News: My father is a disciplinarian- Folashade Tinubu-Ojo

Mrs. Folashade Tinubu-Ojo is the Iyaloja General and daughter of the National Leader of the All Progressives Congress and ex governor of Lagos state, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu. In a recent interview, she talks about her father and her office. See excerpts:

What kind of a man is your father, Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu?
My father is a disciplinarian. That is why it is not right for people to keep saying, ‘Tinubu’s daughter did this, Tinubu’s daughter did that.’ I have a name and an office. My father is a politician and what he does as a politician is different from what I do as a market leader. I am not his only child and none of us can go out of his or her way to step on people’s toes because of who our father is. He will never take such from any of his children.

Can you recall anytime he punished you for wrongdoing?
It happened many times when I was growing up. I wonder how a child can escape the discipline of his parents. It is not possible. It is necessary to put a child right in order for him or her to become responsible.

How do you feel being a daughter to Tinubu?
I feel really great and I thank God for giving me such a father.

What values did you imbibe from your father?
My father has many endearing values which I have imbibed. He is disciplined. He loves openness. He is an honest man. Besides, he has an unbiased judgment regarding issues. All these I have learnt from him and I continue to exhibit them in the course of my dealings and interactions with people regardless of sex, age, status and religion.

How has your father’s name opened doors for you?
Before I became Iyaloja General, if I have been using my father’s name to seek favours, you would have known me one way or the other. I don’t live under the shadow of my father. I thank God for everything He has done for me. I thank God that he is my father.  He is my biological father. But it is not that I do things because of who my father is.

Are you saying you don’t enjoy some privileges because of your father?
(Laughs) That is not what I am saying. I don’t know what you are trying to say. I think it is your personal observation which I think you are entitled to.
Considering his busy nature, does he find time to see you to advise or discuss with you?
My father finds time for me each time he wants to see me. We talk on phone if we cannot meet physically because of his schedule. He makes sure we discuss if I cannot see him in person.

How often does he do that?
We are both busy and as you know, he is a politician. But that doesn’t stop him from making time to see me. I cannot say how often he calls or meets with me. But I know that my father keeps in touch with me. We communicate well and often. I hope that answers your question.

What are the challenges you face as the new Iyaloja General?
I don’t think there is much challenge I encounter as the Iyaloja General. The only challenge was the issue connected with the Iponri market. What happened was that the traders refused to pay their levies and the trading environment was very dirty. There was a misunderstanding among them. As a rule, we do not go to any market to enforce any law except we notice that there is a disturbing issue between the traders and residents in the market neighbourhood. Such was the case in Iponri market. We penalised some members of the association because we felt there should be decorum in the market. We also moved to ensure peace among all the parties concerned. I was surprised when I heard later that I requested for N10m from the Iponri market traders. It is not only in a market setting that one can sanction people in a bid to ensure sanity. It occurs in any organisation or social gathering that values civility. Anybody who misbehaves in such a group may be sanctioned or fined. To be honest, it is the Iponri market issue that I think was challenging for me because I have always been a private person until I assumed the office. The Iponri issue was made political.

What is the implication for the association?
Decisions taken would be without our contribution, thus we will not accept them. Those there cannot speak for us. They cannot speak our mind and cannot stand for us. It means it is only for those in Abuja.