Adefunmilayo Tejuoso, the longest serving female lawmaker in the Lagos State House of Assembly – in her third term, represents Mushin Constituency 1. In this interview with some House of Assembly correspondents, including Senior Reporter, AKINWUNMI KING, she speaks, among others, about how she got into politics and her experience so far. Excerpts…
• Tejuoso
Many people, who do not understand you, see you as a pompous woman. Who really is Princess Adefunmilayo Tejuosho?
I am someone who is very firm and knows what she wants. I believe it has to do with my upbringing. There are certain things I would do and certain things I would not. I would not compromise my standard for anything. My father always told me to be ready for the consequence of anything I want to do. He would say if I cannot bear the consequence, then I should not do it. So I weigh options in anything I do. That is why it is good to do what is right at every time. I don’t live to impress people, but God. I believe that if I satisfy my God, then I am doing fine. Sometimes people say I am very frank, but that is the way I was raised – to say things the way I see them. I remember the day I told my father I wanted to join politics, and he asked me if I was sure I could do it, since I don’t lie. He told me politicians tell a lot of lies and wondered how I could get involved with people like that. But I said I would do it the way I know how to do it, and he promised to always pray for me to do what is right. Basically, I am more flexible, and my children would rather ask me for anything before asking daddy, because he is firmer. My staff are like family to me and would even sometimes take advantage; but I don’t mind – since I know that where there is love, people are bound to take advantage – as long as it is positive.
From the way you have described yourself, would one be right to say you were stubborn while growing up?
Was I stubborn? Well, I am the last child of my mother and she had five children.
Are you from a polygamous home?
I wouldn’t say that; but my father had another child before my mother passed on. He was younger than I and lived with his mother while I lived with my parents. In our own unit, we were three girls and two boys. My two elder sisters are into the law profession as well. One of them is a chief magistrate in Lagos here; the other is a lawyer living in America. One of my brothers is a doctor living in America, while the other one is into business administration. I always maintain that I did not come from a poor background; therefore I cannot come and tell you now that I had a humble beginning. That’s not me, and maybe that is one thing about me. I don’t pretend. My father gave me a very good life; sometimes he would sacrifice for us to get the very best in life. We went to the best schools. I went to the University of Lagos Staff School, from where I went to Queens College, Yaba, Lagos. Then I went to St. Francis High School and the West Virginia University in America. Then I did my Law degree in Buckingham University in England, and my father paid for everything. So it wasn’t like I had to work, struggle and then go to school. He struggled to be where he is and didn’t want us to suffer. My mother was a full-time housewife. It was a good upbringing for me and I enjoyed growing up with the family.
I won’t say I was stubborn. My father, a medical doctor, trained us to be sure of ourselves. He would always warn us not to rely on any property he would leave for us. He would ask us to focus on our education, so that we can get the best out of life, since it is not possible for him to leave his medical certificate for us when he is gone. This same principle I pass on to my children. My daughter said one day that somebody looked at my picture in her phone and said: “Oh! That is where you got the look from. It means you are not snobbish after all, you are really nice.” It is just a look. When growing up as a woman, you are told to put your head up, cross your legs when you sit and such other instructions and they become part of you. These might be why some people think I am arrogant. They feel when I walk in the corridor, I won’t put my head down, but up. But that is the training I had. I love people. In my constituency, they know who I am and love me the way I love them. The same way I was trained, I also impact. I tell those I meet: dress well, look tidy and don’t come around me in tatters looking for anything because I won’t give you. If I go to a bank and the staff are looking tattered, I won’t put my money in that bank. One’s appearance is one’s letter of recommendation. So, when they say I appear in a particular way, then that is their perception.
People often have the impression that you are very arrogant and mean. How do you manage this situation?
