‘Nigerian politics has been unfair to women’

A notable contender for a seat in Ogun State House of Assembly to represent Offin Constituency 1, Sagamu, Chief (Mrs) Folake Sonubi-Ogunremi in an interactive session with the media speaks on her ambition and why women have not been accorded their dues in politics despite their numerical strength among the electorate. BAYO ALADE was there.

WOMEN have been playing important roles in politics for quite some time but have not been rewarded with good representation in elective offices. You are running for an elective post next year how do you think you can achieve your goal and even make a difference?

Yes you are right. Women have been playing major and important roles in politics in the past years to the extent that if women decide not to take part in politics again, there will be no good results as they form the backbone for most political parties and during rallies. Majority of the electorate are women and the youth

This time round, we are mobilizing women to come out in large numbers to vote for women candidates to defeat their opponents. Women’s place is no more in the kitchen or ‘the other room,’ but they will take active part in politics as aspirants and candidates and would be appointed into any office they so desire.

Women should not sit back because since 1999 the ratio of female aspirants for the position of president is zero, vice president zero, governor zero, deputy governor is 21; 230 women senators out of 545; 47 women out of 341 ministers; 105 women out of 1800 House of Representatives lawmakers and 190 women state House of Assembly lawmakers out of 3,643 lawmakers. So you can see that women need to ‘shine their eyes’ if they are not to be marginalised in 2009. Nigeria politics has been unfair to women.

Why is it so and what do you think is preventing women from being involved in politics and making impact as much as men?

The factors are gender inequality; not having the finances to vie for political posts; fear of attack from men who are their opponents; fear of the unknown and not being ready to take risks. Coming to the question, first, I believe what men can do, women can do better. I have the academic qualification to vie for any post and to assist the womenfolk in my community and constituency to contribute my quota in the development of my community and to encourage other women to take active part in politics and not to be followed and clappers only.

Are you contesting for a political post for the first time?

Definitely no. The last time I was pressurised to step down for another candidate. Iy was not my doing, but this time, I believe, is my time.

How do you hope to make an impact and represent women well if you are elected?

The people in my constituency have been feeling my impact even before I went into full time politics. My focus would be on women so that we can address the problem of economic imbalance. I will start with empowerment of women, assisting those in the rural areas and creating a forum so that their views could be heard. There would also be quarterly town hall meetings with my constituents on rotational basis. Let me reserve the rest.

If I could assist women, the youth and children when I was a civil servant, I believe I will be able to do more if voted as the standard bearer of my party, the PDP, in my constituency and I believe with God I will win.

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Is it not possible that one of the reasons most women fail in politics is that they are not deeply rooted and think it is a tea party. What is your antecedent in politics?

Thank you very much. That is why I said I am here to make a difference. I was born into politics, literally. When I was in primary and secondary school, I used to follow my father, Pa D.O.Sonubi of blessed memory to attend political meetings during the Action Group (AG) and National Council for Nigerian Citizens (NCNC) days in the 60s at Ago Iwoye, Ogun State. My father was a leader in NCNC with leaders like late Baba Kaka, Baba Osuntoye, Prof.Onabamiro and others. My siblings and I suffered a lot during the ‘Demo’ period then, but thank God I’m alive to tell the story.

Even during my school days I was into school politics. So I’m not new in politics. I have held many posts both in DPP and PDP, I was the Ogun State women leader in DPP before my chairman, Comrade Bankole, (brother to Dimeji Bankole), state executive members and over 15,000 followers and I decamped to PDP at Valley view in 2006 during the first tenure of former governor, Gbenga Daniel who received us into PDP.in ward 14, in Sagamu Local Government.

What has been your contribution to the PDP since then?

I have always contributed my own quota to whatever is being done in the party. I paid the rent for our party secretariat; sponsored and financed some aspirants in all past elections including the second term ambition of OGD. I was part of the Omo ilu Foundation in Sagamu Local Government from inception, financing and helping people generally.

I’ve really contributed my quota in uplifting the education standard of the young children and the youth. I’ve an NGO where I distributed school uniforms, school sandals, text and note books to some primary school pupils. Likewise I paid for their levies, I employed an auxiliary teacher and I paid her salary personally for years. The evidences are still there for you if you care to check. I was doing all these not because I wanted to contest then or because I was rich and wealthy, but I believe in contributing and helping people in my community.

Your party is in the opposition, what do you think can be done to win in 2019?

My party has really done a lot during the tenure of Gbenga Daniel and then Sagamu Local Government boss. Hon Daisi Akintan did a lot of good job then, the vacuum they left has not been filled and can’t be filled till PDP takes over again. Many roads were tarred, many health centers created and schools built and renovated; many youth were gainfully employed and their salaries paid by them. Ogun indigenes have tasted both sides now, they now know the better side.

Pensioners and civil servants received their salaries promptly then. I’m sure the electorate knows the party to vote for in 2019.  Contract job like making drainages, building of schools, tarring of roads e.t.c. were given to community people to do. It is time to change the changer to positive and better change in Ogun State.

PDP is divided into two factions in Ogun State which one do you belong?

There’s only one PDP in Ogun State which is the legal one. I belong to BURUJI / BAYO DAYO group. They are visionary leaders. Senator Buruji Kashamu is a visionary leader, the man of the people with a big heart and listening ear.