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We will continue to agitate for women empowerment through appointment of more women in government
Composition of standing committees was based on competence
Hon. Nnenna Elendu-Ukeje represents Bende Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives. She is Chair of the standing Committee on Foreign Affairs. In this interview with Chika Onuora, she speaks on the place of women in politics, the development of the legislature as an arm of government in our fledgling democracy and other issues.Â
Excerpts  Â
Que:  How will you rate this present administration’s involvement of women in power?
I will speak from the legislative angle; of course, we have to look at the elections and the results of the elections. In the run-up to the elections, there was a lot of interest by women in the parliament, by women in politics; there was this strive; it seemed as if Nigerians women had suddenly started to realize that the terrain was ready for them to actively participate in politics and so many women indicated interest in running for election higher than probably any other elections in the past and, of course, the result of the elections did not quite reflect the number of women who had indicated interest and, so, for the first time in the country, we actually found a woman who was so passionate and followed her dreams in running for an election for the position of the president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, who went through the entire electoral process;  and,  of course, we saw a very spirited attempt by Senator Aisha Alhassan in Taraba State, though she is still in court I understand, she put up a high-spirited case and I think that is the single nearest we have ever got to in winning an election in the executive arm of government. Now coming to the legislature, it was an abysmal disaster; we went down from 27 which is bad, that is 27 percent to 15 percent now, which is as if we are almost not there.  I will say that the elections as well did not throw up a good number of women with regard to political appointments. I know that there are still so many political appointments out there to be made, though there are a few women (in the minister’s list). For us, it was quite hurtful that 51% of the entire population gets less than 5% as far as the representation is concerned. For us it is very hurtful, but we are hoping that whatever it is that has not been done with regards to female representation that by the time all the appointments have been made that we will have a larger showing for the women folks in government. But let me say that you know while political appointments are desirable that it is electoral positions that reflect a country’s desire to engage women folks in government or governance. And, so, of course, we are still hoping , and we will still continue to say the things that are negative that pervade our political spaces and make sure that women achieve their political dreams; the agitation still goes on; we will continue to knock at that door until we break it down.
Que: Â As a third-time member in the House of Representatives, how would you rate the growth of the legislature?
The legislature, I will say, is the most misunderstood arm of government. For the longest part, it has always been, whether it is autocracy or military dictatorship system of government; we have always had the executive as well as the judiciary. But the legislature is the first one that goes (any time there is a military takeover of government) and so the growth of the legislature is one that is at struggle, and there is a high attrition rate, as well; and you know if you speak to new members they will tell you that the only thing that prepares you for the legislature is your experience of the legislature and so for as long as we have high turnover of legislators coming into the National Assembly, it is an arm of government that is going to be at struggle to grow. But as our democracy gets more and more entrenched, you start to find out that people understand what exactly the roles played are. When we say there is separation of power, the separateness of power, that all the other arms of government adhere to the prescription of the roles of the legislature, we are starting to understand that they actually do need the legislature to thrive in the democratic setting. Now of course the executive arm of government is the one, as the name suggests, that executes the laws and the appropriations of the National Assembly. Of course, the Judiciary would interpret the laws. But I think it is also important for people to also start to realize that in a democratic setting where the key words are rule of law, where the key words are adjudication, where the key words are engagement that we must have a representative democracy where the opinions and the critical mouth of the Nigerian people are brought under one roof in such a way that it will be articulated at the center, so that the centre can have a clear understanding of the needs and aspirations of the people at whose pleasure they serve. Now if we do not have a strong legislature, one can be safe to say that democracy has not worked and so I believe that everybody needs to understand the pivotal role the legislature plays in any democratic setting and do everything within their powers to help to encourage the legislature to grow in such a way that it meets up with the pace of other arms of government in a way that every single voice of a Nigerian is heard at the centre so that the execution of policies and laws reflects the diverse needs of the people who have elected them into government.
Que: Â Would you say women have a place in Nigeria seeing the way this administration is going with the appointment of women?
It is early days yet; we are optimistic. Like I always say, it doesn’t matter whether they give us space or not; the women won’t go away. We are 51% of the national population; we will be here. A lot of informal economy of this country is run by women; the woman who fries akara; the woman who weaves the mat; the woman who plaits the hair, a lot of them and that is what it is. So when people talk about SMEs ( Small Medium Enterprises) the people who drive that part of the economy are women. So, they may decide in an organized streamlined government or governance that women won’t be recognized, we will continue to make all the noise we need to make until they recognize us. But in the event that they do not, we will hold that part of the economy that is ours. Like I always say that even though there won’t be laws or platform created for women, women are not going to go away; everybody must get used to it.
