2027: Opposition can spring 2023 surprise in Lagos – Hon. Oshafile

Hon. Foluke Stella Oshafile is a member of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) and the only opposition lawmaker representing Amuwo Odofin I Constituency in the Lagos State House of Assembly.

In this recent interview with journalists, Oshafile expressed confidence in securing the mandate of her constituents for a second term.

She also spoke on the prospects of opposition parties working together ahead of the 2027 elections, the need to amend the Nigerian Constitution to promote true federalism, why she believes state police may not be desirable for the country at the moment, and why fuel subsidy should not be reinstated. Excerpts:

What has it been like as an NDC opposition lawmaker among 39 APC members?

The experience has been challenging, but also educative. It has been a learning curve. I am now more prepared, but I never imagined that I would be the only opposition lawmaker in the Assembly.

You entered the Assembly in 2023 under the Labour Party, later moved to the ADC, and are now with the NDC. What prompted these changes?

As a politician, if you are not sensitive enough to feel the pulse of your constituents, you will miss out. I always say that my people sent me here; it is beyond me. In the history of that local government, they had never recorded even 3,000 votes, but I got 21,000 votes, out of which 16,000 was declared for me. So, it goes beyond me; it is about the pulse of the people I represent. They wanted me to move, and if I did not move willingly, I would have been forced to move. When your structure is moving, would you be left behind? So, I had to move with my principal, Mr Peter Obi, to the NDC.

Amuwo Odofin 1 has consistently been represented by opposition lawmakers. What factors do you think account for this trend?

You need to understand the composition of your constituency and its constituents. Lagos State is a cosmopolitan state, and in Amuwo Odofin, the people have a preference for opposition parties. So, it is either you accept it or leave it. That has been the trend from 2015 to 2023. In the constituency, eight out of every 10 people are non-indigenes, and they tend to support opposition parties.

Do you think the opposition can win any constituency in Lagos in the 2027 elections?

Let everyone go and do their homework. Let’s open up the survey beyond my local government and get the opinions of Lagosians. Then we will see whether the events of 2023 will not be repeated in Lagos State. Very soon, surveys and opinion polls will start emerging, so let everyone do their homework.

What do you think are the chances of the NDC at the state and federal levels in 2027?

It is very promising. Although it is a new party, I can assure you that in my constituency, we are ready to go, and our chances are very high.

Beyond party affiliation, what do you think would motivate your constituents to vote for you in 2027?

As a legislator, our responsibilities are to make laws, perform oversight functions and represent the people. I always tell my constituents that if I have done well, the next election will determine what they call me. Despite being a lone voice in the Assembly, I believe we have provided effective representation. When you go into the constituency, you will see my landmarks. They call me “Talk and Do.” I move freely among the people, and sometimes they do not even know who they are speaking with. I ride Keke Marwa and visit churches simply to get feedback from the people.

If I have not represented them well, they will say so. In a way, I believe I have done my best. This has been a learning curve for me and a foundation I hope to build on. As a first-term lawmaker, you will face challenges. There are things a novice may campaign on, only to discover upon getting here that they are not part of a lawmaker’s responsibilities. But in terms of lawmaking, oversight and representation, I believe I have tried, and I know it can be better.

What is your relationship with the local government executive?

We have a cordial relationship, to the best of my knowledge. You do your job as an executive, and I do mine as a lawmaker. We meet at the town hall and work within our respective roles.

You mentioned effective representation. Could you elaborate on what you mean by that?

Take, for instance, the road rehabilitation in FESTAC Town. Out of the four projects, two are currently ongoing. My constituency also benefited from the Light Up Lagos initiative, apart from the projects I have undertaken personally. The presence of the state government is being felt in the constituency, alongside our regular engagements with the people through town hall meetings. It may not always be elaborate, but we also engage clusters of associations and clubs by attending their meetings. Apart from living in the community, these engagements and conversations help us understand what the people need, whether it is drainage, road repairs, education, healthcare or other concerns.

Our major challenges are electricity and roads, and we are working to address them. I told the people during the campaign that electricity and road construction were low-hanging fruits. It is not about blowing my trumpet, but I believe we have achieved more than 65 per cent coverage with solar lighting across FESTAC Town, Mile 2 and Abule Ado. There is hardly any corner we have not touched, including the inner streets. We know we can do more, which is why we are asking the people for a second term. We have also replaced stolen manhole covers, particularly in FESTAC Town. Many of the manholes we replaced had been there since 1977.

We have trained youths and undertaken other initiatives that are not necessarily part of our core legislative mandate. Given the expectations placed on politicians, we have taken on some of these responsibilities. We provide ICT training for youths, award scholarships to children and carry out various other interventions.

Part of the learning curve for me has been the importance of documenting these achievements, because the people constantly ask what we have done. When it comes to the motions we have sponsored and the laws we have enacted, I am also documenting everything.

