‘Automatic ticket for women should start from Epe’
Across the federation, the quest for increased women representation through automatic ticket is gaining momentum. That is why All Progressives Congress (APC) women have also intensified agitation for the extraordinary
Across the federation, the quest for increased women representation through automatic ticket is gaining momentum.
That is why All Progressives Congress (APC) women have also intensified agitation for the extraordinary gender inclusion.
Currently, Lagos State only one woman senator and House of Representatives member on the platform of the ruling party. There are indications that the duo of Senator Oluranti Adebule and Chief Kafilat Ogbara will get return tickets.
There are 24 federal lawmakers in the Lower Chamber from Lagos. Women expect that the wave of agitation for automatic slots for their gender would foster the envisaged inclusion, equity and fairness.
That is the tonic behind the bloc support for the aspiration of Mrs. Olayinka Oladunjoye, who is eyeing the House of Representatives seat in Epe Constituency.
A lawyer, Oladunjoye is a former Commissioner for Education and ex-Vice Chairman of APC( Lagos East). She has also served in various intra-party structures that had ensured growth, development and victory at polls.
In Lagos APC, Oladunjoye is perceived as a woman of honour and integrity who has maintained total fidelity to the cause of the chapter since joining the party.
Her rival at the proposed primary, which may be either consensus or direct option, is 73 year-old Wale Raji, also a loyal party member, who is hugely popular in Ikorodu Division, from Agbowa/Ikosi axis through Ejinrin to Epe and Odoragusin.
But, his predecessor at the Lower Chamber, Lanre Odubote, believes that Raji’s ambition is generating controversy and tension. He urged the federal lawmaker to drop his fourth term bid and endorse any aspirant from Epe North, specifically Agbowa Ikosi Local Council Development Areas (LCDA) comprising of 11 wards as against eight wards from Epe Constituency 1 where Raji comes from.
“The current holder has nothing to prove again, having represented the constituency three times. The seat is not meant for Epe Constituency 1 alone, but for all the wards and communities making up the federal constituency,” Odubote said.
“From what I know and from what I can see, my brother, Hon Wale Raji from Epe Central has represented us three times and I think that to ensure fairness and equity, he should give way and endorse anyone from any community in Epe North, specifically Epe 2 Constituency.
“For me, this is the honourable thing to do in the interest of fairness, equity and justice in the constituency. This is because, it would be the first time someone from Agbowa Ejirin would have the privilege of representing us, a situation that would ensure equity, considering the fact that the incumbent from Epe Central with eight wards has represented us for 12years,” he added.
Odubote said if given the opportunity, Oladunjoye would prove her worth by providing impactful representation at the Green Chambers.
Oladunjoye attended Holy Child College,Lagos(1971- 1975) for her secondary education, and Federal Government College, Odogbolu, for her GCE Advance Level (1976-1978).
She proceeded to University of Lagos {UNILAG}, Akoka, where she earned a B.A History degree with Second Class Upper Division[1981], M.A history between 1982 and 1986 and L.L.B degree with Second Class Upper Division between 1991-1997 from the same institution . She later proceeded to Nigerian Law School, Abuja and was called to bar [1998-1999].
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Oladunjoye started her working career as a Graduate Assistant in 1983 with the department of history, UNILAG. She was also a Classroom Teacher at Gbagada Comprehensive High School, Lagos, between 1983-1985. She joined the Lagos State Ministry of Youths , Sports and Social Development as a Sport Officer / Project Officer in 1987-1990 and has worked in various ministries like Ministry of Finance 1990-1995 as a Research Officer and Lagos State Public Works Department as Senior Administrative Officer in 1995 before leaving for the private sector, where she rose to the level of a CEO/Executive Director of an Insurance firm until her appointment as Commissioner by former Governor Babatunde Fashola.
Oladunjoye is an Associate, Chartered Insurance Institute of London(ACCI London), 1994; Chartered Insurer, Chartered Insurance Institute ofLondon[ACCIILondon] 1996. Associate,Chartered Insurance Institute of Nigeria(CIIN) 1997; member, Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) 1999 and Associate, Nigerian Council of Registered Insurance Brokers (ACIB) 2004. She has also won distinguished awards such as University of Lagos Scholarship and Bursary award [1982] and award of excellence by the Lagos State Government (1995).
