Hon. Adijat Adeleye Oladapo represented Ifo Constituency in Ogun State House of Assembly two times before losing out in her bid to move to the House of Representatives in the last elections. Her role as the only female member of G-15 when a crisis rocked the House during Otunba Gbenga Daniel’s tenure as governor made her popular. She fielded questions from DGossip247 and in the process, a number of interesting issues on her grass to grace story, political career and more came to the fore
You were into something before politics. Please let us into that area of your life.
Maybe I didn’t really have much before going into politics. I got into politics very early. I was very young when I joined what could be called mainstream politics. For record purposes, I am Motunrayo Hadijat, the daughter of Adeleye, the wife of Oladapo because I use a compound name, Adeleye- Oladapo.
I was born almost 40 years ago; I had my primary school education at Methodist Primary School, then moved to Lagos Baptist Secondary School, to Iju Grammar school. After that, I was on my own because at a point, I had to leave home and fend for myself.
So, I was on the streets fending for myself and making something out of my life. I am the type who loves education, but maybe I should just mention this; while I was in secondary school, I got pregnant and eventually had a child. You know when you are pregnant while in school, you have to drop out of school.
I had the child in 1991 when I was in SSS1. I eventually went back to school but it was not easy going to school and taking care of a child.
Unfortunately, the child died at one and half years. When such mistakes happen, some people don’t ever get out of it but for me, I made up my mind that I needed to forge ahead and make something of my life.
That was when I left home and glory be to God, I made something out of my life. I worked in a few places. I was once a receptionist, a daily contribution collector in Mile 12. I was still working as a daily contributor collector when I met my husband whom I eventually married.
Before then, I went back to school -University of Lagos. I got a Diploma in Yoruba Linguistics. I was offered an admission earlier, but could not afford it. I got in in 1998.
It was not an easy thing because I could remember I used to trek from Yaba to University of Lagos; but my determination to be someone kept pushing me despite all the hurdles. After that, I enrolled for the Nigeria Institute of Public Relations, but I could not really concentrate. I enrolled with the Business Examinations Council.
I wrote their exams but did not pass. Eventually, I sat for the Institute of Chattered Management Accountants exam and became an associate.
Did you join politics as a way of making ends meet since it’s believed it’s a money spinning thing?
No. I started politics while I was in secondary school. I did not plan to go into politics at that time. I could remember I actually went to represent my father at a political meeting and that was how I got hooked. What they were discussing there was of interest to me because it was what was in my blood so, I joined.
I joined politics when I was still wearing uniform. You know there are many levels in politics. The federal, state and zonal levels. I actually acted as Zonal Secretary, Zonal Treasurer and Ward Women Leader where I was a leader to women who were old enough to be my mother or older than my mother.
I could say I had a mission back then so when they were sharing money, I never got out of it. I would ask them to share it to other people or some people scrambled for it. I contributed my own quota to the party and it paid off eventually. I was given a political appointment. Although it was the smallest position in the council, it was due to my contributions that some people fought for my consideration in my absence.
I was appointed as a consultant to the chairman on Community Development Matters. That was where I cut my teeth. The tenure was supposed to end by 2007 but in 2006 I stood up to contest for a house of assembly seat and people were asking, ‘is she mad?’ Among the aspirants, I had the least financial muscle so no one took me seriously. But I stuck to my aspiration and eventually won at the primaries by a simple majority. Some said I did not have a two-thirds majority, but the party ruled against them and I went ahead to win the election.
Did the confidence you gained on the streets aid your aspiration as there were more qualified people?
Well, one thing I know is that I have this special thing about me but I can’t place my finger on it. Secondly, I know I could be nice to a fault. I must also say my experience when I was pregnant back in school propelled me. I used to keep to myself while I was pregnant.
I hawked bread and garri because my mum was selling foodstuff. I really interacted with people. I remember a scenario when I was still doing daily contribution at our head office. It was time for me to go and collect the money when I saw a guy I had known way back. I felt uneasy because of how the guy might look at me but I picked up courage and went there.
The guy did not greet me as usual so when I got to the office and the guy got up, I discovered something had happened to his legs. I learnt a big lesson that day, that my situation was temporary but his had become permanent and my determination to make it in life was stronger.
What was your disposition towards men after having a child for a man who did not marry you?
(Smiles) For 10 solid years, I bore very strong bitterness towards the man. Yes, I did not get married to him but that was not even it. He denied the pregnancy and I think it happened to about three of us at the same time. I bore a very strong bitterness towards him but 10 years after, I ran into him and it was that day I let go of everything. I now discovered the bitterness I was holding against him was equally holding me down.
What comes to your mind when you remember all you have been through in the past?
Hmm, life is a school and you learn every day. While I was in school, I was brilliant and I was one of the best. That was while I was in primary school and my first secondary school but my concentration was affected when I changed schools after I had a child.
The fact is that when I see some of my classmates, I wonder, should I thank God for what happened to me? And that takes me to the fact that the path of man is already charted by God. I cannot encourage people to get into what I got myself into because it was a mistake. For instance, if I did not get pregnant in school, I don’t think I would have joined politics.
