Why I went back to school – Mrs Suswam

What have you been doing since leaving Benue Government House over a year ago? For 16 years, we were in active politics, serving day and night with all our hearts, talking to people and moving from one place to the other. After all those years, one year without those activities was a big relief. It […]

What have you been doing since leaving Benue Government House over a year ago?
For 16 years, we were in active politics, serving day and night with all our hearts, talking to people and moving from one place to the other. After all those years, one year without those activities was a big relief. It had been a pleasant moment for us (my husband and I) to look at each other again and all the sacrifices we have made. We now do things we couldn’t do privately with immediate family members or close friends. Thank God that the people understand that we were not so far from them but for the exigency of the office. Then, also the personal things we had left like our profession, I had left my profession during that period but now I have dusted my books and returned to my career path. I was very happy to do so and I now have a lot of time on my hands for my household chores which I tried to do in the past but couldn’t. Now, it is a lighter load and no pressing moment such as one having to sleep at 3:00am and jumping up at 6:00am to catch up with a village or local government activity. So, it’s been wonderful and a privilege. We didn’t take it lightly. We gave it our best shot. Now that we have been relieved of those responsibilities, it makes life easier.

How are you coping with the latest trend and stress in your profession after leaving for long?
It wasn’t a total departure, in the last eight years I still did little designs. In my leisure time, I found myself sketching and doing little designs which I further developed. In those years, I attended two or three seminars and conferences about the profession. It’s just that it wasn’t a full time thing but I did keep abreast of my profession. So catching with trends wasn’t so difficult because once you are a professional, you remain one. It’s like a professional driver who, though does not drive for three years, picks driving again as soon as he gets on the steering. The foundation is already there and solid but still requires a boost. Moreover, I’m working on a lot of seminar papers and my projects at the University of Jos. So, I’m still within the scope of the profession. There is no limit to knowledge, so, I’m still exploiting other avenues and, thank God, for the internet which helps one to catch up on lots of things.

How would you rate your relationship with your husband now that he is more accessible to you?
 The experience at home has been more of bonding. We have more time for each other, for family interest, children and domestic activities. It’s been more rewarding. So, all the years we probably lost while he was in office, we’ve been able to catch up on them. We see him more at home now than when he was in public office. And then, we have less pressure, there are no longer executive meetings, apart from party caucus meetings, here and there, as they try to rebrand the party(PDP). So it’s been a welcome development. It’s very healthy for us.
 
Would you support your husband for another public office if he is asked to serve again?
 I cannot answer this question now as everything is time bound. My answer now might be different from when such opportunity presents itself. So I can’t say yes or no. However, there were sacrifices we made while in the public glare. We sacrificed family time and we are recovering it. In the past, my husband had public speeches written for him and he tried to go through it before presentation. But now, he drafts everything by himself. Whatever he writes now comes directly from his heart, which is part of the changes we are experiencing. For me, as a wife, I’m happy to see him have his own private time because personal times are very crucial in the lives of individuals. In the past, he barely had a single moment to himself, but now he has the time to ponder and make his own decisions. I see him at his private study now doing his work. He has time now to do his farming, which he never had in the past. We are grateful to God!