Though she hails from Anambra, Sharon Ikeazor was born in the North. The skilled lawyer and management consultant tells BOSEDE OLUSOLA-OBASA about herself You are an accomplished professional, why go into politics? Being a lawyer did not afford me the opportunities I wanted to influence policies in Nigeria. It hasn’t been easy though but we just have to keep at it because in our culture, men are not used to having women stand beside them, doing the same things they are doing. Some don’t even want to hear women speak and that is why I tell women, ‘before you speak understand what you are talking about so that the men can listen’. What men don’t know is that women have been playing politics ever since they were born – in the family setting, especially a polygamous home, it is all about politics. As a market woman you have to play politics with your customers and fellow market women. Life is politics and politics is life. So women have to realise that there is a university the men go to learn to play politics. Anybody can be a politician as long as you have something to offer. It is important to know the needs of your people; then you start from where you are to make the changes that are needed. I don’t have any godfather; I went into politics out of my own conviction. But what really pushed into politics was the sad incident of the Sosoliso Airlines flight 1145 crash on December 10, 2005 at the Port Harcourt Airport. That crash killed 60 children of Loyola Jesuit out of the 110 people on board that flight. I know what it means because my son went to that college. That accident was avoidable. It was due to pure negligence – from the control tower when the plane crashed. There were two fire trucks at that airport. People might not know these details I’m about to tell you. One of the fire trucks had no spark plugs so it wouldn’t start. Meanwhile, it had water and foam that could have been used to put out the fire. The second truck that could start had no foam or water. Parents were at the airport and watched helplessly as their children got burnt. The children were still alive then but no help was fothcoming. But was anybody sanctioned as a result of that act of negligence? Was the fire truck driver sanctioned? Was the head of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria sanctioned? Did the aviation minister have the conscience to resign? Do you know what it means to lose 60 children in one school? It was heartrending and I wonder what kind of society we live in. Why can’t we hold people responsible for their jobs? Everybody has responsibilities and should bear the consequences for such. Failure in this aspect is the reason we have remained where we are. That is why I decided to go into politics to influence things. The goal is to ultimately come into government and make the changes. I think women are best suited for such responsibilities because we are multi-tasking people. Women must realise that they are better managers because of that God-given multi-tasking nature. You may come back from work at the same time as your husband but while he is sitting before the television relaxing, you are in the kitchen, you manage all other aspects of the family. This is a great gift from God and it can be applied to politics. But majority of women in politics just come to wear Aso Ebi, sing, dance and clap their hands. How has been your experience in politics? The things I have learnt in three years of being in politics could not have been learnt in any classroom. Even the Nigerian constitution is against women. It mentioned ‘he’ 235 times and ‘she’ twice. For instance, I discovered through politics that a northern man treats a woman differently from the way a southern man does; so when I see some treatment that I don’t like I speak up. But I would not advise the younger women to go into full-time politics. They should understudy older female politicians and learn the ropes until they are through with raising their children. The issue of having meetings at night will not change just because you are a woman. It is easier when your children are all grown up. In attending night meetings though, issues of safety and security of the woman must not be taken for granted. I advise women to attend night political meetings or rallies in company with their son or any male relation because of violence against women. I recall a very unpalatable experience; it was our party’s kick-off rally in Kano State and the crowd was massive. You know there are mixed multitudes and that was my first time at a political rally. As we drove into the venue, my driver released the central lock knob and so all doors were open, but before I knew what was happening, someone opened one of the doors and my bag, which was on the floor of the car, was gone. While I was still recovering from the shock of the bag being taken away, I had another experience. When it was time for me to mount the podium, I had to wade through the crowd to get there and when I was through with speaking, I had a challenge returning. Before I realised it, a group of young men had overpowered the policemen with me and were leading me in another direction entirely in the midst of the crowd. I was going with them innocently until I looked up (you know I am not very tall) and saw that I was being taken to a different direction from where we sat. Then I started screaming; it took one policeman to come and put his hands around me, recovered me from the boys and returned me to my seat. Only God knows what would have happened to me that night. So these are things women must be mindful of. Some women have been beaten up by thugs sent by their opponents. But learn to attend such events with a relation, who is a man or a body guard if you can afford one, that will serve as a deterrent. But never walk alone, especially during night meetings. Are you sure you are not in politics for your share of the national cake? That is one of the things that we have to change. I usually tell people that I’m not in politics for patronage. I’m here for service. I have excelled in my career. I rose to be the vice president of a US consulting firm – GoodWorks International. I was heading their office in Nigeria. We brought in General Electric to Nigeria, I consulted for GE. I had worked at Shell Petroleum Development Company in Nigeria as a lawyer. I also served as Project Coordinator Manager on construction management projects by Flour Daniel Nigeria Limited. I’m a member of the Nigerian Bar Association, Soroptomist International and International Women Society and so