OKEDARA, MUTIAT OLAJUMOKE HAILS FROM OGUN STATE BUT SPENT QUALITY TIME IN ALIMOSHO, LAGOS STATE NIGERIA.
SHE HAS NATIONAL DIPLOMA IN CATERING AND HOTEL MANAGEMENT. SHE’S CURRENTLY A PUBLIC SERVANT UNDER IGANDO/IKOTUN LCDA IN ALIMOSHO LGA, LAGOS STATE.
EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW SECTION:
HOW DID YOU GET INTO THE EVER COMPETITIVE NIGERIA’S POLITICS?
I STARTED MY POLITICAL CAREER FROM ORI ADE LCDA (WARD G) IN 2006 IN AMUWO ODOFIN LOCAL GOVERNMENT LAGOS STATE. THROUGH MY THEN GUARDIAN (LATE) MR ADEYEMI (AS POPULARLY CALLED) A RESIDENT OF NITEL ESTATE, SATELLITE TOWN LAGOS
AT WHAT POINT DID YOU DISCOVER THAT YOU HAVE A PURPOSE TO SERVE HUMANITY AS A POLITICAL PERSONALITY?
SINCE MY ENTRY INTO THE POLITICAL FOLD IN 2006 VIA THE THEN ALLIANCE FOR DEMOCRACY (AD), I HAVE ALWAYS BEEN PATIONATE ABOUT THE WELFARE OF THE PEOPLE ESPECIALLY IN ANY CONSTITUENCY THAT I FIND MYSELF.
LIKE I EARLIER STATED, I COMMENCED MY POLITICAL CAREER WITH UNDER THE TUTELAGE OF (LATE) MR ADEYEMI, THEN IN WARD G ORIADE LCDA, IN AMUWO ODOFIN LOCAL GOVERNMENT LAGOS.
HOWEVER , AFTER THE ELECTION OF FORMER GOVERNOR OF LAGOS (BABATUNDE RAJI FASHOLA), MY FAMILY AND I RELOCATED TO OBADORE IN SEPTEMBER, 2007, I ALIGNED MYSELF WITH THE POLITICAL LEADERSHIP OF THE APEX LEADER IN IGANDO/IKOTUN LCDA(LATE) HON JIMOH AJAO AND MY FORMAL WARD CHAIRMAN HON. WALIU OSENI OF WARD G, AKESAN-OBADORE.
FACING NUMEROUS CHALLENGES FROM COLLEAGUES TO OPPOSITION PARTIES AND ALL, ISN’T AN EASY TASK .
HOW DO YOU OVERCOME?
WE NOTICE YOU ARE ASPIRING FOR A COUNCILOR POSITION FOR WARD , TELL US IT:
REGRETTABLY , THERE’S THIS GENERAL GENDER ISSUE WITH WOMEN PARTICIPATING IN POLITICS ALL OVER THE WORLD, BUT I DO NOT ALLOW IT TO HINDER ME IN ANY WAY. AND GRADUALLY, WOMEN ARE BEGINNING TO TAKE THE BULL BY THE HORN AND ARE MAKING EXPLOITS LATELY. HOWEVER, AS YOU HAVE RIGHTLY POINTED OUT, I’M HAVING INTENTIONS TO CONTEST FOR THE POSITION OF COUNCILOR IN MY WARD, AND MY DOGGEDNESS AND UNWAVERING PASSION FOR CONTRIBUTING POSITIVELY TO THE PROGRESS AND WELFARE OF THE PEOPLE GREATLY OUTSHINES ANY GENDER INEQUALITY CHALLENGES AND AGENDA, EVEN FROM COLLEAGUES AND THE OPPOSITION AND I DON’T SEE THEM AS OBSTACLES, I SEE THEM AS STEPPING STONES TO GREATER HEIGHTS.
WHAT ARE THE EXPECTATIONS OF YOUR FOLLOWERS AND FANS REGARDING TO THIS NEW DEVELOPMENT THAT YOU ARE CONTESTING FOR A POSITION OF COUNCILOR?
THE EXPECTATIONS OF MY FOLLOWERS AND FANS WOULD BE QUITE HIGH CONSIDERING THE FACTS THAT I’M A PEOPLE’S WELFARE AND GROWTH ORIENTED PERSON WITH A PROVEN REPUTATION OF INTEGRITY AND EQUITY
WHERE SHOULD WE BE SEEING YOU IN FEW YEARS TIME?
ONE OF MY PHILOSOPHIES ABOUT LIFE IS, “FORWARD EVER BACKWARD NEVER”, AND WITH THE SPECIAL HELP AND GRACE OF GOD ALMIGHTY, EXPECT TO SEE ME WALKING ON HIGHER GROUNDS POLITICALLY, INSHA ALLAH
WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE WOMEN OUT THERE THAT ARE INTERESTED IN POLITICS?
FROM MY LITTLE EXPERIENCE, MY SIMPLE ADVICE FOR WOMEN THAT ARE INTERESTED IN POLITICS WOULD BE, TO HAVE SELF BELIEF AND SELF CONFIDENCE, FOCUSING AND DEPENDING TOTALLY ON GOD AND YOUR PASSION AND GOALS
