BY EBUN SESSOU

One of the experiences Honourable Ramotalahi Akintola-Hassan would not forget in a hurry was when she lost her first husband five years after marriage. She waited for seven years before going into another marriage. Today, she is happily married.

She is the Vice Chairman, House Committee on Physical and Urban Planning in the Lagos State House of Assembly. The female lawmaker is currently representing Amuwo Odofin Constituency 2. In this interview, she speaks extensively on personal and official issues.

Can you tell us about your backgroundI hail from a village calledIbese in Amuwo Odofin area of Lagos. My late parents were the Akintolas. I had all my education in Lagos before becoming a female lawmaker. I had my first baby at the age of 25. Unfortunately, I lost my husband five years after my marriage. I stayed without a husband for seven years before I re-married in 2006.

How were you able to cope without a husband?

It was a bitter experience. Those were my seven years of agony and emotional pain. It is only an experienced individual who can better understand and explain those years of agony. I wouldn’t pray for my enemy to experience such. It was that experience that lured me into dating a married man. Unfortunately, the relationship did not last. My late husband was a nice man. He died at a very young age. It was a bad experience.

How did you get into Lagos State of Assembly?

I worked at Amuwo Odofin Local Government in 1996; I was later posted to Oriade Local Council Development Area (LCDA). But I resigned and and joined Lagos State Internal Revenue Service. I joined politics after the death of my father to keep the family name in politics because he was a strong politician. I contested for the LSHA in 2011 and I won. Today, I have an empowerment programme which caters for the vulnerable children. I have lots of children that are not mine that I finance their education. I love people around me and that is why my philosophy about life is “no condition is permanent”. The fact that I am a lawmaker today does not mean the position is permanent and that is why it is important to always appreciate people. I have learnt a lot of things. People said, I don’t contribute on the floor of the House but I can say categorically that I have learnt a lot as a female lawmaker. There are few individuals who have been in the Lagos State House of Assembly for a long time and those are the people, I under-study so as to know how to approach issues.

What are the challenges of being a female lawmaker? And what is your opinion on the notion that women should breastfeed their children exclusively, even as working mothers?

When I was a nursing mother, I used to breastfeed my daughter in the morning before going to my workplace and also at night. One might not be able to breastfeed the child throughout the day but I can advise that, it is important to breastfeed our kids. And it is also important to know that the male child tends to love breast milk more than the girl child and that is why men tend to love breast more.

As a lawmaker, how do you manage your home front?

I go to market and do the cooking myself. I patronise some markets including Mushin, Abattoir among others within the metropolis whenever I want to shop. I cater and maintain my home as a wife. My home is my number one priority. I even wash my husband’s underwears. I do my shopping and cooking personally. Although, I have a house help I don’t maltreat her. Anyone who does evil, will encounter evil and anyone who does good, will encounter good things.

Are you satisfied with the number of women in public office and what is your advice for women in politics?

I believe in 2015, we will have a female governor and there could be increase in the number of female lawmakers. But women have done a lot in politics and they should be appreciated. We will support any woman who comes out to contest for governorship in 2015.

How have you affected people in the grassroots?

I have empowered lots of people in my community. I gave out transformers, free GCE forms, JAMB forms to the people in my constituency. I sponsor people to Jerusalem and Mecca every year. I built a borehole in my constituency. I gave out generators to communities. I have facilitated the construction of roads in my constituency by the state government. A bridge has even been approved in Ibeshe by the state government for construction as well. I have a a vocational programme for over 300 people in my constituency.