If I knew cost of vying for election, I wouldn’t have contested – Hon. Stella Osafile, Lagos House of Assembly

By Agatha Emeadi

Hon. Stella Foluke Osafile is the Lagos State House of Assembly member representing Amuwo-Odofin Constituency 1.

She is a die-hard member of the Labour Party of the popular Obidient Movement.

Though she stands alone, she reigns supreme as the only opposition party member in the house.

In this interview with the Sunday Sun, Mrs Osafile, who is also a businesswoman, pastor, wife and mother, urged women to come out en masse and swim in the murky waters of politics without fear.

Where were you before you came into politics?

I studied Business Administration at Yaba College of Technology. I have also been in my private businesses like fashion, branding, real estate, and pastoring a church before joining politics. It has always been a passion in me to be an advocate, though Jesus Christ the senior advocate. So, it has been there latent until the opportunity came. I have been in politics, but was just laid back.

How long have you been in politics?

This is my first time in partisan, but have been there since 1999. Though not even going for rallies.

Are you one of those women who follow male politicians to share rice and money, then sing for them?

No, I am not. Instead, I am a registered member of the Labour Party (LP). I attend ward, state and federal meetings when it is called for.

How did you become interested in contesting election with the men boldly?

During my formative years/school days, then in church I have been involved in little work which had impacted lives, I was convinced that being into politics will aid me to perform better.

So many female politicians have a lot of challenges in their marriages, how did you win your husband’s support?

In fact, without his support, I will not be here today. In the first place, he paid for the nomination forms to mean he is fully in support of my agenda and political ambition. If couples are unable to balance from their inner homes, it might be a rift between them. Therefore, balancing someone’s lifestyle maritally, financially and otherwise gives a lot of peace and rest. When one is unable to balance her home, the person practically might not be a leader.

Labour Party, according to analysts, was not given any chance; would you say you rode on the back of Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of Labour Party, or on your own popularity?

There is no doubt about that because there must be something to fall back on. And if not my principal, who else? We all leveraged on the Obidient Movement, and we are the real Obidient Movement because this is the grassroots. 

You were in court recently, what happened?

My opponents took me to court. After the main election, result was announced, we were declared winner and sworn in. Later, I was sacked by the lower tribunal here in Lagos. I could not understand it, therefore, I appealed and won the case. My election was re-affirmed. With this, it taught me to have hope in Nigeria and the judiciary because apart from sentiment, law is law. So, I want to sincerely believe that the Appeal Court followed due process and what the law and constitution said about pre-election matters. All the petitions and allegation were based on pre-election matters. It has nothing to do with proper election. Again, if we truly want a change in Nigeria, let everyone accept their responsibility. When lawyers say it is their turn to make money and are ready to milk one dry; it becomes unfair to genuine politicians. Then, for the Independent National Electoral Commissions (INEC) in its case, the duration of politicking election is far too long. As far as I am concerned, after my election which I won; I spent a lot at the tribunal which is truly unfair on politicians. This act is what hardens politicians to recoup their money. Let the society just play the game genuinely. At the lower tribunal where the judges delved into pre-election matters, those are all pre-election matters that were settled at the Supreme Court level. That lower tribunal judgment was like an Ostrich. 

Where were you when the judgment was given?

I was there in the court with my team of legal practitioners. From the onset, I was going to court. At the lower tribunal where I lost the case, it shattered many hopes. But since I believe in the judiciary, I went ahead to appeal and I won.

Ordinarily, most judges act on the information given to them by the lower court. In your case, the Appeal Court upheld your judgment and reversed the case, what do you think about professionalism in law?

Let us take the case of Nigeria as example. Are we sincerely ready to follow the rules or allow our emotions to take over us. The right thing is to follow the constitution and the rules and abide by it. Anything and everything aside this sets in anarchy, discouragement and hopelessness. We do not want to degenerate into that; therefore, the judiciary is our last hope. If every other arm of the government fails us, let the judiciary stand firm and be the hope of the common people.

You are sounding positive because you gained from the system?

Not really because I gained from the Appeal Court; If I should give the synopsis of the judicial proceedings, you will agree with me what I am saying. The case was spelt out in details not because it favoured me.

I guess men were mainly your major opponent; the reason they fought you at the tribunal?

Yes, they were. But in this Local government, we were two women, the other was on the platform of NNPP, while all others were men. I campaigned door to door seriously for my election, won it, but it was truncated. In my party, we grouped ourselves into four different sections and worked hard for our victory. I was almost on the road every day, talking to men and women, club members, close residents, different associations and market places within the constituency. Don’t forget our slogan: “We no dey give shishi.”

Who bankrolled your campaign?

My husband and I bankrolled me.  I must also tell you that Obidient Movement helped us. You are not expected to pay an electorate to come and vote for anyone, no. One’s civic responsibility was to cast his or her vote on an election day. I know that a lot of people desires the honest change, and therefore, came out en masse to perform their civi responsibilities. People were not after T-shirt, foods, meagre cash this time around, no. there was hunger for genuine change. Personally, I did not give money. Some electorate instead said, I do not know this woman; and I said to them, vote for me, you will know me and that was it. I am most grateful to God because if someone had bankrolled me, I would have been indebted by now, and would be running around to pay back by now.

Where there powers-that-be that did not want you to represent this constituency?

For sure. But then; at the primaries, there is no how one’s opponent might not be aggrieved and that plays out at the lower tribunal. Then they came out to tell the judges that I was not duly nominated. If I had known the exact amount the election would cost me, I would have backed out, but along the line; it was like a bug that has bitten me and it was not easy to back out especially at the court.

How were you able to put the home front in order as a politician, businesswoman, wife, mother and pastor?

I had great support system, which goes beyond my husband. The other domestic workers around, including my in-laws, driver, house help are all other types of support system. Look at where I am presently, they are the ones with my children. But then, God is the greatest support system. Again, I take life one day at a time.

As a pastor/woman politician, the two status do not seem to align because a pastor is expected to have a stereotyped lifestyle different from that of a politician, how do you combine these?

In Nigeria, it has always been said that politics is a dirty game. Then, I ask, if it is dirty, who will clean it? It is you and I. The pastor actually should be the one who will clean the mess. One cannot be doing the same thing over and over and not achieving result, let the pastor give it a trial and we take it up from there. So, when it comes to the issue of stereotype, it is all about one’s faith and what he or she believe in.

Would you advise other women to go into politics?

Honestly, let politics be for women. Maybe the sanity would be more pronounced. At least, there would not be violence like when men are involved. The rate at which money exchanges hand will definitely reduce. In Labour Party, women nomination form was free. Let women come out well, there is no big deal.

Betta Edu was in the eye of the storm recently, with the allegations hanging on her neck, do you think it will give women other chances in governance? Likewise, your predecessor who used palliatives meant for her constituency to celebrate her birthday?

The foundation is faulty, we should get ready for more; we are just looking at the up. The laws which should hinder such practices are there, but who is obeying it? There will be many more of such.