Loyalty to godfathers now common in Nigeria —Ganiat Olawore

Hon. Ganiat Olawore is a Nigerian politician and businesswoman with a strong footprint in grassroots mobilisation and community engagement. In this interview with Yetunde Ajanaku, she discusses her role in political coordination, campaign strategy, and community relations, particularly among market groups and women-focused initiatives. She is known for her practical understanding of grassroots realities and her commitment to inclusive governance.

NIGERIA is going through a complex phase economically and politically. From your perspective, what do you think is the biggest disconnect between leadership and the everyday realities of citizens?

 It is always about how to balance growth with fairness. Citizens are concerned about jobs, cost of living, corruption, social services, and good governance as a whole, while leaders are focused on policies to boost the economy, attract investment, and manage public funds. The leadership tends to focus on macroeconomics, which is about long-term planning, while the people are more concerned with the microeconomic situation and its impact on their daily lives. This often leads to tension between the leaders and citizens, as the questions that shape certain policies of the government are always challenged. Questions about subsidies, taxes, and governance arise, and these majorly bring about a divergence of opinion between them

 There has been growing concern about the level of political trust among young Nigerians. What do you think is responsible for the shift, and how can it be rebuilt?

 Lack of accountability, corruption, and impunity of leaders are the major factors contributing to the lack of trust among young Nigerians. Other reasons are unfulfilled promises and failure to deliver on campaign promises. The spate of insecurity caused by terrorist activities and insurgency has heightened skepticism among Nigerian youths. Human rights abuse and police brutality would have to be addressed, and possibly eradicated, for the leadership to win the confidence of the youth going forward. To achieve this, a new leadership ethos based on integrity, accountability, and commitment to the common good will have to be established. A merit-based leadership recruitment and mentoring process has to be enthroned.

Having been involved in grassroots mobilisation, how would you describe the mood of the people today compared to previous election cycles?

 The truth is that people have become disillusioned. They no longer believe in free and fair elections. Money is the only incentive that takes voters to the polling station these days. They call it stomach infrastructure, a mockery of government’s policies on infrastructural development. Electoral fraud was obviously evident in previous elections, but it has now become so widespread that the virtues of integrity and dignity have been thrown to the dogs. Violence and roguery are now the order of the day. This attitude has paved the way for people of questionable character to jump into politics. They treat politics as business and power as a commodity to be traded. Unfortunately, the people get carried away with the crumbs they receive from these unscrupulous characters and end up mortgaging their future..

Women’s participation in politics is still relatively low in Nigeria. In your view, what are the real barriers beyond what is often discussed publicly?

Some people believe that the domestic barriers women experience at home are what are reflected in the public space. In some Nigerian cultures, women can only be seen but cannot be heard. In fact, in certain cultures, women cannot even be seen, let alone be heard. This largely explains the low level of participation in politics. Apart from the cultural factor, Nigerian women suffer inequalities in business opportunities, advancement in the workplace, and gender insensitivity. This is reflected in political party bias. Violence and harassment also play a role. Again, work-life balance, which requires women to combine their work with family demands and social norms, can limit their engagement in politics. Another factor is lack of mentorship due to fewer women role models, which could make political advancement harder.

 Policies around the economy and livelihood continue to affect market women and small business owners. Based on your experience working closely with them, what should government be doing differently?

Government policies, sometimes, affect the market. These policies are essentially in pursuit of a conducive economic environment, especially for market women and small business owners. What is required of government is to adopt an inclusive approach to policy formulation. Government support should focus on financial inclusion and economic cushioning, providing tailored financial support such as single-digit interest loans, implementing capacity development programs, government grants, and subsidies. Government can reduce taxation on small businesses and embark on campaigns to promote good business practices, while providing basic infrastructure. All of this will provide a good and safe environment for business to thrive. Also, empowerment programs at intervals will go a long way to help small businesses.

READ ALSO: Being a woman in politics is not an easy experience — Olawore

Political loyalty and accountability are often debated in Nigeria. How do you think leaders can balance party loyalty with responsibility to the people?

There are different levels of loyalty. There is loyalty to a cause or a political ideology; there is loyalty to a political party and its manifesto; and there is loyalty to a godfather. These days, loyalty to the godfather is more common. This has distorted the leadership recruitment process. Today, loyalty to the person of the leader is the surest way of rising within the party. This has undermined the interest of loyal party workers who have toiled over the years to promote the party. Godfathers tend to disrupt party structures by imposing their own personal loyalists. While political loyalty is important, the ultimate loyalty should be to the people. This is what will ensure political accountability at the end of the day.

 Looking at the current administration and expectations that came with it, what areas do you think require more urgent attention and honest reflection?

 The economic sector. When the economy is stable, life becomes better. Secondly, security needs more attention. For the economy to stabilize, there must be a secure environment. Investments only flow into a stable economic environment. In my opinion, these are the two major fields that should be of concern to the administration.

 Your journey cuts across law, political science, and international relations. At what point did your interest in public service and politics become clear?

I have been convinced from the onset that if you don’t want to be ruled by idiots, sensible people must join politics, and this has always been my goal. This thinking influenced my choice of course when I went to the university. Politics and leadership have always been a passion for me. In the university, I studied the theory of politics, and now I’m putting my knowledge into practice in the field.

You started your career in banking before moving into business and politics. What influenced those transitions, and how did each phase prepare you?

 The banking sector afforded me the opportunity to adapt to any given situation. I started with the Central Bank of Nigeria, where I did my youth service. That experience triggered my interest in banking, and I proceeded to join UBA. At UBA, I had to learn to work under pressure. I became adept at multitasking and paying attention to detail. I learnt to be patient and painstaking in my duties, maintaining my calmness while dealing with a multitude of people. This helped shape my attitude toward people, especially in business and politics.

Real estate and supply are quite demanding sectors. What lessons from business have shaped your approach to leadership and politics?

In banking, you tend to relate with a lot of people. Likewise in politics. Although banking is not as demanding as politics, you still need a lot of tolerance, humility, and patience. You should be financially savvy, which is also an embodiment of leadership and politics. I am fairly comfortable with real estate business and supplies. It is a family business that I grew into. My experience in these fields somehow prepared me for politics.

You have held roles that involve community relations and grassroots engagement. What has been the most eye-opening experience for you working closely with people at that level?

 The basic responsibility of government is to mobilise the people for development. Government is supposed to provide the enabling environment for citizens to pursue a better life for themselves. However, the grassroots expect a lot from the government, and some of these expectations are simply impossible to meet. It is high time our people are sensitized that most of their expectations from the government are not attainable. Governance is a collaboration between the leaders and the people, each playing their own role.

Every political journey comes with its own challenges. What would you say has been one of your most defining moments?

 There was a time when an expensive joke was thrown at me. I was upset because I couldn’t understand where it was coming from, so I had to face it head-on. But over time, I developed a thick skin. Now, I understand it to be part of politics.

Being a woman navigating politics, business, and leadership spaces, how have you handled bias or limitations placed on women?

 Bias and limitations are in every sphere of life. How we handle them is what matters. A woman in politics has to comport herself to earn respect. As for me, I have learned to navigate the political field while maintaining my character and dignity.

 For young women looking to step into politics or leadership, what mindset or approach is most important for them to succeed?

God first in all you do. Know your limits. Be a woman of impeccable character. Be honest, upright, and most importantly, be absolute.