I have what it takes to serve FCT people productively —AMAC chairmanship hopeful, Mina Horsfall

Mina Horsfall, politician, actress and former beauty queen, is vying for the post of the chairman of the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) on the platform of the National Rescue Movement (NRM). She speaks to SATURDAY TRIBUNE about her plan to brave the odds as a woman, as well as her vision and mission.

You are very new in politics. What makes you think you can make a breakthrough with a relatively unknown party?

Yes, I am very new in politics, but this is not about being politically grounded; it is about service to the people of the Federal Capital Territory that need to have a new narrative. So, I am not coming as the chairman of AMAC to play politics but to serve and contribute my quota.

Your surname suggests that you are from the Niger Delta. How acceptable do you think you could be in the Federal Capital Territory?

The good people of AMAC need a gender-responsive public service delivery, not who is coming from where. I also want you to know that having stayed this long in AMAC and paid my tax accordingly, I have the right to vote and be voted for.

You want to be chairman of the municipal council. Don’t you have the fear that being a woman is a great disability in a male-dominated system?

Being a woman should not make me less productive, and if you look around the world, you will see that women are the most successful administrators, because we are compassionate as mothers. Look at our own Dr Ngozi OKonjo Iweala, she is making Africa proud. Therefore, the world today is not about gender; it is about service delivery. There is a female councilor in Bayelsa. I heard she built a bridge in the community she is serving currently.

Have you ever suffered harassment or discrimination before in politics? How do you handle men who do these to you?

There is sexual harassment everywhere, in the church, school, street, banks, etc. It is not just in politics. I get them off my case politely, because as a woman, you will always have men make advances at you. So, that is not a challenge.

What specific things do you plan to do which will mark you out as being different if you win this council election?

My administration will look at a need-based budgeting system that will look at the need of the people. We will look inwards to see to the needs of the people, women and children in particular, so that out-of-school children will be seen as our collective problem and we will find a way to put an end to it. We will also look at the youth unemployment situation in the AMAC and provide skills for the young people, both indigenes and non indigenes. This is just a few I can mention now.

Can you tell us a little about your background?

My name is Mina Horsfall, a Nigerian from Rivers State. I am from a Christian family, a graduate of English, the first of three children from my mum, because I am from a large family. I am a Rotarian, which gives me the platform to serve humanity, and an ambassador for mental health with Secure D Future International Initiative, a non-governmental organisation. I am an executive officer with Beauty for Ashes Rainbows Initiative, an NGO. I am a former beauty pageant queen, a model and an actress.

What are your favourite book(s) and film(s) and why the choices?

I enjoy books based on my mood. I love romantic, adventurous and Biblical movies and books.

Who is your role model in politics, and why that person?

The late Professor Dora Akunyili, former director-general of NAFDAC, because of her selfless service and commitment to the cause of Nigeria. She was fearless, relentless and straightforward. She was a true woman and leader.

You said you are also an actress. How do you think that acting background could help in governance?

In theatre, we tell real stories of the challenges we face in our society, the same way we project our society to the world positively. Therefore, theatre can be used as a medium of promoting good governance. It can also be used as a means of creating employment opportunities if the government can support the movie industry as it is done in the developed world. Through this, youths will have an opportunity to showcase their talents and earn a good living.

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