Regardless of her age, she ranks among the distinguished female politicians in the country. Now an All Progressives Congress chieftain, Princess Denrele Adeniran-Ogunsanya, a former Secretary to the Lagos State Government, believes the politics of Lagos State and that of the centre must be played with fairness if the party hopes to get it right as the country moves closer to the 2015 elections. She spoke recently with Funsho Akinwale on the situation of things in the country and her experience as a public servant. Excerpts:
What have you been doing since you left government as SSG in Lagos State?
I have been very much around, but just at the background looking at the way things are going. That does not mean I’m not in touch with my people politically. We do discuss and I know how everything is moving. Sometimes, it is good you are at the background because you will be able to see things well from different perspectives. What is definite is that I’m still very much in APC. I have no intention of leaving the party for any other party. My father was a politician all his life and he never taught us to be jumping from one party to the other.
Watching events from the background like you have said. How do you now see the way of the APC?
I know that the party would definitely have a new face because we are looking at taking the central control. APC is on the right track and I hope we don’t deviate. We need to be more accommodating than before and democracy must thrive within the party. Yes, there may be rancour because we all have different orientations and backgrounds, but we must accommodate everybody because it is democracy. We must do things collectively now. We are looking beyond a presence in the South West only.
Considering the fact that what happens in Lagos State APC affects the party in other states of the federation, what impact do you think the struggle for the Lagos State governorship ticket among aspirants would have on other states where the party is ruling?
I have said it that we must get it right this time. Everybody is a member of this party, so we deserve equal opportunity. But you can’t stop people from having preferences for their choice aspirant. We have to be careful. We have to be democratic as much as possible. There should be a level ground for all participants. Our leaders must endeavour to carry everybody along. There are ways we can go about it that will look democratic even when we have our preferred candidates.
Do you support the zoning of the governorship post to Lagos East?
I do. In fact, Ikorodu should produce the next governor because Epe has produced not too long ago. I totally support the zoning to East but I don’t have a preferred candidate for now. I’m from Ikorodu but I don’t have a candidate yet. By the time I’m ready to support any person, I will go all out for the person. But I want to see what is on ground first: the criteria and quality of the person who must be able to deliver democracy dividends for the people of this state.
Do you think Lagos State is ripe for a female governor?
I believe any state in the country can produce a female governor. I’m of the view that women would perform better. The problem we have is that we women don’t like ourselves. We tend to pull ourselves down, which is bad. Women in the past like Madam Margaret Ekpo, Madam Ransome-Kuti and the likes did well for this country and they didn’t engage in the pull-her-down stuff.
What are the chances of APC taking over the centre come 2015?
I’m saying it again: if we handle the situation very well and guard against internal wrangling, we will surely be the ruling party at the centre in 2015.
How would you describe the personality of Governor Babatunde Fashola, having worked closely with him?
He is a man of repute, a leader with passion about developing Lagos State. He has foresight about how things can work better in Lagos and puts it on the table for everybody to have a say about it. Of course, only God is perfect, but Governor Fashola is a man you will always want to associate with.
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