on. In other countries, it is those who have done well in their careers that go into politics. But because we perceive politics as being for miscreants and never do wells, most members of the elite rarely go into it. A lot of my friends thought I was crazy when I wanted to run for the office of the National Women Leader of the CPC. But I tell them that we all can’t seat in our comfort zone and expect things to change. It makes no difference to fight the battle on social media, it will not make meaning to anybody. More decent people have to join the frill. It’s no longer about national cake. So what happens to your law outfit? I had some lawyers in my practice – Olive Sharon and Co. But with the merger of three political parties to make up the All Progressives Congress, I have to dedicate more time to the new party. Our electorate will have to know about what we represent; so there is a lot of work to do between now and the end of 2014. So I have had to wind up my legal practice because I can’t handle both together. I will eventually be back to my legal practice. Are you saying that you have an automatic ticket to be APC women leader? No, it is not. There are three national women leaders from the merging parties. We allocated positions in the national executive of the APC. The new women leader has not been announced. What is your goal in politics? I would like to see the first female national chairman of a political party in Nigeria, like Margaret Thatcher. The day that happens, Nigerian women are beginning to make a mark. I hope to rise beyond the position of national women leader. Can you relive the days when you were raising your kids? My typical day started at 5 am. I packed their lunch bags, got their uniforms ready and woke them up to have their bath. Sometimes, I would drop them off at school. From there, I would face Lagos traffic to the Island to work. I worked on 16, Martins Street with Rhodes and Rhodes. I will never forget the experience. That was where I cut my teeth in legal practice. Sometimes I did school runs during my lunch hour to take them back home. I left them in the care of a maid. Then we did not have GSM, it was land phone that I used to communicate with them. Then I would rush back to work and finally get back home after work. At a point, I had my baby in the car and would go into the courtroom and come out later to breastfeed the baby. It was very hectic, but if you are determined and have a goal you can make it. They are sacrifices to be made; I have found that women are quite enduring. We do these things without even thinking. How has your schedule affected bonding with your children? They are all grown now but we are together. We are together on social media and anywhere available. Sometime ago, I discovered that it was becoming difficult getting to speak with them on the telephone, so I learnt how to ping. That worked out because when I ping them they respond. The way to be closer to your children is to evolve with them. When they were growing up we had times to swim together, we played video games together. I learnt to do whatever was of interest to them and it helped me to monitor them and as they grew older, it brought us closer. How would you describe your marital experience? In life, everything comes with challenges but it depends on how one goes about it. The most important ingredient in marriage that I have discovered is trust. But when trust is broken, it is bad. I advise younger women not to take the problems in their homes to a friend; take them to God. They may get you into more trouble. Men are different from women; they don’t like to be exposed. If you must tell someone, talk to your parents but never a friend. You must have had a nasty experience along this line. I don’t want to talk about that. But try to do things together with the man while maintaining your independence to a point. Independence and dependence? Yes, if you have children and one keeps clinging to you and would not let you have any breathing space, you could get irritated as a human being. You tend to better appreciate the other child who exhibits some level of independence. As a wife, one has to learn to do things on one’s own. Sound marriage counsel, but why did you retain your father’s name? I did because my father educated me and he should take the credit for it. It was my old secondary school principal that influenced me – Mrs. Olumide. At home she answered her husband’s name but at work her father’s name. And what was your husband’s reaction? He didn’t really mind it. My documents were in his name but at work I answered my father’s name. Well I have never been a conformist. The idea is that the husband takes the credit for the children but my father takes the credit for my education. For a man who is confident, that shouldn’t mean anything. Though I am divorced now but even if I remarry, I will still not change my name. That is how my father’s legacy will stay on. Is it true that most successful career women are divorcees? It is just like what I said earlier. There must be trust for it to work. You know men are very territorial; some of them can support you to the peak of your career. I have friends who are at the peak of their careers and they are still married. But some women, who have become big bosses out there want to replicate same at home. That won’t work because there is a boss in the house. My ex-husband often told me that you cannot have two captains in one ship. Striking a balance is crucial. Men should be confident, I advise the younger men to allow their wives to excel. It is in their interest and those of the children. Why then did you divorce? I will not go personal. What is your idea of style and fashion? It is no chest, no legs; modesty and simplicity. Maybe because I was brought up in a convent and attended mission schools. My mum was meant to be a reverend sister but she was brought out to marry my dad – Chimezie Ikeazor (SAN). My grandmother was also a very great positive impact on my life. It is sad to see young girls exposing their chests and thighs. They leave nothing to the imagination, it is moral degradation. What are your success principles in life? Live, that is enjoy your life. Love people, do things without hatred because it takes a lot of energy out of you and pray to your God. How do you recreate? I listen to classical music. I shut down my phone because I have leant that technology controls us. And I love reading biographies of people.
Posted on: Sat, 03 Aug 2013 09:31:01 +0000
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