•Maryam Pix: Sun News Publishing

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Sixteen-year-old Miss Busari Maryam, a student of Lagos State Civil Service Senior Model College, Igbogbo, Ikorodu, is savouring her new status as the one-day governor of Lagos State 2007.Maryam told Daily Sun how she emerged the one-day governor, administered the state for one day and tasted power, tour of the state, her ambition to read Law and become Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN).

Preparation for the competition
I got to know about the competition when I was in primary five about entering JSS 1, I watched Ebuka Anisiebo, the first one-day governor on television and I was wondering how a child like this would be allowed to rule Lagos State. I was carried away by the glamour and I made a vow that if I had an opportunity to go for such competition, I would win and become the one-day governor and make my parents proud. When I was in SSS II, I heard about the competition.

A girl represented my school and she came second, then I was more determined. I saw how she prepared for the competition and I made a vow that I have to work hard. I started preparing in 2006 for the 2007 competition. I read my dictionary constantly. I had various practices of words in every English text book. I took note of every word I saw, from novels to English text books. I read all sorts of things just to prepare myself for the competition. I got my friends to help me out.

So, when the competition came, I knew everything I needed to know about the competition, I knew there’s always this fear which I prayed about, I fasted and prayed to God to remove every spirit of fear and give me the boldness I required and retentive memory to remember everything I have rehearsed. Eventually, when the competition came, I wasn’t frightened at all. I was calm because I had prepared myself well. When I started spelling my words, I was at ease.

I believed in myself because I had already given myself that self-confidence that I’m going for this. I saw the trophy and N250,000; I said, God, I must take this to my house. This must be mine. I was determined that this must be mine so, there was no fear in me, I was just focused. Before I knew it, we were five, then three, two, I then emerged winner.

I was overwhelmed. I was so excited, I was really grateful to God because without God, I wouldn’t have done it. For my school, they were so proud of me.

Mr.Oyeleke was very proud of me, everybody was happy, my principal was very happy. My parents were the happiest parents on earth.

I was really popular at school and home. Everybody wanted to take another look at me immediately they saw me. Everybody wanted to know what would become of me, people wanted to know everything about me.

Administration of Lagos
I had a shorter day, mine wasn’t really a full day. But from what I gained from that day, I tasted power and I knew what it was to be in power. I knew uneasy lies the head that wears the crown. It’s not easy to rule a state like Lagos. I was able to recognize the achievements of the then governor, how he was able to achieve them, what makes the state different from other states. It’s a very remarkable thing. I visited various offices, and they told me their achievements and I commended them for a job well done. I encouraged all of them to keep up the good work and make Lagos a Centre of Excellence, like we are trying to depict.

Cash prize
My cash prize was split into two, it was supposed to be N250,000. One went into a savings account, the other was cash which I could do anything with it. I invested into something, I bought shares with it, and I saved the rest into my account. I gave my teacher something and I bought something for the school.

Going into politics?
I hope to go into politics in future. I wish to be part of what happens in the state. I want to participate in the affairs of the state. I’ve tasted power for one day, I liked the experience, I want to help out in Lagos and in any other position I find myself.

Life ambition
I hope to study Law at the university, because I like to defend the rights of the people. I hate people being cheated. I want to help to take Nigerian law to greater heights and aspire to be a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN).