DAD USED TO STOP ME FROM PLAYING TEN-TEN - Denrele Ogunsanya

Remember late Pa Adeniran Ogunsanya of the defunct Nigeria's Peoples' Party (NPP)? Denrele, the little girl he used to 'disturb' from playing 'ten-ten' is today Secretary to Lagos State Government (SSG). She takes us down memory lane.

How do you find your job as Secretary to Lagos State Government (SSG)?

I enjoy my job, because I have learnt a lot from this particular job. It's a privilege to be in the cabinet of Babatunde Fashola. It has been exciting for me, although everything has its own challenges; I think we are tackling the challenges as they come.

What would you describe as the pains and gains of being the SSG?

I am not so sure there are pains, but there are gains, and I have gained and learnt a lot from the governor. I think, without repeating myself, it's an absolute delight to sit down and believe that in reality I am involved in his administration. I was brought up in a home where my late father was involved in politics and public service all his life; you know it's a terrain I am used to. But, to be honest with you, and I have said it several times that regardless of what anybody might say, the cabinet has been good and we have enjoyed good relationship. I think that is one thing I can hold on to when I leave office. The pains are the long hours, and it's not really from my people. Everything has its down side and up side.

How have you been able to tackle some of the little challenges that come with your job?

You see, Lagos State is cool; we have the best administration and brotherhood in the federation. There are no dissatisfaction. We have very good professionals that work in the government, and I keep repeating that it's an opportunity to find oneself in this kind of administration.

How did you find yourself in politics?
I was born into politics, and I have been in politics most of my life. My dad was in the First Republic, he was a minister in the Tafawa Balewa administration, my dad was always like an activist.

When you were very young, did you ever see yourself coming into politics professionally?

I think I did in a way, because my dad made me to love politics and I keep repeating this every time I am answering questions like this. I remember when I was growing up, I don't know if you understand what they call (Ten-Ten) that young ladies used as a form of pleasure when we were young, while doing Ten-Ten with other your girls he would call me to come join one meeting or the other and I would just be like, 'what's wrong with this man, don't disturb my fun joo,' and now it has paid off. I started very early.

At what point did you decide to join the government?

Maybe in 1979 when my dad contested against Jakande for governorship. I was really happy, I had always been as my dad tried to blend me and made sure I fit into the terrain He even sent me to public school, because I left a private school on the Mainland and went to public school on the Island, it used to be called Girls Seminary, where you had people from prominent families in Lagos - Kosoko, Shingo, Moore - and a lot of people have gone there. It was a good school and I had a good time, it's still there today. Then, they used to pick us up from school and drop us off, but I always wanted to be like every body else. So, I think it's something that's always very interesting.

With your deep knowledge of politics, what are the things you think we are not doing right and which is affecting effective delivery of services now?

I think we need to refocus and realise that politics is about public service and not service to oneself. Of course, you will have gains to yourself, but that should come along, it shouldn't be about me, me, me.

What are some of the things you would say you enjoyed most working with Babatunde Raji Fashola?

I enjoyed working with him in terms of ideas and so many other things I had thought impossible I have seen them materialise. Look at Oshodi, many other governments had tried to clear it in the past, and it just happened like that under Fashola, and so many other projects like that. So, I think it's the grace of God, and being level-headed.

If you were not in politics, what would you have been doing?

I would probably be writing, and maybe socially working with people. It would be a privilege to work with people, because it gives me more joy when I see myself working with people around me, most especially the children. I had once worked with people in Shell before it later became Conoil. So, I have been doing many private works. I will do my own things, but I would still do something that would make people see me around and understand my kind heart for people. And I like working with children. I might not be able to bear with adults that long, but with the children, I will.

With your very busy schedule, how do you unwind and ease stress?

You know I am not a young chic (laughs), I relax when I have to. I discovered that when I am relaxing I'm still working, so it's the nature of the job and the nature of politics and I think I like it. I like listening to music, watching movies and reading comic books and documentaries.

