also enjoy the full benefit of democracy.
