WOMEN ARE BETTER ADMINISTRATORS

Chairman, House Committee on Women Affairs, Lagos State House of Assembly, Hon (Mrs.) Omotayo Oduntan, is a two-term member, who believes in the active participation of women in politics. Senior Reporter, ANTHONIA SOYINGBE, was with her in her office at Assembly complex recently, where she spoke on different issues.

Treating cases that have to do with Violence Against Women (VAW) is in her portfolio. Little wonder she was one of the participants at a seminar organised by the United Nations on the ills of VAW in the society. After exchanging pleasantries with this Amazon, who represents Alimosho constituency in the Lagos State House of Assembly (LAHA), the first question our reporter posed to her was her understanding of VAW since she deals with the subject on a daily basis.

Her response that bright Monday afternoon was: “VAW is not just an issue of beating up a woman; it goes beyond that. It is so disheartening that violence starts from the home. Parents believe that a male child is superior to female and some parents still do not see their female children as important. They believe that it is the responsibility of a girl-child to do house chores.

“We make the girls feel inferior, while we consciously or unconsciously make the boys feel superior. All these are happening from the home. These acts make girls feel they are second-class citizens right in their homes. Violence starts from home and it goes beyond a man beating up his wife.”

She has been politicking since 1979 and is of the opinion that politics, unlike what many people say, is not a dirty game. Rather, many politicians make it dirty through their corrupt practices.

“I don’t believe politics is a dirty game; rather, I tell people that it is we that make it dirty.  I encourage people to stop complaining about bad government policies. Rather, they should also come to play their own part towards the development of our society. The good thing about women’s involvement in politics is that men will support you as a woman once they know that you are capable,” she said further.

Though many women, according to different researches, love to get themselves involved in politics, violence and tales of immorality in different forms also make them distance themselves from the murky waters of politics.  Some of the things that scare women off from full time politics is the belief that politics is associated with violence, which I don’t believe, because, since I started, although I have seen violence around me, I have never been a victim.  Women also don’t believe they should take risks with their money, but you have to take risks in all profession.

“Women, who would want to go into politics, should have courage.  It is not everyday you hold meetings. We are usually very busy when campaigning; that is the busy period. After the campaign, everything slows down and you have time for your home. The major problem we women usually have is our spouses. Most men do not encourage their wives to venture into politics; but things are changing these days.  Women perform better in every ramification. They would like to help many people, considering them as their children.

“So, it is better when women go into politics. You gain experience along the line. You learn to be patient; you hardly get annoyed. We are human and you get to mix with all sorts of people who you will like to deal with in very humane manner. It is even good for a home when a woman goes into politics. The husband gains experience down the line also. I advise that husbands should allow their wives go into politics,” she explained, adding that women are better administrators than their male counterparts, as they put in motherly instinct to whatever they do.

Mrs. Oduntan started her career as a teacher. Thereafter, she quit to seek an elective post in 1990. Although she was not given the ticket then, she was not deterred. Rather, she pressed further through diligence until she was given the go-ahead to contest the LAHA seat in 1999. And she won. She was once the vice chairman of her party at Alimosho Local Government.

While growing up, she lived in Kano, very close to the late Aminu Kano’s residence. She got inspired by the way the late politician attended to people who flocked his residence on a daily basis.  “There and then, I decided that I will affect my generation positively by participating in politics and making good policies, which in turn, will affect lives positively,” she said.

Though, according to this lawmaker, she is happily married, Sunday Independent, during the cause of the interview, learnt that she still bears her maiden name. This sounds strange. When asked why, she chose to do that, with pride and a very sense of fulfillment,  she said with smiles: “I know what my father invested into training me, hence I honour him by still answering my maiden name. My father treated all his children, both male and female, alike. I had a wonderful time growing under the watchful eyes of my father.”

She sounded like a happily married woman who enjoys her husband’s unflinching support in her career. When the question about her home was posed to her, like one waiting for it, she giggled and responded: “My home is fine and very okay. Though my husband is not a politician, he supports me and he encourages me. My children are grown up; my husband takes over when I am not at home, all because, he believes in what I am doing. He is my number one supporter.”

As if that wasn’t enough, this woman who grew up in a large polygamous family prided herself as a dutiful wife, who still fulfils her marital obligations, including preparing her husband’s meals. Hear her: “I don’t allow anyone to cook for my husband because that is my duty, and I don’t think it is right for me to delegate such a duty to someone else.”

An experienced politician, who seems not to be intimidated by her male colleagues, she has an advice for aspiring women politicians.

To them, she said: “In going into politics they should be sure of themselves and what they actually want. Politics is a very good thing and you meet lots of people. I hardly get annoyed now because politics has taught me that you have to be patient and attend to different types of people from time to time.

“Politics has helped me to be a better woman. Once you are sure and really convinced that you want to serve people, I think the right place to be is in politics. Persistence and patience will help you achieve your objective”.