Senator Kofoworola Bucknor-Akerele served as the Deputy Governor of Lagos State between 1999 and 2002. She speaks, in this interview, about her political career, her legislative experience in the Senate, the annulled June 12, 1993 election and women representation in politics. TEMITOPE OGUNBANKE reports
How would you describe your sojourn in Nigerian politics?
It has been tough but interesting.
Why did you say that?
It is tough because, for a woman in Nigeria’s politics, the men find it hard to accept that a woman can be in a leadership position. So, you have to work twice as hard as the men within the political party to really make people feel that you are there.
But despite being a woman, you served as a senator in the aborted Third Republic and elected as deputy governor in 1999…
I have to work very hard for it. When I was running for the Senate, I visited every single ward in my constituency. And as a deputy governorship candidate, I also visited places where people were even surprised to see me. Some of those who saw me in their wards said nobody has ever visited them before during campaigns. It is tough and hard but you have to work twice as hard as men to be able to achieve as a woman in politics to get recognition.
How do you feel about the coup d’état that ended your tenure in the Senate in the Third Republic?
It was a sad situation because those of us in the Senate at that time were really a group of seasoned professionals; many people were professionals in their own rights and many had run their own businesses successfully. It was a shame that that Senate was not allowed to continue because I think we would have found great changes in the country and that Senate would have achieved great things for Nigeria.
As a member of the steering committee of National Democratic Coalition (NADECO) during the June 12, 1993 annulment struggle, what role did you played then?
I played a lot of roles at that time. The role I played mainly was that I linked NADECO with foreign embassies and we were also making sure that articles appeared in the newspapers.
Were you not afraid of your life considering that you are fighting the military?
Not really. I wasn’t afraid for my life.
Why?
I think if you have faith in God you will believe that He will protect you.
But did you lose any personal belongings at the time?
I lost my business because a lot of people don’t want to do any business with NADECO people. I was running an advertising agency and property business at that time. I lost a lot of clients because of NADECO..
Do you have any regret for participating actively in the struggle?
I have no regret over my action then. I was pleased that I was part of those who fought for the restoration of democracy in Nigeria.
Why did you resign as deputy governor in 2002…
I resigned when I realised that money was exchanging hands to get me impeached. And my family then felt that they were trying to ruin my reputation and bring down the family name; so they asked me to resign and I resigned. I resigned because my family name was at stake.
But politicians hardly resign from office especially when they think about the benefits accruing to them because of the office they occupy…
I built my own house in Victoria Island even before I went to the Senate. I had my own business and vehicles. I was very comfortable before I went into politics. In fact, politics drained my purse and make me much poorer.
How does politics make you poorer?
Because once you are in politics, people expect you to be of service to them in so many ways. When their child is sick in the hospital, they will come to you for you to help them with the hospital bills. When their child is sent out of school, they want you to help them with the school fees. There are people who even come to you because they are indigents; they have no job and they expect you to give them some kind of assistance. So, by the time you finish giving what you have out, you find out that you are not as wealthy as you might have been.
Are you saying you would have been richer if you had not ventured into politics?
Oh yes, definitely. I believe that if I had devoted more time and energy to personal business, I would have been richer. But I have no regret; at least, I am comfortable.
As a former senator and deputy governor, what do you think is responsible for poor representation of women in public offices in Nigeria?
I think women are financially constrained. They don’t have the financial muscles to run for election in Nigeria. Nigeria politics has become a money matter. When I became a deputy governor, we spent money but not the sort of the huge amount of money that is being spent now. Many women don’t have that kind of money being spent on politics now. The amount of money that has to be spent on politics now runs into millions and many people dont have those millions to spend on politics.