Honourable Fola Olasehinde Vincent is a member at the Ondo state House of Assembly representing Ose constituency, and also the Deputy National Leader, Buhari Friends Organisation Nigeria (BFON). In this chat
with ENE OSANG the Barrister described the just concluded elections as overwhelming, saying she is happy to witness the wind of change blowing in the country.
‘If we are able to rule for 16 years like the PDP, things will get much better’
How would you describe the just concluded Presidential elections especially in Ondo
I thank God for keeping me alive in this generation to witness the wind of change that has blown on the 28th March 2015, and that will continue to blow for the betterment of Nigeria particularly for my people in Ondo state.
Fortunately for the first time in my short partisan in Ondo state and from what I heard this is the best period in the life of my people and to politicians in general in my state. For the first time a sitting governor was voted out, though he is still in government but it’s as if he is not in government. Out of the nine seats at the House of Representatives the All Progressive Congress (APC) was able to clinch five seats from the opposition party which has been ruling for the past 16 years, and two Senatorial seats out of three. Even one of the Senatorial seats won by APC is the Senatorial district of the governor and the state capital inclusive so, it is overwhelming because the people were really waiting for this change and I am happy they actually embarked on the change through their actions.
With this past election would you say democracy now at play?
Yes of course because what was demonstrated on March 28th shows that the trend has changed. From analysis I listened to on TV they said normally General Mohammadu Buhari would not have won in Kogi, Niger and Benue state but he did win and that shows that Nigeria is ready for democracy which government of the people, for the people and by the people.
How would you assess women’s participation in the elections?
I think women exercised their franchise freely because we are even the politicians, turn out might be low in some states but you know some people registered in their states so they had to travel out from their state of residence to their own states to vote. Time has changed and women no longer just sing and dance for politicians they also participate actively especially in Ondo where I am from.
Generally there are no women who won either the House of Representative, Senate and even House of Assembly seats, why is that so?
Aside the fact that women are traders, market women, mothers we still have that financial constraint and we believe we will get to the desired height one day. Women are also afraid of being intimidated if I will use myself as an example, when I came out to run for this position in 2010/2011 we were fewer women but fortunately to the glory of God three women won the seats to represent their various constituencies but at the end of the day, the fewer women that came out got absorbed here and there but I believe things will continue to improve further to make women come out. The most important thing is family consent and finance.
How were you able to overcome the negative description of women politician by Nigerians?
Like I said earlier, there is this constraint and believe that women politicians are wayward, they are prostitutes and so on but if you are able to convince your immediate family first and with the help of God and support of my husband, children and community I was able to win the seat.
How will the BFON support the president elect achieve the much talked about change?
By the name Buhari Friends Organisation Network where I am to the glory of God the Deputy National Women Leader, firstly we all know that GMB is incorrigible and he cannot be taunted or tinted with sycophants and things like that. To be his friend we know him, I for example know him since from when he was in PTF so we know his way of life and would try to abide by what he has laid down. If you set a programme for 8: am you have to be there by 7: am because GMB will be there by 7:30 am so by the time this emulation goes round the federation and impact not just friends but civil servants, commissioners even state governors who will set an occasion for 12 and arrive at 4 will know that Buhari is not like that and will buckle up whenever there is a function so, this has a multiplying effect to not just his friends but the country in general.
You left LP to APC, do you think cross-carpeting from one party to another is safe for Nigeria’s democracy?
That is democracy itself, when I did that I saw the vision that I was in a wrong party at the right time so I thought I should join the progressive if actually I want to be progressive in my political career. As a lawyer you can always kick your wig and gown but as a politician you have to be focused and know where you are going and I am the happiest person for it because it would be ridiculous for me decamping to APC today, but I did that last year and I was the first person to leave uncertainty for certainty in my state and now I can walk tall in my state so it’s part of democracy, and change is the most constant thing that can happen to a human being but that does not mean we should turn ourselves into political prostitutes.
