By Remmy Diagbare

Hon. Mulikat Akande-Adeola representing Ogbomoso North/Ogbomoso South/Orire Federal Constituency is
a ranking member of the House of Representatives and in the race for the speakership.  Besides being spurred by the zoning of the speakership to her South-West Zone by her party, PDP, she says in this interview, that she is eminently qualified to be the second woman to lead the House after Hon. Patricia Etteh.

What was your experience like as a member of the outgoing House?
I went into the House with great expectations and the urge as a lawyer to use the art of legislating for the well-being of Nigerians. But, at the end of the outgoing sixth Assembly, my experience has been of mixed feelings, with failed expectations and unrealized dreams in terms of legislating for the good of the people.

What were your most memorable and saddest moments?
First, the day of our inauguration as the sixth Assembly.  Two,  when democracy was put to test and members came out at their best in stabilizing the polity with the activation of the ”doctrine of necessity” in ensuring the confirmation of the then acting president, Goodluck Jonathan, as substantive President. My saddest moments were when the CEDAW Bill which would have benefitted women was thrown out and when there was a serious physical brawl on the floor of the House leading to the suspension of some members. It was very un-parliamentary to say the least and before the very eyes of those we represent.

How many bills did you sponsor and were passed?
Well, being in the House does not necessarily mean that all members must sponsor a bill and ensure that it is passed into law. Being in the House entails more than merely doing just that, it involves doing research on and reviewing sectoral issues that impact on the lives of the people, performing effective oversight functions with a view to assessing the level of implementation of some of the executive responsibilities and budgetary performance.

There has been a significant increase in the number of women in the House and Senate, yet there are many issues militating against women which many feel should have been addressed by the House such as gender discrimination, child marriage, etc. Do women have a level playing field in politics?

I will need to correct the impression that there is significant increase in the number of female legislators in the National Assembly. On the contrary, there is a marked reduction in the number of women in the Assembly.  For instance, the number is further reduced from 27 women in the House of Representatives to 15 in the in-coming Assembly.

*Akande-Adeola

Even before the reduction, the impact arising from the existing number was very insignificant and cannot easily be noticed. On the issue of level-playing ground, it goes without saying that in Nigeria that has remained a contest notwithstanding the resolutions of Beijing 1 & 2. Assuredly, Mr. President, during his electioneering, promised to assuage the gender imbalance by promising 35 per cent representation of women in governance. We look forward to the consummation of that promise and I hope I will be the first beneficiary of that as the Speaker of the House of Representatives.

How would you assess the election you just participated in?

The election has been widely adjudged internationally and within our borders, as free, fair, and credible. I subscribe to the assessment of most assessors in that respect even though it cannot be said to be perfect. Apart from that, it was keenly contested and averagely successful. However, it was regrettable that we had crisis in some parts of the country over the presidential election. Above all, it is hoped that we build on some of the gains made and tackle some of the lapses experienced.

I understand you are interested in the office of the speaker after Hon. Patricia Etteh? Do you think the nation and indeed, your colleagues are ready for another woman?

Yes, I am interested in being the Speaker of the House of Representatives as a Nigerian and as a bonafide member of the House who has the aspiration to lead the 360 elected members. That it is coming after Madam Etteh is the fact that, as a woman, there should be no hindrance by reason of gender and that, no matter the circumstance of her exit as the speaker, it should not deter me from that aspiration. As for the question of whether the nation and my colleagues are ready for another woman, I will say, why not? After all, what the nation and my colleagues desire is quality, transparent, effective, fair and God-fearing leadership and I have the attributes and ready to lead.

What is your support base to be able to achieve your desire?

First of all, as I have said, I am God-fearing and so because I worship God and fear Him, God is my support base and indeed, my colleagues and the good people of Nigeria.

The office is very challenging and full of intrigues. Are you mentally ready for this?
Challenging yes, intriguing yes, and ready I am. My pedigree, character traits, intellectual ability, legislative experience, balanced temperament and the fact that I am a team player provide me the necessary tool and leverage to lead the House.

As a woman, you will have to work twice as hard.  What is your agenda to lead the House?
The office of the speaker has nothing to do with gender, but more with the necessary mental magnitude (knowledge and spirituality) to be able to provide the required leadership in aid of positive transformation and development of the nation through legislative activities.

As for my agenda, it is peoples’ agenda that I intend to initiate. That includes encouraging legislation that will aid the executive in the area of poverty reduction, creation of jobs, security and safety of the people of Nigeria wherever they may choose to be, education, alternative energy resource, scientific research and development towards the transformation of the country, exhibition of transparency and accountability in governance and indeed public places, effective oversight role in ensuring the full implementation of government policies and programmes.

Looking at the present House, will the seventh Assembly toe a different line under you?

Well, I do think that the House will ever remain the House of Representatives established purposely for the art of law-making and so the seventh Assembly will remain so. However, what will be different is the fact that Nigerians will witness more robust legislative debates and law-making geared towards the development of the country. Also the nation will witness a new improved House in terms of its image, exercise of candor and decorum both in and out of the House, notwithstanding the exhibition of individual idiosyncrasies which have to do with individual character traits. But, I want to assure Nigerians that open rancour and acrimony in the House will be a thing of the past.

How will you position the House and what are the obstacles, if any, to your emergence as Speaker?
I do not foresee any obstacle in my quest for the speaker position. I rely solely on God, the giver and taker of power. I also rely on the maximum support of my colleagues and the prayers of Nigerians. I intend to position the House as the most vibrant House in the West African sub-region and indeed, Africa, through qualitative legislative products.

How will you describe your person? Shy, outgoing, flamboyant or conservative.

Without being immodest, by my upbringing, I am disciplined, positively principled, liberal but firm when it comes to resolution, humble without being patronizing. I am not duplicitous. I am God-fearing, people-oriented and a defender of what is just and right. I am not ostentatious or flamboyant. I love people but not necessarily outgoing.

Tell us about your growing up years and your passion or philosophy of life.

I had a very good childhood, born into a modest Muslim family of Akande who hailed from Ogbomoso but settled in Kaduna. I had a very normal and interesting childhood, never deprived of the comfort of a good parentage and not spared of any disciplinary measure that needed to be meted out.

I had the best education my parents and the state could offer then at St. Anne’s Primary School, Queen Amina College both in Kaduna. I proceeded to Katsina College of Arts, Science and Technology and then Ahmadu Bello University both in Zaria. Thereafter, I did a master’s degree in law in Lagos. My passion is predicated on making success out of whatever I embark on in life. I also have the passion of helping people along my path. As for my philosophy, it is to leave a profound legacy of good deeds.