Labour Party governorship aspirant in the just concluded primary in Edo State, Aisha Okojie-Odigie, speaks to ADEYINKA ADEDIPE, about the need to support women in politics, among other issues
Can you throw more light on what you meant when you said your party was losing a unique opportunity after it reversed the decision to give expression of interest forms for free to women aspirants before the February 23rd primary election?
First, I must say that I believe in the ideology of the Labour Party. As the party logo shows, the party is all about the family and its values. The price tag for the form ensured the exclusion of the average people, the workers, and the downtrodden who are the main focus of the party. To me, it is like disenfranchising the same people who are supposed to be in our fold. The “Obidient Movement” had students, salary earners, self-employed, and small business owners. These are the main supporters of our party unlike the Peoples Democratic Party who preach what they don’t practise.
Giving out the expression of interest form free to women would have shown inclusivity. The nomination form was N30m for men and N25m for women. As a United Nations ambassador, I fight for causes that have to do with women, children, the underprivileged, and the voiceless. The price of the form stood against my values and I couldn’t turn my face away because of my interest. Even if I purchased the form, what example am I setting? These are people I have been fighting for so that they can become part of the decision-making process. I felt it was a missed opportunity because giving women and the youths this concession would have given us the edge as a party and we will stand tall because we are practising what we are preaching by adding inclusivity and showing we are not biased against women. It could be a long shot for women in their quest to hold top political positions.
Do you think giving the forms free to female aspirants would have enhanced their chances of becoming the LP flag bearers?
It could have changed the dynamics. It could have ensured that women participate more in the election either as aspirants or voters especially now that we are moving closer to the Edo State governorship election in September. Women and youths have always participated in elections but you need to create the atmosphere for them to become more involved. Giving them the form for free would have been encouraging. It will also give that young girl out there the confidence to be part of the future. For women, it will not be about taking part in the primaries alone; the campaign will kick off soon and women will have a role to play in mobilising others to be part of the process that will shape the future. It will also create a pathway for women who want to follow in our footsteps.
Don’t you think the men in politics will complain of bias or discrimination if women who mostly preach gender equality are given expression of interest forms for free?
No. You have to look at the way politics is played in Nigeria. I always use Rwanda as an example because the country adheres to the United Nations resolution to give more women the chance to get involved in politics and administration at the top level of government. There is a lot of gender bias now in politics and I am not saying that women should be given a free pass but that Nigeria should comply with that 35 per cent inclusion for women which the UN proposed. Cuba and the East African countries are adhering to this and Nigeria should do the same. If you look at the first lady, Oluremi Tinubu; she talks about women empowerment and inclusivity through a programme she runs. This may not change the dynamics but it will give rise to equity, and fairness. The Labour Party should be at the forefront of pushing ideas like this.
Do you think the reversal and the high price of the form have robbed your party of the goodwill it enjoyed during the general election in 2023?
I will say that human memories are short and people may not bother too much about this, but going forward, we need to do things that will enhance the party’s reputation. For example in Abia, Bayelsa, and Imo states, aspirants protested over the high price of form and it was reduced from N30m, in some cases, to N15m. We asked for the same thing in Edo State but nothing was done. Again, Edo is not like other states, but it is a missed opportunity as that was a benchmark we would have followed.
I think it made us look more like a party that placed too much value on money. The Labour Party created an impression that we are casting away the same people who we are supposed to be fighting for. The ideals the LP stands for are things my family has fought for. My late uncle, Anthony Enahoro, moved the motion for Nigeria’s independence, while my father, the Late Herbert Okogie, was also a known politician. They both stood for the truth and were not passive. The Labour Party is a movement and it must take care of the interest of the people.
Four people laid claim to the LP governorship ticket after the primary. How will you react to speculations that this will work against the party in the general election?
I don’t think so. There are always internal issues in political parties and the LP is not exempted. What is happening has to do with the leadership of the party but we know we have only one party chairman which is Mr Julius Abure. The issues playing out will be taken care of legally. What the LP has done in the Edo State primary is by laid down rules and procedures. The people who bought tickets for the primaries knew that the right delegates voted in the primary election. When the dust settles, we will all know that we have only one flag bearer and that is Olumide Akpata.