If I hadn’t joined politics, I may not be where I am today. I know of my classmate who came out with a First Class in a higher institution and up till last year, there was no job. I am not making jest here but thanking God. (voice becomes emotionally laden and she gets to the point of tears). It’s only God who knows why he allowed what happened. For ever and ever, I will continue to be grateful to God.
With your ability to fend for yourself and street knowledge, is it difficult for you to be submissive to your husband?
You may be right but it’s the fear of God and your upbringing that will help you. The type of home you are from will determine that. My upbringing has actually helped me a lot. This is not just about women who were already on t h e i r own making it; female political officeholders have the same challenge.
You see some of them separated, divorced and all that. African men have macho ego that I am the head of the home and the woman is going out there to work, especially when you are making more money than your husband, there is a tendency to be proud. It is left for you as a woman who has been brought up properly to know where the boundary should be. I have seen many publications that Hon. Hadija is not married, she’s divorced.
They don’t see my husband so it takes a very understanding man to remain married while the female political office-holder retains the office. But I am pleased to inform you that I am happily married with two great daughters.
What has kept your marriage going?
The success of my marriage is 20 per cent from me and 80 per cent from my husband. An average Nigerian man wants his wife to be at home, prepare the food and the rest. But what of in a situation where she is not at home, and is always on the road? I think where my husband is coming from equa l ly helped m e .
M y h u s – band w a s on his o w n while he was in the U.S. So, he’s used to cooking his meals, doing some things on his own. But I can tell you I married the most liberal and understanding man on planet earth.
Aside the determination you had, were you convinced of success?
Let me tell you that I have always known I would turn out a success. How? I never knew, but the strong will has always been there. I always tell people that politics or no politics, I was going to be a success. I am an optimist but I also have it at the back of my mind that there are times you push and things don’t work out the way you wish. I believe in God so, when I go after something and it does not work out, I take it as God’s plan for me. When I contested for the House, I was not the best, I was the youngest and there were better people but God did it. I was in the House for eight years, I was a local government consultant for two and half years ….I know if I have a downfall now, it’s just temporary. I know where he’s taking me to is a glorious place.
You crossed from PDP to ACN in 2011 and still made it back to the House. But going back to PDP this time to contest did not work. Some believe you overstretched your luck and overrated yourself.
When you do something and it works for you, people call you a genius and when it’s the opposite, they call you a failure. Life is not like that, you don’t win all the time. Well, I had a reason to leave PDP back then and this time, I had a reason to leave ACN. I belong to the ACN of Chief Segun Osoba and we know what transpired between himself and Governor Amosun. I left ACN that was part of APC merger, not because I wanted to leave, but for two reasons. I left because of my loyalty to Chief Osoba.
But you did not go to the SDP with him?
Yes, for a reason. The time SDP was brought up, I knew it couldn’t fly. If we had come up with it earlier, I am sure some PDP people would have come into the party. A lot of people were ready to work with Oga but he knew the best.
I did not want him to feel I went back to the governor because I would have disappointed him more by that. But at the same time, I could not go to SDP because it came too late. It was not a case of overrating one’s self. Let me also say this that every individual who won a seat in the legislative arm did not win because they were the best. They rode on the back of the change mantra.
They rode on the back of the fact that people were fed up with the government of Goodluck Jonathan. And you know Nigerians, they don’t want to know the kind of change they are asking for when they are fed up; all they want is change. And that was what gave some of them the leverage to win the election, not because they were better than those of us who lost elections.
Basically, I lost because God wanted it. If God had wanted me to win, I would have won irrespective of the party under which I contested. Some people contested under APC and they still lost, even in Lagos State where APC is believed to be strong.
Anyway, that is gone now. The future is what is most important now. Now that I am on sabbatical, I have done a selfappraisal; I have lined up things to do. By the time OOU (Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye, Ogun State) commence its Master’s programme, I hope to be there to do my Master’s. There are other parts of Hadija many do not know and they will be revealed gradually.
You were against Governor Gbenga Daniel in the days of G-15. What is your relationship with him now?
If I see him, I will greet him. We met at one of City People’s awards, I greeted him. We both found ourselves back in PDP. Unfortunately, we did not get to see most of the time. We met a few times and I greeted him. What we had then was he as the governor and I representing my people and wanting to take something back to them. It was not personal. Although during the last elections, he did some funny things like trying to remove my name but I believe it was politics. But personally, I will greet him if I see him. He was the governor of a state, he’s a leader so I will give him his due respect.
How stylish would you say you are?
I cannot say that. It’s an outsider that can say that. But for me, style is a total package. It’s not about the dress you put on or the hairstyle you have on. Style involves poise, your carriage, the way you talk, wear your clothes, gesticulate, what you are known for. It’s what describes you.
For me, I like to be simple but cute. I am more comfortable in my jeans and T-shirts because when somebody is driving me and there is traffic, I want to get down and jump on a bike.
That is the kind of person I am. I want to be comfortable and not put myself through stress all in the name of style or glamour. I just want to be presentable and simple and not do the eye pencil thing and all that. But surely, when there is need to be glamorous or something, I surely do so.
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