Olubunmi Ogunlola is a House of Representatives member, representing Ekiti Central II Federal Constituency. In this interview, she shared her life story with TUNDE ADELEKE.
As a prominent personality and politician, why haven’t you taken traditional or honourary titles?
I am somebody who doesn’t like this issue of chieftaincy title or being titled because as far as I am concerned, I don’t believe that has anything to do with what I stand for. I believe that when it comes to this chieftaincy title or being titled, it is noise-making to me which I don’t see positively.
Some people take delight in it; they love chieftaincy titles. It is not as if I have not been approached. I have been approached; I have been called upon several times for it, and I said I wasn’t interested. I was once offered – Otun Iya Ijo of my church – I rejected it many times, but because they were persistent, and because it’s a church. I tilt to that side more because I am a Christian; that’s why I accepted it. It has nothing to do with anything I am doing. Because when it comes to my conviction, I don’t believe it’s the title that will help me or propel me to do anything; it’s about my conviction; it’s not about any recognition anybody is giving to me.
Can you let us into your background?
I don’t have much, as far as my background is concerned. I was born in Lagos and I grew up there before coming back to Ijero, and since then, I have been here. I went to school in Lagos State, but went to the university here and worked in the judiciary for sometime before I ventured into politics. I believe there is no way a person will be in politics and there would be no noise about whatever that person is doing. I am more of a recluse or an introvert but politics puts me in the spotlight.
How was your experience growing up?
I lived with my uncle and there wasn’t much to it. It was more or less a big family Because it’s a Muslim background, we are always big. There was not much love, nor acceptability, but through the grace of God, God has been able to see me through and I am here today and I am what God has made me.
What about your educational background?
I attendedAnsar-Ud-Deen Primary School, Itire-Ijesha and Ansar-Ud-Deen Secondary School, Isolo, both in Lagos, before I came back home. I wanted to study Law and because of the subjects I offered earlier in secondary school, I had to go into other subjects. So, I took my school certificate exam again at Otun Comprehensive High School, Otun-Ekiti, Ekiti State. But before then, I was working in the judiciary. I started working in the judiciary in 1983, and that was when I felt I wanted to go into politics, I went on study leave with pay. Before then, I had a Diploma in Cooperative Studies in Akure, but because that had nothing to do with what I wanted to do, I had to jettison it. So, I went back to school and retook my papers. I also did my degree in Law at the Ekiti State University, Ado-Ekiti, and went to the Law School.
Normally, I ought not to have gone back to school, but in Nigeria, we are certificate crazy; we do not see experience as anything, or your capability. If you have the capacity and you don’t have the educational qualification, you’ll not be given recognition. It’s not as if we don’t have people who don’t have the qualifications and yet are thriving in politics. But the point is that, in this part of the country, we believe in acquiring more knowledge which the certificate is a proof of. That was why I went back to school, did my LL.B and went to Law School in Enugu. It was when I came back that I decided that it was time to go into politics. I have always been somebody who likes touching lives, I like helping people and I felt that I needed a bigger platform to carry out my conviction, and I felt politics would allow me. So, that’s why I went for it, to be able to influence lives positively. To me, I believe that is one of the reasons we’re given the privilege of coming to this world in the first place. So, that has been it. It’s been enjoyable – I have had my lows and my highs, but still, I give God the glory that I am what I am today by His grace.
Can you take us through your career trajectory?
I started as a junior officer in the judiciary, as a clerical officer and I rose through the ranks to the status of a principal registrar and it was from there that I went back to school. Meanwhile, the Diploma in Law that I did was a part-time course and I did that for two years. It was the Dean of the Law Faculty who kept pestering me to go back for the LL.B., and I gave it a thought. I was thinking about the stress and at that time, I had had my last child. I eventually had to consider it. I applied for study leave and it was granted which was a nod and a pointer to the fact that God wanted me to go back. I eventually got the qualification and it was the year I left the Law School that I went into politics. I finished Law School in 2010, and when I came back, I had to retire from the civil service. I then went into full practice of politics and contested for the House of Assembly, Ijero Constituency, and to God be the glory, I won. It was a kind of deviation from what was operational or what was happening in my local government. Because then, it was the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) that ruled in my constituency. But God gave it to me and I was able to win. I won the election into the House of Assembly and I was made the chief whip of the House. I finished the first four years and recontested, went through the primary election which I won. But in the general election, I didn’t win because it was the PDP that took all the seats. And as we know, in the tradition of our place, it’s the winner that takes all, depending on the party that is in power. It was the PDP that was in power and the party cleared all the Assembly seats in 2015. I just had to wait because as I said earlier on, I had retired from service. I started doing some small businesses and when the opportunity came again, I contested again for the House of Representatives. I won the ticket and eventually the general election and I was in the House of Representatives for four years. I was made the deputy chairman, House Committee on FCT/Judiciary and I was also on many committees. I did my bit. I recontested again last year, but I was robbed. It was so glaring; everybody knew that I was robbed in the primary because the powers-that-be then wanted it that way. The primary election was interrupted; they tore the ballot papers and gave the ticket to their favourite candidate. That’s what happened. I thank God because I still believe if God had not permitted it, it wouldn’t have happened. So, I am here today by the grace of God.