Are you not bothered that your ambition will have to wait, and how do you rate this state at this time?
I think it is all about loyalty. I am loyal to the party despite not being able to fight for the ticket. But I don’t want to sound pessimistic about things but we have to recognise that Akpata is the flag bearer, and we have already started the process of reconciliation by first visiting Abia State. We need to heal and start working towards the governorship election.
What should the federal and state governments be doing at this time of economic downturn and high cost of living?
I think the lack of price control is a major contributor to the rising cost of food items in the country. Price control will ensure the prices of particular goods are the same all over. The government should also check the activities of black marketers and make provisions for things like food stamps so that an average person can get food for free at certain places. For example, the price of a bag of rice is N85,000. I am a mother and go to the market. So, I think this is when the government is expected to step in and show that it has a connection with the poor. I will recommend that the government should create a buffer, especially for low-income earners. If the government tackles hunger, it will be tackling other socio-economic issues affecting the people.
Will you say not getting the form for free robbed you of the chance of taking your career to the next level?
I wouldn’t say that. I will only reaffirm my commitment to the people I have always fought for. That is to say that my principle has not changed. I am still a fighter especially for causes relating to women, children, and the voiceless, to drum up support for fairness, equality, and justice.
How bad do you think things can get with the disparity between the naira and the dollar?
The current situation is affecting the Gross Domestic Product. The sooner the naira slide is tackled, the better for everyone. Importation of goods is, at this time, very expensive. The end users of such products (the masses) are the ones that will be highly affected. Farmers who should contribute to food production in the countries also have to buy fertilizer and other things at exorbitant rates, which also contributes to the high price of food. The prices of eggs and chicken have gone up also because the feeds have become expensive. These are basic items that should be within the reach of the masses. Presently, people cannot even go on vacation either locally or internationally. However, the bulk stops on the desk of President Bola Tinubu, and he must act fast to ensure the naira bounces back.
What steps can be taken to check hunger in the country having spoken on the need to tackle hunger during your campaign?
What I saw during my campaign in the 18 local government areas of Edo State is that the people are hungry; poverty is prevalent and illiteracy is high among the people. When I visited places like that, I had course to bring food items along to help cushion the effect of hunger. At this time, the government should have a food programme that will encourage subsidising these food items.
In Nigeria, there are more churches than factories, but what are they doing? They should partner with the government to ease the burden on the people. For example in Edo State, Governor Godwin Obaseki should fashion out ways to tackle hunger to stem issues of kidnapping, insecurity, and loss of lives. Hunger drives people to participate in these criminal activities because a hungry man is an angry man. The government can even institute a workable food programme that will involve schools, churches, and non-governmental organisations just like what we had during COVID-19. The food programme, if well handled, shows empathy and it will bring back people’s belief in the government.
Do you think the Federal Government has lost the idea of how to tackle the problems bedevilling the country?
I think there is a lot of miscommunication in the system. Communication is key to solving issues. People need to know the direction the government is going and what the citizens need to do. The state government should also represent the electorate well and be able to tell the Federal Government the needs of the people. The federal and state governments should also come together to work for the good of the citizens. This is not the time for states and federal governments to be at loggerheads because people are dying daily from attacks and suicide. Young men cannot even settle down and have families because of constant struggles. Nigerians are some of the smartest people in the world and each time we come together, we solve problems.
What are you bringing to support your party’s candidate after the meeting in Abia State with the state Governor, Alex Otti, where all differences arising from the primary election were settled?
For me, mobilising the women and the youth is what I can do to support the party’s flag bearer in Edo State. Women need to understand the fact that the governorship election will not be easy as we have two giant political parties also involved. All women should be concerned about the governorship election because if we don’t get it right, youths and families will be more convinced that they need to leave the country. So, we need to elect people who can bring families together, stop the rot, and create job opportunities. We need to get people that can give us the basic things of life.
Why did you say it would take women a long shot to be elected as governor in the country?
The issue is that a lot of people think women don’t vote for women. But I must say they have been conditioned to act that way in the political space. But if a strong man backs a female aspirant, the women will fall in line. My father, the late Herbert Okogie, during his time in the Western Region, was a strong supporter of the late Franca Afegbua, who became a senator, but we don’t see that happening a lot at this time due to gender bias.