Que:  We notice that there is a gap between the legislature and the executive. How can this gap be addressed tomitigate the seemingly frosty relationship between the two arms of government?
There is no frosty relationship. I am not aware if there is a frosty relationship. I believe like I said, it is a misunderstanding, it is not frosty; it is something that will grow.  People will understand what their roles are; people will engage in the best interest of the country. I believe as time goes by , people will start to understand exactly what their roles are, and the limitations the constitution places on and against the different arms of government and there will be more synergy and there will be a more seamless fusion of the three(3) arms of government. Now, there is a drag where people will disagree in the way and manner things are done. If it is my role to ensure that there is no wastage in a certain arm of government, if it is my role to ensure that the excesses of certain arm of government are checked, if it is my role let us bow to this sub section, but again do we have a frosty relationship, I don’t think so. I see a healthy separation of power in such a way that one does not overshadow the other, so that people start to understand that it is a horizontal relationship , not one talking down on  the other but all of them  holding their hands and working together in the same pace.
Que:  What is your assessment of this present government, APC and the change slogan? What do you think about them?
I keep saying that it is (too) early to assess; it’s just five (5) months. We will continue to watch: when the Ministers are fully in place, when policies are formulated and other things that I am supposed to judge it all with. Once there are Ministers, I need to look at the performance of the Ministers and the policies that will come out: how do those policies affect the lives of the ordinary Nigerian people? How will the policies affect our economy? How do those foreign policies affect security? How will those foreign policies affect our foreign relations? How do those policies affect our health policies?  So, you see, there are no policies that we can benchmark on or judge and I am saying its five (5) months; let the ministers start to drive the policies and then we will be able to say that these policies will retard the growth of the Nigerian people or these policies will help the Nigerian people; and, then we will have a fairer assessment of what it is and the platform where we can judge, where we can decide whether the government is doing well or not.
Que: Some people said that the screening of the ministerial nominees was business as usual. Do you think it is so?
I am not a Senator, but I watched and I think I found out that there were a lot of substances. I actually saw people who had a plan, people who spoke to such portfolios, I actually saw people who had some kind of knowledge of their particular areas… Now I don’t know what business as usual is; I don’t know what has happened in the past; I don’t know what their expectations were. I listened to Amina, for instance. She has obviously clear understanding of what the issues are like; I listened to Ibe Kachukwu. He had a clear understanding of the issues; I listened to Audu Ogbeh. I was absolutely blown away. I listened to Fashola, I mean Fashola was brilliant. I listened to them; they had a clear understanding of the issues in such a way that made them seem as if they have inquired and they have the confidence of Nigerians to drive the different sectors that they would be put in and I am optimistic. For a lot of people, it is easy to tear down the process; it is easy to tear down the system, but I would rather look at building the system; I would rather look at the system and see that there is some level of positivity. You know I won’t want to tear down the system; so, I believe that every country is work in progress and I believe that, yes, we can identify that there is a lacuna that could be attended to. I don’t believe that it was a process that was flawed.
Que: What would you like changed in this 8th assembly, like something that has not been done well in the legislature that you would like to be changed?
I understand what has not been done.  Aminu Waziri Tambuwal in the 7th assembly was making sure that there was no ACN legislators, no ANPP legislators, no PDP legislators, that we are all Nigerian legislators. Unfortunately I found out that in the 8thassembly there is a bit of this division; there is that thing and I am hoping that we get to the place where we put politics aside and realize that Nigerians have absolutely no interest in the platform on which we came to the House, that Nigerians want people who have their best interest at heart, who could drive their policies and speak passionately on things that concern them, people who will come up with some kind of legislative solutions that will solve the problems that beset Nigerians.  We hope that as time goes by, that regardless of party platforms, we will be sharply focused on the collective task of delivering to our people a better Nigeria and a Nigeria of our dreams. I am just hoping that as time goes by, we would be able to bury the division, the polarization of the House along party lines and move on, bearing in mind that the Nigerian people are very expectant, that the Nigerian people went out to vote and they will hold us to account for the mandates they have given to us. That is the one thing that I would like to see changed.
Que: Â We would like to know your take on the composition of the committees of the House?
I think it was based on competence and I believe that there should be continuity in the parliament.
Que:   You just have a way of getting the attention of your colleagues in the House anytime you speak. The other day some of your colleagues were cheering you after speaking; there was a standing ovation afterwards.  Tell us about it?