There have been reports of opposition candidates being threatened and harassed. Have you experienced anything similar?

Of course. They damaged my posters on 203 Road, 402 Road, 7th Avenue and Mile 2, and I am currently replacing them. People also send me pictures of some of the damaged posters. They go around defacing our posters, and we experienced the same thing during the last dispensation, but we will not give up.

For instance, they even destroyed our banners that were installed under the tree where there were thorns. I installed solar streetlights with our own resources, yet we still face intimidation and harassment, and our vehicles are sometimes damaged.

What should your constituents expect if you are given another opportunity to serve?

They should expect more laws that will benefit them, better representation, and a commitment to ensuring that Amuwo-Odofin is not left out in the scheme of things. Through effective oversight, my constituents will also benefit from improved government programmes and services. There will also be stronger partnerships with the government, fellow lawmakers and corporate organisations to attract tangible and meaningful development to the constituency—development that the people can see and feel.

As Chairperson of the House Committee on Wealth Creation and Employment, to what extent have you used the opportunity to empower your constituents?

What we do is help people acquire skills and scale up their businesses, especially graduates. The focus is on training them to become employable rather than teaching traditional skills such as sewing or hairdressing. Our activities are carried out in partnership with the local governments. For instance, a programme is currently ongoing in Agege. We also partner with individual stakeholders who provide facilities where people can be trained and groomed in various skills. The agency then supports them with loans at single-digit interest rates.

The programme has been implemented across several local governments that have provided the opportunity, including my own local government. To qualify for the loans, your business must be registered, you must have a separate business account, and the business must have been operating for at least six months.

The ministry was given the mandate to establish a job centre in each local government, but we have not been able to achieve that fully. Instead, we have taken the programme to the five zones of the state. In Ikorodu, for example, the agency partnered with a company on studio culture, training people in areas such as disc jockeying and music. As far as my constituents are concerned, many eligible people have benefited from these programmes. So far, more than 200 of my constituents have benefited.

Given what happened in 2023, do you think opposition parties should unite ahead of the 2027 elections?

The Nigerian Constitution allows a multiparty system, so it is up to us to decide whether to merge if we are genuinely ready for change. The APC itself merged with other parties in 2014 before taking over at the centre in 2015.

Our Constitution allows for diverse political parties, just as the United States operates a multiparty system, although the Republican and Democratic parties are the two dominant parties there. So, when we are ready for such a move, we will get there. But for now, we are not ready.

Do you think the opposition can defeat the APC in the 2027 elections at both the state and federal levels?

Well, they are the ones in power. As I said, when Nigerians are ready, they will do the needful. But for now, they are not ready.

The issue of state police has been around for some time. Do you think Nigeria is ready for it?

While I welcome the idea of state police, there are some grey areas that need to be addressed because, once implemented, we may realise that we are not fully prepared for it. Even during ordinary political campaigns, we see how those in power can oppress their opponents. How much more when states have their own police forces? We could have serious problems, even down to traditional leadership contests. Anyone contesting a position against those in power could potentially be targeted. I believe Nigerians are not yet mentally ready for state police, even though we may be emotionally ready for it.

Some people argue that the current Nigerian Constitution, which was enacted under military rule, is responsible for some of the country’s challenges. Do you support the call for a new constitution?

When the foundation is destroyed, what can the righteous do? As I said, we are not ready. The foundation on which we are building is not strong or detailed enough; we are merely patching it up.

If we truly want to practise federalism, then let us do it. Let each region manage its affairs and pay taxes to the Federal Government, as was the case under the 1963 Constitution. If this is done, no region would have to complain about marginalisation.

We have been debating issues such as resource control, state police, revenue-sharing formulas and education because of the constitutional framework we currently operate.

Do you think Nigerians will vote for Mr Peter Obi of the NDC in 2027, given claims that his supporters, the Obidients, are no longer as active as before?

We shall see if Nigerians are ready. The belief that the Obidients are no longer there is only a perception. They also underestimated him in 2023.

What has your experience been as a female politician?

I don’t see much difference; this is the job, and it has nothing to do with gender. However, it is largely about the mindset of Nigerians. I believe that with more women in politics, there would be less violence and politics would become less transactional.

We are talking about young women who may face harassment…

If your children are still young, stay away from politics because they need you.

Alhaji Atiku Abubakar said fuel subsidy would be restored if he becomes president, while Mr Peter Obi has also criticised the manner in which the subsidy was removed….

No, fuel subsidy cannot come back. Nobody in their right senses would say we should return to fuel subsidy. Peter Obi never said the subsidy was bad; he only criticised the way and manner in which it was removed. He spoke about what he would do with the subsidy. What Alhaji Atiku Abubakar said was simply a political statement.