‘Imbalance between the home front, politics generate conflicts’
Can you briefly tell us about yourself?I am from Plateau state but married to Alhaji Aondona Musa Sugh who is from Benue state . So I also see myself as someone from Benue state. You know unlike men, women have dual citizenship. Their place of birth and place of marriage. Men don’t have that opportunity. […]
Can you briefly tell us about yourself?
I am from Plateau state but married to Alhaji Aondona Musa Sugh who is from Benue state . So I also see myself as someone from Benue state. You know unlike men, women have dual citizenship. Their place of birth and place of marriage. Men don’t have that opportunity. I have been married for 33 years and have seven children.
I was born and bred in the barracks and went to a missionary school, St louis College, Jos for my O level. I went to Borno Shool of Basic studies and then proceeded to the University of Maiduguri where I bagged a B.Sc in Sociology and Anthropology. I had a brief stint in banking at the Union Bank PLC before going for my degree. I joined Plateau Radio Television after my National Youth Service as the head of corporate affairs and from there moved on to Benue Cement Company PLC, Gboko. I was there up till the privatization exercise when I left for full time politics.
At the time the chairmanship position was zoned to my husband’s council ward in Ushongo Local Government of Benue State , I contested for the position under the platform of the People Democratic Party (PDP). That is one special thing about women because you can contest in both your state and husband’s state. I did well but at the primaries there were some politicking and I was schemed out. That hasn’t dented my ambition. I am still loyal to my party and still giving support to credible candidates I believe can offer something to the populace.
Did you get enough support from the political structure in your husband’s state during the election?
I got a lot of support. Of course there were people who said she is not from our state , but it was just about one percent of the people that had such sentiment. Over all if you have been married in a place for over three decades you are known and there is an overall acceptance and support.
Was there any discrimination based on gender?
Yes , though not glaringly. Even in our national politics, men feel that it is their world as such the few women who come out often get discriminated. But ironically as a woman when you come out to participate in politics, it is the men who will support you and get you where you want to go. Not the women most of the time.
It is the men you have to make consultation with. But that feeling that politics is a game of men is still there. I am presently writing a book called “women in politics, how dare?” Women in the African society have been relegated to the background for a long time .
Some trace it back to creation with rules that women cannot do so and so. Women should not be afraid to come out because of the discrimination because they will surely make their mark. When Maryam Babangida came with her Better Life Programme it was greeted with some confusion and controversy from the men but we can see the enormous impact it has made on the life of women today. It has brought women to limelight.
The government of the day at the national level today is doing a lot for women. And the state where I am come from, Benue state , The First Lady, Architect Yemisi Suswam is doing a lot to mobilize women and encourage them to participate in governance, with the support of her husband, Governor Gabriel Suswam.
She has thrown her weight to ensure that women get 35 percent affirmative action in both elective and appointive positions.
What is your take on women’s participation in politics, some women still see their roles as clapping and dancing for men at rallies?
I encourage women to engage in politics. Women are more honest , matured and capable of solving problems. The few women that have been given positions and proved themselves, have also helped the women cause.
I got support from a lot of women during the time I contested. I also got support from men who have gotten to understand that women don’t deceive easily.
I belong to an association in Benue state called Active Women in Politics and we encourage women to come and contest right from the position of councilors at the ward levels, contest for house of assembly, governorship and other positions at the national level. We have seen Sarah Jubril contest for president under the PDP with Atiku and President Jonathan in the primaries.
With 2015 around the corner, how do you think the number of women in politics can be increased?
I thank God that more women are aware now. With sensitization from women groups, women are knowing that it is no longer an all men thing and are coming out to participate. Parties giving free forms to women is also an encouragement because most times your require a lot of money to campaign in politics and some of these women don’t even have money, except someone is there to support or bankroll your election.
The financial support mostly comes from the men. If a woman is coming out to contest, it is either the support comes from her husband or some other person somewhere meaning the women cannot do without the men and so you have to get their support.
Some people belief that women politicians often neglect their home?
Those are stereotypes. Women are good managers and have been good home mangers from creation You often see where a husband and wife both have difficult jobs but when they return home, the woman still pulls off her clothes and goes to the kitchen to prepare meals. Both of them are tired but the woman still takes care of the home and the children.
Politics is therefore no handicap for any woman. All you need is get the support of your husband. So you can be a woman politician and still be a good home maker.
What are your tips in combining home making and politics?
I don’t believe a woman should go into politics without putting things in order. There should be routine and that routine must accommodate everything. Like when I was running for the chairmanship election I put my house in order.
I tell my husband wherever I go and he supports me. Infact he went places with me. The home front is equally important. If you have a rally for instance at 2pm before that time you take care of everything in the home. If you are not careful it will bring conflicts within the home.
If your neglect one part you are going to suffer, so you must set the home in such a way that nothing is seen as suffering.
Secondly you are not going into politics to compare yourself with the men. I surprise people when I say I don’t believe in women liberation. Nature has placed us where we are. We have a supporting role so it is not to overrule the men but to get their support. It is women that are in charge and are already in charge so what are your liberating yourself from? Wherever the man goes, you are the one managing him and the home.
You don’t go into politics and just go out without the man knowing what you are doing. You must involve him, ensure the children are well cared for and things are done properly.
More so, women should know it is performance that people want. It is what you bring out that will help you.
There is still this stereotype that women in politics are wayward.
It is a stereotype by the men to get women down. It is a very wrong perception to think that women in politics are wayward. There was a time in this country that most men don’t allow their wives to work for fear of their being wayward. Some even stopped their wives from going to school. If a woman is wayward it is not only when she is gets into politics , wherever you keep her she will be wayward.
If you are a married women in politics try to comport yourself properly and with self respect. Even when you are going for night meetings your husband should be aware. We have very decent women in governance who only want the development of their country.
How do you think women can help in the insecurity?
Maybe if women are manning those places where there is insecurity a lot would have changed. Women should give their children proper training, teach them wrong from rights and also pray. Women should also be given opportunity to dialogue with the perpetrators.