Olasinmi Akindele Odunmbaku, the former Ondo State Commissioner for Women Affairs is the Senatorial candidate for the Zenith Labour Party(ZLP) in Ondo North District of Ondo State. In this interview with KAKAKI NEWSPOT she gives insights on her political career and explained why she is contesting for the seat. She she also speaks on effect of Poverty on democracy and how to curbed it.

why are you aspiring to go to the Senate and what are the plans you have for your district if you get there?

My aspirations for the Senate did not start today; it has always been there. It is borne out of the desire to serve my people and give them a good representation at the National Assembly.

This is in terms of making useful, cogent and relevant input into lawmaking to lift the standard of living of our people and the rest of Nigerians.

Ondo North Senatorial District is a big district in the State, all you need is good leadership and opportunities to fulfil their potential.

And I believe that with the little experience that have gathered in my active political career, I will make positive impact.

Having been privileged in a way, I think the least I can do is to give back in terms of service. There is no gainsaying that poverty is the greatest threat to democracy in Nigeria today.

We all must join hands to fight poverty, if we want democracy to thrive.

What motivated you to go into politics

Like I said, it was the need to make a difference in the community where I came from.

There was a burning passion to serve my people. I got involved gradually and in the process I became the House of Representatives candidate (Akoko North East/North West Federal constituency) of the Labour Party in 2007.

An election I won but was cheated out at that time.

The mandate was restored at the tribunal but the case ended up in the appeal court with a verdict of “As meritorious as this case is, the case was filed 24 hours out of time”.

I took it in my stride. It is called paying one’s dues politically.

What are your experience as a commissioner in Ondo State

I must say the experience was beautiful. I worked with the best of the best and that is none other than His Excellency, Dr Olusegun Mimiko, the selfless hardworking comrade governor.

He always emphasised the need to only embark on programmes that were for the greater good of all.

A medical doctor by profession but a politician by divine calling, He gave me the enabling environment to carry out my duties effectively.

Initially, I was appointed to the Ministry of Community Development and Cooperative Services and later to the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development.

I enjoyed working with women and children and with families in particular. It gave me joy that I could make a difference in the lives of women, I was able to have a firsthand feeling of what was happening in the rural communities and I was able to impact on the younger ones.

The social development aspect was the most challenging, impactful and emotional. So many times I had to hold back tears.

I worked with a very good team headed by my hardworking and tireless Permanent Secretary, a beautiful woman inside and out, Pharm (Mrs) Funmilayo Osundolire JP.

Kudos must be given to Her Excellency, Mrs Olukemi Mimiko, the then First Lady of Ondo State, who gave me the free hand to run the ministry without interference unlike most first ladies. She regularly referred to the ministry as a miniature state and was always there to support the ministry as the need arose.

How do you intend to fight poverty as a lawmaker?

One of the best ways to do that is to enhance access to education, job opportunities, not necessarily in government. I don’t want to see our youths applying for jobs that are not there.

When I emerge a senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, I intend to focus more on human capital development. I love education because it is the best way to get out of poverty.

After education, you have to invest in skill acquisition in order to have entrepreneurs and not just job seekers. We need entrepreneurs who can start their businesses and grow to become employers of labour.

Skill acquisition is not just buying Okada for people and they end up in the hospital with amputated limbs.

Are you confident that the INEC will conduct credible elections in 2019?

I am hoping that it will. It is not a matter of having confidence in the INEC but I am hoping that it will do a good job. There are lots of things that will go into it to make the elections credible.

The resources, impartial leadership; and if the leadership is impartial, it will trickle down.

I can’t just make a blank statement that the election will be credible or it will not be credible. There are things you have to consider before arriving at a conclusion.

It is the INEC’s activities and conduct that will determine whether we will have confidence in their officials or not.