DAME Blessing Okwuchi Nwagba ventured into politics because she felt then that female politicians were not doing enough to justify their presence in the nation’s political landscape. Since then and as a member of the House of Assembly in Abia State, she has been giving her all to ensure that her people are feeling her impact.
Having spent three and half years in office, Blessing, who represents Aba North Constituency, which comprises nine wards, is not resting on her oars. And though her first tenure ends in a few months time, she is hopeful to get re-elected. “I consider it best for me to come back in office and by the grace of God, I will be back,” she assures.
For a woman that got into politics 23 years ago, the determination and vision to succeed still remains clear, even as she was not deterred by the many challenges she encountered during her sojourn in politics. “I went into politics in 1991. By then, I already had my Masters’ degree and was pregnant with my last child,” she recalls. “At that time, I was running my private business. But it struck me one day that most women who were in politics then were just there clapping for the men. They weren’t making much contribution and I felt a woman should go into politics with courage and vision. Not only that, I believe that only responsible women should go there,” she says.
She had pleaded with her husband to allow her go into politics. Initially, he had refused, but after much pressure from his politician friends, he had no choice than to let her follow her heart’s desire. “So, we rallied round and I was able to pick the form.
With the support of my family and those that knew my personality, I was able to go ahead. Then there were nine wards in my constituency and I won in seven of them. I was among five contestants for the slot in 1998,” she says.
Unfortunately for her, she wasn’t sworn in because of the then Head of state, Gen. Sani Abacha’s death.
This was, however, not enough to dampen her spirit, as she believed strongly that providence has something in store for her in that area.
“In 2003, I contested for House of Representatives and won, but then when you oppose the government, anything can happen, and so I lost. In 2006, I tried again but didn’t get the ticket not until now, which I believe is the Lord’s own appointed time. All the while, I didn’t feel the need to retreat from a cause I believed in,” she says.
On her achievements in office, she explains: “A legislator has three functions, which are the making of laws, exercising oversight function and representing your people by being their
spokesperson, since they have given you the mandate to speak on their behalf. But then, outside these, there is another function called, the ‘stomach infrastructure’, which is a broad based term. This means there are other things outside of your constitutional responsibility you must do for your constituency to gain acceptability and to be seen to have been doing well. These include empowering people and bettering their lives to enable them earn their living.
“This could be by way of providing tricycles, making some head of committees such as market committees. It could also be by giving employment because there are those who are not employable, because they didn’t go to school or by attending to their economic or domestic needs. And so, if I have been able to do all these, including my constitutional duties, I think I have done well,” she says.
As soon as she assumed office in 2011, she says she visited over 30 churches in her constituency just to say ‘thank you’ for believing in her vision and mandate.
“They were surprised to see me returning this way because they saw politicians as people that don’t fulfill their promises. And it didn’t matter what I gave to them, coming back with my team to worship with them really gladdened their hearts and many of them still want to see us come back again.
“I have been able to provide a bus for my church, as well as sewing machines, grinders for the women and food stuffs among others to show my appreciation. I have also made my governor, Theodore Orji, to attend to the needs of my constituency. For instance, we had bad roads in and around Ariaria Market, when I assumed office, but now they have been fixed. Even the roads that lead to Abia State polytechnic, which had potholes and used to cause accidents, have also been fixed by the state government. And so, as a legislator, I have made efforts to minister to the needs of my constituency.” She describes Abia State government as gender friendly. “The government started out with one woman in the House of Assembly, but later there
were two women. In 2011, we had three and recently, we lost one of our members and his wife replaced him. So, we have four women and like Oliver twist, we won’t stop asking for more. Our governor has done well and his wife has been very supportive of women coming into politics,” she says.
On the constraints being faced by women in politics, she is of the view that for a woman to go into politics, she must have something that motivates her; so that each time she feels like something is pulling her back, that reason becomes her inspiration.
“If you don’t have that conviction, there is an array of daunting reasons a woman wouldn’t even go a quarter of the journey. First, there is gender and cultural bias. ‘Oh, how would she just abandon her children to start attending political meetings?’ ‘How would her husband allow her to go for meetings with the men at night?’ ‘Won’t she become more exposed than her husband? But once a woman has her eyes on the goal, does the right thing, as well as undertake her responsibility to herself, husband and family, the world can go ahead to say what it likes,” she says.
While lamenting the level of marginalisation Nigerian women are facing, she notes that cultural bias in the country does not permit women to engage in so many things, which education and modernisation are changing.
“Our culture is making women see through the eyes, breathe through the nose, eat through the mouth and do everything through the organs of their husbands, while ignoring the fact that women also have their own. It is wrong and unfair. I think women should be given some space and liberty to express themselves and live the way they want. It is unfair to cage us and expect us to see through the men. Consider that when we were in school, there was nothing a man would do that a woman couldn’t; members of both genders came in the first or last position in class. “I feel politics should be about the individual’s ability to organise political situations around you, make one’s input to policy making, as well as make contributions that will impact positively on the society. Personally, I believe women are even more disposed naturally to do that than their male counterparts. There is this God-given power and strength that enables women manage things naturally.
“For instance, there are such Nigerian women as Okonjo Iweala and Diezani Allison-Madueke among other, women who have impacted positively on the society. I am particularly impressed and proud that they are women. Could the men have performed any better? So, they should stop cowing us. I tell the girls in my house to climb up and fix the bulbs and not wait for the man. Women should stop seeing themselves as substandard,” she says.
She also lists the issue of finance, as one of the major challenges being faced by women. She is of the view, however, that this shouldn’t stop any woman desiring to go into politics from doing so. “I didn’t have all the money, but my determination to succeed helped me and so, I am encouraging other women not to get deterred by lack of finance, as help would come if you are determined to succeed. Frankly, it requires money but you need to start first,” she advises.
On the readiness of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) towards the 2015 general elections, she says the body has done relatively well in recent times “They have become more organised and I think that experience has helped them improve on their performances. So, I expect that it will also do better during the 2015 elections. Where I have an issue is with the permanent voters card (PVC), whereby voters will have to go to the local government they registered to retrieve their cards. I suggest that in subsequent elections, if there is a way of producing immediately after registration, it will prevent many people from being dis-enfranchised, because you can’t ask someone to come back in three to six months without having the person either losing interest, losing the temporary card or even relocating. INEC should continue to sensitise people so that they can see the need to make efforts to get their PVC,” she explains.
To her, her experience in the House has been worthwhile. “We are said to have the highest number of sittings in the House since the creation of Abia State. We support our executives and come up with bills, motions and we have been able to achieved results,” she says.
Her greatest happiness remains the fact that she has a wonderful family and she is grateful to the Lord for this.
“I cannot thank Him enough. I got into politics when I was under 30 years of age and I was still bearing children. I was conscious of the need to lay a solid foundation for my children’s growth; so I didn’t joke with them. I realised that no matter what I did or achieved, the physical assessment will be checked in my family. I didn’t relent in ensuring that I played my role as a dutiful wife and mother to my kids. I have the most wonderful children anyone can have.
“I lost my husband in 2006, but before his death, he was my greatest supporter and best friend. From the moment he gave me his support, he allowed me a free rein. I also reciprocated by making him develop confidence to the extent that even when I
travelled around for meetings, he never worried. He was a man to emulate,” she says.
THE GUARDIAN.
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