Aisha Waziri Umar Playing the Politics of Passion
With an illustrious pedigree, she was primed to dine with the high and mighty. Prodigious in thought and prolific in accomplishments, she exudes class in simplicity. International in exposure and astute in grassroots approach, she is a paragon of passion and patience. Aisha Waziri is the new Amazon in northern Nigeria’s politics. Expansive in outlook and devoted to dreams, she turns odds into opportunities. The daughter of a maverick politician, Alhaji Ibrahim Waziri – the founder of the Great Nigeria Peoples Party (GNPP), Aisha is following in her father’s footsteps, as she seeks to represent the people of Jere, Borno State, in the House of Representatives. She talks with Stanley Nkwazema about the battle of gender equality, the problems and politics of poverty
The face behind the mask
My name is Aisha Umar Waziri, a legal practioner based in Abuja. I am married with three children. I am currently a partner of a law firm, Prodiverse and the proprietor of Centre for Children with Special Needs. I am also the founder of INARA Foundation which is a non-profit organisation that was set up to support vulnerable people and to assist with education and economic empowerment. More so, I am a cofounder of Revive Nigeria Group – a group of people that have come together as professionals professionals interested in upgrading the quality quality of politics by encouraging professionals to go into politics.
Politics of female representation
Let me make it clear that Borno State is actually actually a progressive state. We have had a lot of women going into politics. We have had members in the House of Representatives before. But we have not had any any female senator or g governor. We are still at the level of the House of Representatives. Representatives. In terms of acceptability of women, I don’t think we have a problem. I feel the time has come for people like us to go into politics because we are very involved with the people – veryy very close to the ggrassroots. grassroots. But limited in terms of our ability to influence decisions; because we are not in politics and that has seriously tied our hands as it were. There is so much that I want to do but because I am not in politics that makes it difficult.
Being Beingg part of Borno reconstruction, rehabilitation
Actually, the insurgency has seriously abated. Jere used to be unstable and people were not able to go about their daily business. But right now theyy they have gone back to their farms and people