Rahab Sabo is the National Youth Leader of the Mega Progressive Party. In this interview with ENE OSANG, she stressed the need for equal rights to education for all, lamenting that she didn’t complete her education as a girl child from the north
How was growing up like for you?
I lost my dad when I was about 13 years old so that has been a great challenge for me because I couldn’t go to the university.
On that note what is your educational background?
After my primary and secondary education, I lost my dad and it became difficult for me to further. I started a little business and also did politics at the grassroots and that helped me saved some money so I enrolled for a diploma programme. I have a diploma in law from the college of legal studies in my state and I hope to go back if I have the opportunity. I couldn’t further my education as a girl child from the north but I don’t regret it because I know once there is life there is hope, I know much about politics now and I know things would change for the better.
What inspired you into politics?
I have always loved politics and it has been in my blood from when I was a child. I like anything that has to do with mobilizing and talking to people, and I encouraged myself to keep on doing it, my family and friends also keep encouraging me not to stop because they believe that things would become better soon.
Do you think female youth politicians are occupying their rightful positions in Nigeria?
Not really but we are trying compared to 10 years ago, now females do come out massively for elections, and they are interested in politics unlike before. In the upcoming elections, you can see that women and youths are really prepared and they are working hard to ensure they take their rightful positions in the country, and the female youths are not left out. We are working along with them because we now understand that women occupy about 55% of the population.
We also now understand that politics is a game of numbers and so once we mobilize ourselves there is no way we will not achieve our aim. Gone are the days when youths are used for electoral violence and dumped afterwards we are wiser now and I can even see the possibility of a woman becoming Nigeria’s President.
As the youth leader of your party how do you coordinate the youths in your party?
We do organize National Executive Council (NEC) meetings and members from local government and state levels do come to our secretariat in Abuja for that.
How do you feel working with youth leaders from other political parties towards the upcoming elections?
I feel honoured because each time we are together I feel the spirit of the youths and they always encourage me that being a woman amongst them should not discourage me from working hard.
What is it like being the only female in the midst of youth leaders from other parties?
Sometimes it is not friendly but I have to force myself to flow with them and it is good because I don’t feel intimidated in any way and besides the men even encourage me like I said earlier.
Are ideas at your meetings gender friendly?
Where I do have challenge is in the office with the executive because they don’t give me the opportunity to contribute as a youth. Sometimes it is very difficult and most times I insist to be heard.
Is your party gender friendly?
They are trying when it comes to gender, as I talk now we have about five women in our executive and I think that is encouraging.
What is your party’s mandate concerning the upcoming elections?
It is all about mobilizing people from the ward level and enlightening them to know the process of being involved in the electioneering process.
Do you see youths winning elections?
Yes I do think youths will be better off this time around because they are wiser knowing fully well they no longer want to be used during elections and dumped afterwards. Though their is financial constraint we can do better if we have the support.
So you are saying politics is all about funding?
Yes money play a vital role and you can’t achieve a lot if you don’t have money to carry out activities.
Why do you think it is difficult for youths to be at hem of affairs in this country?
There are a lot of challenges because the older generation are scared of the youths taking over leadership but youths are tomorrows leaders and I will urge us not to give up working hard, we will get there.
What support does your party have in place for youths concerning the 2015 elections?
I mentioned earlier that the major challenge with my party is funding but when it comes to mobilization we are almost at the fore front. Not like we only mobilize people we enlighten them on politics and how they should vote wisely.
What do you do aside politics?
I am a business woman, I sell clothes both for children and adults as well as shoes for men. I lost my dad when I was about 13 years old so that has been a great challenge for me because I couldn’t go to the university.
I have a diploma in law from the college of legal studies in my state and I hope to go back if I have the opportunity. I couldn’t further my education as a girl child from the north but I don’t regret it because I know once there is life there is hope, I know much about politics now and I know things would change for the better.