What kind of music do you like?
I like all kinds of music, from TuFace, to Pasuma, D'Banj, Lagbaja, and lots of them. When I see my children and others dancing to music and I say this is good music, they would say 'mummy, go for it'.

Do you have any regrets delving into politics?
No, never! Politics is like a second nature to me. You know I grew up in Ikorodu as a child, and then my dad was a young lawyer. The first time one of my cousins carried me on his arm one old man said this one is going to be somebody very popular and important in town, or a politician. So, I think my dad influenced me a lot. I want to see Babatunde Fashola come back again. He has done well, and we know he can still do better. So, it's important that we give him another chance so that investors can come, and when investors come it would help improve the development of the land and promote the administration of the ruling government.

What's your view on women not being allowed to participate fully in politics in this part of the world?

I was a bit upset. Even before you came in I was upset discussing with my sister sitting here. I would have wanted women to show more interest and see if they would get more support or not. But they were too busy, and I think there is something wrong somewhere. Sarah Jubril is an accomplished politician; she probably would do better than most of the men. I cannot believe she is not there, she is very hardworking and we need to go back to the drawing table.

We are just not thinking straight. On the whole women have played a good role in politics, the likes of Margaret Ekpo, Ransome-Kuti, they all played a good role, even the Aba women during the Aba riot. We are the most reliable; because anything we do we do it right. And we also excel at every level, either in communication, banking and the oil and gas industry. So, I don't think we should be marginalised.

Lagos is different; we have a woman deputy governor, SSG, and a few women in the House of Assembly and would like to see more. But when you come to the civil service you find very brilliant women being given opportunity at all times. So, we need to do more, even the deputy speaker is a woman. I see that we have not done well, and the men enjoy that we can't do better than them, but it might not be so at all time. I know many women are making efforts, and we also advise President Goodluck Jonathan's wife to do more in this area.

You said earlier that you love the company of children; do you have in mind a project that has to do with children?

I do quite well with children. I have children I am raising and I really enjoy being with them. They are just natural and genuine. They say things naturally and they are not like adults.

What does fashion mean to you?
Fashion, for me, is more than looking nice. It's about being comfortable. You can wear a N3,000 dress and look better than another person wearing a N100,000 dress. So, it's about what gives you comfort and convenience. So, I like being comfortable in my wears and I don't like over-dressing and elegance.

What's your most cherished fashion accessory?
What I like best? Maybe bag. I like designer bags, but it changes. I used to like Gucci, Fendi, Doir, Channel, and many others they don't make any more.

Who makes your clothes?
Funny enough I don't have a special designer; I have a sister that makes my clothes for me, and it always looks great on me.

What determines what you wear to events?
When I get an invitation, the atmosphere and mood of the day will determine what I wear to the event. Sometimes you just feel like, let me blow their mind, and sometimes I just dress simple and chic (laughs).

Let's talk more about your growing up days?
I have never been a silver spoon. So, I wasn't an ajebutter. I remember I used to go to the stream to fetch water, even though my grandmother never wanted me to do so, but I grew up in a home where people sent the housemaid here and there. We were used to doing some house chores and my dad was very nice and down-to-earth.

What did you miss about your dad?
His kind words; and I also miss his jokes that would always make us laugh. He actually brought me up, and I missed sitting down with him and with a very understanding family, though we used to fight, but we always resolved everything later.

Did you use to party then?
Yes, I used to go to parties, but we have rules in the house. If you have a party, you have to have a proper invitation and must announce it at home for everyone to be aware of, else you might not be able to attend the party. So, it was fun, we could go out at night and during the day. I remember the day we came down from the car on Carter Bridge and started dancing to music from the car at night. It was fun.

What childhood memories do you still carry with you?

I carry with me the memory of how all the lawyers in Lagos got together to celebrate the spirit of Christmas and the New Year together. And we also knew each other then and cared about each other. We were much more disciplined.

We opened both front and back doors and only locked them at night. But now, you can't do that. I also remember when I would go with my dad campaigning in a town in Ikorodu, and on the way we would see bananas with stones telling us how much they were, and we would pick the bananas and then drop the money there for them. But now, I am sure you cannot do it anymore.