God has created us in different ways. For some people, the first impression they have of you is that you are arrogant. Arrogance is a perception; it is not who I am. I saw a movie the other day where I heard that fear is not real, but danger is real. You might think I am arrogant looking at me from afar, but when you get close to me, you would see that I can speak and talk with anybody. I am the kind of person who gives back what you give to me. I don’t poke my nose into what does not concern me. If people want me to get involved, I would; but if they want their privacy, I give it to them, since I sometimes want my own privacy. These all might be seen as ‘she is arrogant’. Then, of course, I attended an all-girls secondary school and there are certain ways I have been trained to comport myself. I’m not one that would get anywhere and just open my mouth, since, through my education, I know that a lady is seen and not heard; you don’t shout and make noise over the place, you just do your job. That is why you see that I like to work; I like to be at the floor of the House and make my contributions to issues as much as I can. If I don’t have anything to say about an issue, I won’t talk. But I am always conscious of the fact that I am the voice of my constituency. They have given me the trust. So when a lot of times you see me talk, it is not because of myself, because at the end of the month, I get my salary whether I talk or not.
But the truth is that I represent people. When issues about domestic violence crop up, I get very passionate to ensure I contribute to make it a thing of the past. When we talk about issues of children, I worry and add a voice. I don’t want any law to come through my table and I would not do what I think is right on it, so that when they ask for what I sad in future, documents would show. You don’t have to take what I say, but I want it to be documented for people to know I said what I said, especially for posterity sake. If a bill is passed into law or a motion is brought before the House to become a resolution and I don’t say anything for or against it, I would feel bad, knowing that I am supposed to speak up. I think that is where people might say: Oh! She would always contribute. It is not because it is exciting to me but because it is my job and I have to do it well.
In your first term, you were the only female among the lawmakers. How was it like then?
Sincerely, I never felt anything because, as a lawyer, I am used to working with men. Our leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, would say power is not served a la carte. You have to work for it, you have to earn it. So I try to earn what I believe is my right. I try to show to my colleagues that I am not just a woman here, but that I am qualified to be here and can compete with the male-folk. I am glad there are more women now. So it is very easy to fly gender issues.
At what point did you decide to go into politics?
It’s been a while now. You know meeting people and the complaint that there is no power, no this, no that, and then they would go back home grumbling. Like I told you, my father was living fine and had machine to pump water and generators for power. When we got home, we just went to sleep. When I got married, it was the same thing; my husband lives fine and I didn’t suffer. We would get home into the comfort of our rooms and close the door and forget everybody else. But at a time, I felt it was not fair and that when I complain, I would only end up criticising the government and nothing more. So I started attending political meetings to see how I could get involved. Eventually, I was given a ticket to the House of Representatives, but (the late Gen.) Sani Abacha was forced on the party. I withdrew two days before my election because I don’t believe you can be honourable in a dishonourable dispensation. It was just my principle. As a Christian, I always believe you have to be fair in everything you do. Then, I made up my mind that if they imposed Abacha on the party, I would resign, because the things that went on at that time were not pleasant. You can’t be part of an unpleasant group to make a difference. So, that was the end until the time of Alliance for Democracy (AD). In 2003, I was elected to be a member of the House of Assembly.
How does your husband feel about you in politics?
My husband is a very self-sufficient person. He has a lot of self-esteem and loves his wife. He supports my moves. He is a politician and even ran for the governorship seat in Ogun State. He knows the terrain. I dated my husband for 13 years before we got married. We know ourselves very well. If you come and tell me this is what Kayode did, I would know if it is true. The same applies to him. We trust each other and at the end of the day, we get into bed and discuss what happened earlier in the day. He advises me on what to do and I advise him too on how to go about issues. Sincerely, my husband is a wonderful man.
As a woman, how would you describe Mrs. Patience Jonathan’s role in governance?
She has done everything to support her husband. She might not always be right, but she wants to do it. I feel sometimes as we go up in life, we feel very comfortable and then begin to make mistakes. But it is good to quickly retrace our steps and correct those mistakes. For example, the involvement of Mrs. Jonathan in the Rivers State saga is not too pleasant. I just hope she retraces her steps for peace in the state.