What advise will you give your party if members of other parties decide to decamp to the APC?
Definitely people will decamp to the APC because fortunately we have got the federal might and most state governments will have the state too so, of course we have open doors so long as they will abide by our own rules. Just like the general has said he will not witch-hunt anybody why should we say because you are from a particular we will not accept you, we will if they are ready.
How have you supported the people of your constituency since you started representing them?
I have had ups and downs but I have been able to succeed, I have been able to get electricity for Ute community, ward 12 in Ose local government because they have never got electricity they were overwhelmed by it. The day I visited the community they showed much appreciation and I felt humbled that day.
During the past four years as part of my constituency project I gave out science laboratory equipments to five science schools of which one of the beneficiaries was my alma mater. Also some market women were empowered through soft loans and other conventional items the petty traders needed to grow their business like grinding machines, somebody in Afor ward one Mr. Omotole was lucky enough to get a 406 car and somebody in Ute ward 12 also because the bulk of my votes actually came from Ute community where I got 18,500 and something votes, what a state governor will get to govern a state I got in one local government at one outing so I ensure that they were equally taken care of as a way of saying thank you for the manner they accepted me.
Where do you see yourself in politics in the next 3-5 years?
By God’s grace in my new party that I am a National Leader, I pray to God that my leaders will see the potentials in me and fix me in any of the positions they believe I will be functional to the benefit of the nation, Ondo state and my people in general.
What is your take on the exaggerated show of appreciation by Nigerians when their representatives provide them what is actually their rights?
In my own community for example when I did the electrification they still asked for other things when I visited like GSM mast etc but the issue is that my people are very humble and they don’t take things given to them for granted. They believe that this is what they need ad for somebody to have met them at their hour of need, they were grateful.
How have you been managing work and home front any peculiar challenges?
By God’s grace I have been able to cope, my children are grown and they understand me now.
I have gotten there though with various challenges I was able to overcome. It has not been easy especially because I was an opposition, when I got into the House of Assembly I was a member of the Labour Party (LP) but changed to the APC which was a minority. Like you know the minority will always have their say but the majority will have their way but we are still trying to cope. In the working place when I became the opposition I was no longer recognised to even be allowed to talk at the floor of the house we were two that decamped the other a man an honorable member representing Ilaje and myself from Ose. He became the minority of the house while I became the minority whip even though they never did recognise principal officers, to the glory of God with the wind of change blowing am sure my state will vote more people in the then opposition now ruling party which is the APC into the House of Assembly and if we are able to rule for 16 years like the PDP, things will get much better.
Does your husband support you as a politician?
He very much supports me even during campaigns he will be the one to say go to work, then I will be looking and say you mean campaigning is work? He will say yes it is, let your leaders see you and know you are in the field and I thank God for making me have a husband that belongs to the kind of family I was born into and married into.
Do you have any leisure time?
Yes I do and I enjoy reading a lot during my leisure time not because am a lawyer but because I love reading. O also make time to travel with my family even if it’s for a weekend just to relax, or just stay at home when am less busy lazying around the house.
So what are you hobbies?
My hobbies are reading, traveling and cooking.
How would you encourage other women who find it difficult to reach the peak of their career especially in politics?
In my short period as a politician I have see some things in the last four years and I am hoping I will be able to document so that women can read and be prepared for what is ahead of them so they don’t just get into the middle of the sea and say they don’t know how to swim. It is going to be a must read because you will know that even if you don’t know how to swim and you don’t have a life jacket with you you will know that with one hand and with your head high you will be able to get to the shore.
What would you say you have achieved in life?
My greatest achievement is being able to remain humble to the grace of God and my people still communicate and relate with me. I didn’t say because I am a honorable member of the House of Assembly they no longer have access to me, I still eat the same food I eat before now, cook my native food, speak my dialect and so on.
Any advice for fellow Nigerian women?
Women should be bold to get to the peak of their career or whatever they do and not be shy from responsibilities or God’s given gift.