I think it is just a passion. You know, we were talking about Nigeria. Nigeria is the country I believe in; I love my country. I think that I refuse to be bogged down by the criticisms and the negativity. I just want to propel a beautiful country; I want people to see Nigeria through my eyes; I love my country; I think my country has the greatest potential, the largest black nation on the surface of the earth. If you want to involve black people, it’s in Nigerian; it doesn’t matter where we come from, we are a great nation with so much potential, with so much goodwill, with so much beauty, and you know,  for me on that particular day, it was like something I have always said in different places and I had a platform to say it in a way that I have always felt it. For me, I think it is passion. Years of pent-up emotion, trying to say that this is my country, the land of my birth, I love it and I want everybody to see it through my eyes and I think that was what happened that day. I don’t know what else to say but I know I read in the papers and I see how people constantly compare us to places that I have been to and I don’t know why Nigerians just won’t see the beauty in this country. There is no place that is perfect; you know I made a point on that day: statisticians say to us that we are the worst country to do business with, that we are the worst country to do business in; yet, they say we are the happiest people on the surface of God’s earth and so there is definitely something very special about Nigerian people; and, so, I felt that it is necessary to say it to Nigerians:  let us thank God for putting us here. We are a special people and I just think that we can look into ourselves and see the beauty that resides in us despite where we come from, that the rest of the world will start to look at Nigeria through our eyes. I think that was what happened on that day; I have no other explanation. I love my country. I wouldn’t have come from anywhere else.
Que: Â Do you have a role model that you are looking up to?
You know I have different role models. I think that there is uniqueness in everybody and there is no one person I will like to be in all folds, in every facet. But I will say that with regard to being a strong woman in a male-dominated environment, I will say my mother, Justice Rose Ukeje. She was the first female Chief Judge of the Federal High Court of Nigeria. And I think it was a pretty male-dominated environment; but so long as politics is concerned, the one woman who is a modern day politician, who fights battles as people fight in the political space, I will say Hillary Clinton. She was once Secretary of State; she was a Senator; in her role as a President’s wife, she was a very strong woman. She is very intelligent. I watched her recently before the House committee where she was talking about the attack on Benghazi. She was beautiful; she has the right thought about passion. She has a clearer understanding of the issues; her articulation was flawless and when I grow up, I would like to be like her.
Que: Â One more thing about this gender issue; as a female lawmaker, what have been your challenges in the House?
In fairness, I will say in fairness, we have a target, getting here is where the challenge is. But like everybody, when you get here, you must prove yourself; you have to show your competence; once that happens, your colleagues, our contemporaries will show you respect. The last Speaker, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, was very gender-friendly; he would always create a platform for women and some men were actually complaining that he was doing reverse discrimination, but he made up even though we were only 17% of the House membership, we had 89% of Chairmanship and Deputy Chairmanship positions even in our very small number. So he made sure that we did not lose out in getting there despite our small number…. The only time we got into conflict with our male colleagues was when we were trying to push the gender agenda. But aside from that, I find out that our male colleagues are almost protective of us; sometimes even against their own better judgment, they gave us some kind of platform that they would like to give their male counterpart. So, for me, the challenges are not about being in the house; it is about getting in the House. I will say that the work environment within the House is not discriminatory; I would say that there is an easy camaraderie across sex lines just hoping to deliver to the best interest of our people. We all have problems, same challenges, male or female, once in awhile. Even in everything else, women must work twice as hard to be thought of half as good. So I will say even as a woman I have not found any particular challenges. Yakubu Dogara as well has shown a lot of affinity for the women and I think there is so much continuity between Tambuwal and Dogara. I found out that it is an almost seamless transition for both of them. The good things and the best things of the 7th assembly transcend to the 8thassembly. I am absolutely optimistic that the platform that the women were given in the last assembly is going to be the same thing as the platform the women will be given in this present assembly. I am hopeful, very optimistic, and hopefully optimistic.
Que: Â What advice do you have for the younger generations who are looking up to you and for younger women who would want to go into politics?
I will tell you: don’t close your ears; don’t believe everything you hear about politics; it’s not as dirty as they say; it’s not as dangerous as they say. Have a passion, build on your passion, have a plan and be honest. I find people still wanting to look into a person’s eyes and have the person draw them into truth. You know people are attracted to the truth and that’s what politics is all about. I think that playing active politics most importantly is feeling people’s pulse that you want them to vote for you. Be as compassionate as possible; put yourself in their shoes; think of them and don’t forget to pray. I believe that any dream, without God’s blessings, is dead. So just make sure that whatever it takes, just be compassionate and be truthful more than anything else. Once that plan comes into your head, tie it in a little bundle at the feet of God and you will be shocked at how far He will take you.