What philosophy guides you?
Well, to me I believe in life, we don’t have a straight road; there will always be corners, bumps, and potholes. That’s what happens to us in life. When you see somebody who’s having it all, look very well at that person, the end is very near. But God has a way of checkmating us. That’s my belief and I have the conviction that nothing happens to anybody if God has not allowed it.
When I didn’t win the House of Assembly election the second time, it was like the end had come. But God allowed me again. We were 26 in the House of Assembly, I was the only one that went to the House of Representatives. Normally I should know there’s a point that God is at work in my life. I don’t want to call it a philosophy. I would say I’m being guided by the Holy Spirit. Everyone has their own share of life. It may be bad or good and at times, things happen to us, so that we can look well, look deep and look around us so that we know some people around us are not supposed to be with us. There are ways God calls our attention. I once told somebody that If God is beckoning unto you that you should look at His side and you don’t seem to heed the instruction, He will start tapping your shoulder, if you don’t still yield, He will look for a plank and hit you on the head. That’s why it is negative situations that would bring some people back to God. So, I want to believe that God has a way of checkmating, especially if He loves that person so that you don’t go into destruction. I believe nothing happens to anybody except God has ordained it. So, that’s me. I have reconciled those who have wronged me, although it was so painful then. I had the intention of seeking redress because I knew if I should go to court, I would win. But I was cautioned again, I didn’t go. So, I thank God.
Who has been the greatest influence on you?
First, I have the leading of the Holy Spirit, and I am being guided. People around me can attest to the fact that there are times I might be keeping quiet and all of a sudden, I would utter a word and they would say ‘They have brought it’; that an idea has been deposited in me. I am just being guided; I don’t just do things. I might be impulsive. If I’m impulsive, it’s because I have been guided that ‘this is what I should do’. So, first and foremost, I have the leading of the Holy Spirit. I won’t do things because someone else is doing it or because somebody said it. No, I won’t do it! People around me know I won’t do it. People might say I’m stubborn, but it’s because I have a conviction. I also have the word of God that guides me.
I was under Chief Oyebanjo when he was alive, and I love his mode of politics. He was accommodating; he embraced people, and he was practising politics without bitterness and I appreciate that about him. That I love. You know we are incomplete; we are not perfect, and we always see the shortcomings or inadequacies of others. It’s not as if I am perfect, I am not. But the point is I want to believe God is the one that’s modelling my life.
Do you have any experience you consider unforgettable?
There are many. I want to talk about my children. Many things happened to me that I can say ‘this is progress’ or a landmark that has affected my life. But I love family a lot. When my son qualified as a lawyer, and when he eventually got married, I think that made me a complete woman. At that time, I hadmany people around me and I had many things that had happened to me. I’m somebody whofinds joy in giving things out to people. When I touch lives, I am happy and I want to believe that’s my area of calling.
I am so sorry that I am vague when it comes to that because I can’t pinpoint, but that’s what I can say – my children. Up till this moment, I can’t say I am fulfilled because I have not done enough. I have not been able to do enough because of these hiccups that I have had in the pathway of politics.If I were to be in the National Assembly now, I know what I would have done.
How did you meet your man?
We met in the judiciary and eventually got married although he is deceased now. We had four children – all boys. My husband died six years ago. He retired as secretary of the Judicial Service Commission. I was in the judiciary too, before I went back to school and eventually went into politics.
So, how has life been as a widow for the past six years?
You can see (pointing to people around) that those are my husbands. I have many people around me at my beck and call. That has been it. I am not into any relationship; I am here. I am not alone because I have God with me.
What genre of music is your choice?
I listen to gospel music. I love listening to Tope Alabi because of her lyrics. I love the music of DunsinOyekan. His songs are wordedand weighty when it comes to spirituality. I listen to more gospel music than secular music.
What food would you see and won’t be able to resist?
Maybe salad. I eat more of fruits and vegetables – cabbage, cucumber, apple and others. At my age, I need to be guided about what I eat if I want to live long. I need to watch what goes into my stomach. I seldom eat pounded yam. If I should eat pounded yam, it’s because there’s no other food to eat. I also eat plantain. I take lots of fluid too.
How do you unwind?
It’s when I come home to my political terrain, and I have my people around that I am easily available.I live in Abuja, and anytime you come to my house, you find that for a whole week, I am in my house, I don’t go out, except on Sundays when I go to church. In Abuja, I am always in my room. People hardly see me, except when I have visitors that come to visit.
I love travelling too. Even when I travel, I hardly go out. You might say it’s a boring life, but it’s not boring to me. I love being by myself.
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