Funke Olaode
19 August 2007
interview
Lagos — The weather wasn't so bright that Tuesday afternoon. The rain kept drizzlling just as traffic enveloped the entire nook and cranny of Lagos. With constant text messages at five minutes interval and occasional phone calls for direction, this reporter finally arrived at her Ogudu Ojota GRA home. Meeting Honourable Mrs. Juliet Nene Akano for the first time, she could be mistaken for a lawyer just coming out of her law chambers. Her long dark gown with dark jacket sits perfectly on her glowing fair skin complexion. "English dress is my favourite. I love English wears such as suits, gowns because they make me look smart and make me walk very fast. It is not that I have abandoned the Nigerian attires totally. I still complement my English wears with Nigerian attires from different tribes when the occasion arises", she said. The atmosphere of her home was calm. Honourable Akano is a woman of taste and lover of arts. Cream is her preferred choice. And this is well pronounced in her well tastefully furnished duplex. "I love cream because cream is gentle. And when you look at work of arts, it gives you memory and initiative to be able to recreate which in a way broadens your thinking" 'she said.
Honourable Akano, Deputy Chairman Committee on Women Affairs is a lawmaker, representing Nwangele/Isu and Njaba local government area of Imo State at the National House of Assembly. Born in Kano State on May 22, 1963 into the family of Godson and Alice Obasi. "I am the fourth born in a family of six children. Though I was born in Kano, my parents are from Arochuckwu, in Abia State. They left Kano when I was about 18 months. Growing up was interesting because I was born into a strong Christian home and life was comfortable for me as a child. My father was a civil servant working in the ministry of finance while my mother was a teacher. I had a normal childhood in Enugu where I grew up after the civil war".
After her primary education at Orsiobodo Primary School in Oguta Local Government of Imo State, she proceeded to Oguta Secondary School for her higher education. Her quest to better equip herself further took her to Lagos State University where she read marketing graduating in 2005. And prior to her foray in politics, the Imo State born politician was into thriving private business. With her string of successes in business, why should she want to truncate it for politics which is full of challenges? Her response was quick. "Though I am a first timer at national level but I have been practicing politics for over a decade both in church and at national level. My foray into politics dates back to the early 90s during the National Republican Convention (NRC) and Social Democratic Party (SDP). I was a member of NRC and I later moved to Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in 1998/99. I have been in politics in the last 15 years. With my experience as a politician, it has always been my desire to serve my people and humanity. I have been supporting and sponsoring people that I believe are of good character in the past. But there is this urge to serve my people personally. That is why I came out this time around to serve".
Greatly influenced by her desire to serve humanity having been positioned at the grassroots. How did she survive political intrigues?
"Is there anything that doesn't have its challenge? For instance, many people believe that you have to have a lot of money before you can go into politics. Before I went into politics I put everything in the hand of God. I prayed, I fasted and asked my God to direct me. Most times everything is not about money but it is your relationship with your followers that counts. So, money for me is a secondary issue. The primary issue is the love of the people you want to serve, acceptance and the grace of God. I can't say that I didn't spend money. It wasn't that I had the money packed up in one room or in one bank. I found out that as the need arises, God is always there to take care of it for me. So, it was a smooth journey".
"It was a challenge for me to make it and a challenge for me to win the election. Sometimes it is the pressure but my husband stood by me and worked hard for me to ensure that I emerged as a candidate before the election where I eventually won. Actually, it is a lot of pressure to be an aspirant and candidate. Like I said, devine grace has always been abundant. Yes, there are lots of intrigues which are not peculiar to politics but my slogan is "motherly heart". Over time, I have been reaching out to motherless babies home, I have been empowering youths, I have been encouraging and empowering women through mini loans. So, I had Christianity, a structure and background which was the first step and the Rock which I stand before I can talk. Secondly, I am a very straight forward person. People have heard about politicians making promises that they cannot fulfil. But I was more practical and transparent in what I am going to do if I am elected. As a lawmaker, you don't have a budget. Your primary role is to uphold the constitution. Also, your job as a lawmaker, you are the watchdog of your people. Not only that, you are to ensure that whatever benefits are allocated to them are carried out without delay".
