Tejuoso: Why I Want to be Lagos Speaker

The society should accommodate the needs of the less privileged. Our laws should look at the issues and balance them. This does not mean we cannot accommodate some of our traditions that are not harmful.

Many people misconstrue the role of the lawmaker to include the provision of infrastructure like the executive.What is your experience like?

The reason the society is still learning the role of the lawmaker is because of military rule. Each time the military seized power in the past, they suspended the legislature. People didn’t really know the role of the parliament, but now there is stability. Now, democracy is here to stay. We need to let the people know the difference between the different arms of government.

Even while we were campaigning, we tried to enlighten the people on the roles of the different arms of government; that the lawmaker is not the one to make roads, provide water, etc. We had town hall meetings which we should do more of. Alawmaker’s role is to make laws, ensure the budget is passed and do oversight of the MDAs. However, a lawmaker must be able to lobby the executive to do those things his constituents are asking for.

The resources are limited, but the lawmaker must make case for his constituents so that they can get their dues in the various sectors – health, transport, education, commerce and industry, etc.

You have been around for 12 years now in the House. Can we talk about your memorable bills?

I have co-sponsored a lot of bills, but I have a private member bill.

Private member bills are very rare. In 2003, I sponsored and made sure that the Domestic Violence Bill was passed. I think in that year I was the only member that brought a private member bill to the House.

Sincethenwehavenothadmanybecauseprivate member bills are a bit more difficult to pass. Executive bills are easier. In coming up with a private member bill, you need a lot of research, you have to work with NGOs, make sure the bill can stand the test of time.

So, I have the Domestic Violence Law to my credit. Right now, I am working on the Gender and Equality Law to make sure we have equality for all. I have co-sponsored a lot of laws. Child’s Right Law, we worked on it with Senator (Mrs) Tinubu when she was the First Lady. When the Domestic Violence Law was passed into law, the government of Babatunde Raji Fashola put the machinery in place to implement it. I wish to commend Asiwaju Tinubu because it was during his tenure that we put the law in place. He supported the law. We got a lot of people fromAmnesty International to write on the issue. When we talk about gender equality, we need more women to come on board. And we must appreciate the fact that if the home front is at peace, every other thing is at peace.

Aman cannot function if his home is in disarray. We have the Public Procurement Law, the LIRS Law, bills on education, the criminal law which we made sure that all those things that should not be there were removed. For instance, you cannot say the penalty for rape is six months imprisonment and expect the punishment is commensurate with the crime.

Do you think Lagos is ready for a woman Speaker especially when the position of Deputy Governor appears to have been ceded to women?

Lagos is definitely ready for a woman Speaker. I have support not just from my colleagues in the House, but also notable people in the society who have called me on phone to encourage me to go ahead. It is not like in the past when women had no education, where when there was no money, only the male children were sent to school. Woman are just as qualified for public offices, if not better qualified, than men. Lagos is ripe for a woman to be Speaker.

Women appear to be going beyond the 30 percent appointments the Beijing Declaration provides for them.They even want to take everything?

I think it is a good development. The people say the hands that rock the cradle rule the world. We trained those men that become future leaders. If you look at those men that lead, they have mother figures in their homes, to balance the toughness in them. You cannot rule a nation and not have sentiments or compassion for people.

If a woman can train a man and he becomes the president, why can’t the woman herself become the President, Governor, or Speaker? So not only are women ready, we are capable to lead in all ramifications.

You have been around for 12 years.The House is a place of intrigues, high wire politics. Can you share your experience?

I have seen the good, the bad and the ugly, and I believe that if I still have my held up high, I have been able to manage everything that is happening in the House and remain standing. I feel that we are 40 members with different upbringing, different backgrounds, different religions, but we have to work together as a unit. We should dwell on the strength of each, and use the strength to balance the weakness.I have beenDeputy Chief Whip;Deputy Speaker; Chairman, Women Affairs Committee; Chairman, Finance Committee. I have seen that the strength of my colleagues is powerful while some are very weak. I too have my weaknesses and strengths. But I have learnt to use my strengths to encourage my colleagues who are weak. That has made us close to one another to the extent that some tell me some of their inner-most secrets.

My colleagues support my speakership bid because they see me as a person of integrity, a person they can trust. General Buhari has tried to become president for four times. His strength is integrity. Now that people want change, integrity, people voted for him. We have come to the stage in Nigeria where the people value integrity.