Nigeria is a conservative society with wrong notions about women in politics. And what has been her husband's attitude considering Nigerian mentality of women in politics? "As a woman you must carry your husband along in whatever move you are making. My husband has always been supportive. Though the impression is that women should be seen and not be heard. That was the impression I had before. But I realised that in politics men respect you when you have the strength. They respect you when you can compete with them. They treat you as a fellow man. In my own case, I didn't see the other side of it that women are weaker sex because I got their full support. And that is why I won't let my people down. I know the constraint and poverty people are facing. Most of them have skills but due to financial difficulties, many of them are unable to acquire any loan from bank. I am planning to set up a non profit making organisation to enable them to be able to acquire small soft loans that will take care of their small scale businesses. I want to do this project in conjunction with National Poverty Eradication Programme (NAPEP). Presently, I am the Deputy Chairman, Committee on Women Affairs. I intend to use that to enhance the life of women, the youths and the elderly. If they are able to manage the loans they have acquired well within two years, the NGO will be like a referrer and stand as a guarantor to acquire bigger loans ."
Honourable Akano is a thorough bred politician who has made her mark at the grassroots level before veering into national politics. Her vibrancy, her comportment and intellectual ability is a constant reminder of a unique woman who is set out to make a difference. How does she feel being a first timer in national politics?
"It has been exciting in the House Representing my people. It was a successful election. And now that I am there I have since settled down to work. Right now we have a female speaker which gives me equal enough balance to be able to communicate with her, get to know her more, be able to share my difficulties with her. So, it is easier for me".
"Madam Speaker has made the women fold proud to be the first female speaker in history of Nigerian politics. It is an encouragement to us women because it is what we have been looking forward to. You know to have female speaker, female governor, female vice-president and even female president by the grace of God. And having a woman as number four citizen is great. Madam speaker is a God fearing woman, highly knowledegable, intelligent and brilliant. For me, I have no doubt she can handle the sit and represent the women folk very well".
"Working with fellow women is not going to be difficult because we have one goal in mind such as women empowerment, women liberation and alleviation of women's suffering. So, it is a common goal which is far from personal affair. It is not that we are competing for one seat. So, in a situation where all of us are pursuing the same course, jealous, hatred, backbiting would not thrive".
Being a politician, housewife and mother are different ball games. Asking her how she is going to strike the balance in carrying out her responsibilities and taking care of the home front? She has this to say. "I don't see politics as a profession. I see my job as a profession. If I can go to work everyday, manage my business and family well, I can still handle the same without any difficulties. That is the way I look at it. You know as a politician as soon as you emerge at any political position or level, I think the line should be drawn. You first of all know your responsibility, how you are going to carry them out and all that. And once you draw a time table for yourself, let it fit in perfectly to your schedule. And once you do that, you would be able to discharge your responsibility well both at the home front and at the national level.
For instance, we sit on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. So you still have time to attend to your family as a mother. When you look at it, it is a schedule and not like running a campaign where you have to be on the road all the time".
Akano has been married for 21 years and blessed with children. "I have been married since 1986 to my husband Chief MacDonald Akano. We were friends. We were very young then. In our case, it was law at first sight". And the attraction? "His look, his personality and attitude was what attracted me".
Akano is a very fashionable woman who takes care of her looks without any addiction to a beauty regiment. " I don't have any beauty routine because I don't want to get addicted to any particular product. For instance, I wear designer perfumes. But I don't have any favourite. I can just work into any shop and buy a nice fragrance. You know for a very busy person you can't handle both. So, I don't like attachment that is why I buy whatever smells nice and looks good on me".
When she is not busy attending to legislative matters or doting over her children, she relaxes by reading novels, swimming, playing table tennis and sometimes jug. "I love travelling" Lastly, her advise for the younger women who may want to go into politics. "They should remove the fear of being harassed and intimidated. The country needs them and their knowledge. You can never tell, they can come up and do better than the existing politicians. But except they have the courage. Also, they should never look at the adverse side I mean losers and failure that would always discourage by saying you can't make it because it involves a lot of money. Loosing election is not the end of it. And sometimes when you lose you go back to the drawing board to check where you go wrong. And you amend it for the next time. And sometimes elections are not a do or die affair because a winner must emerge at the end of the day. So, the fear of uncertainty should be removed because you must develop and have that courage to live and not exist, you can survive in politics. For me, I believe anybody (mostly women) who is born with knowledge, who knows what she wants, should be able to face any challenge. Life is full of ups and downs so I will advise women not to get discouraged in participating in politics. There is something that tells me that women are the best manager in politics. And I believe that because anywhere they are, they excel," she concluded.
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