Arc. Dooshima Yemisi Suswam wife of the immediate past Governor of Benue state, Mr. Gabriel Torwua Suswam, recently spoke to a section of the media, KULA TERSOO was also there
Your husband, Gabriel Suswam left office over a year ago. May we share your experience on your relationship with him now that he is more at home?
The experience at home has been more of bonding. We have a little more time for each other, little more time for family interest, little more time for children and little more time for domestic activities. It is been more rewarding family wise. So all the years we probably lost in timing, bonding which we didn’t really get while he was in office, we have been able to catch up on them at this period. We see him more at home now than when he was in public office. And then, we have less pressure, there are no longer exco meetings apart from party caucus meetings here and there as they try to rebrand the party so it’s been a welcome development. It’s very healthy for us.
Given the less of family time, would you support your husband for another public office?
(Laughs…), Well, that’s very interesting. But I cannot answer this question now as everything is time bound. My answer now might be different from when such opportunity presents itself so I can’t say yes or no. However, there were sacrifices we had made while in the public glare. We sacrificed family time and we are recovering it; that’s very key. In the past, my husband had public speeches written for him which he tries to go through before presenting same at functions but now he drafts everything by himself. Whatever he writes now comes directly from his heart which is part of the changes we are experiencing right now. For me as a wife, I’m happy to see him have his own private time and you know personal time are very crucial in the life of every individual. In the past he barely had a single moment to himself but now he has the time to ponder and makes his own decision all by himself. I see him at his private study all by himself, he has time now to do his farming which he never had in the past to even visit our farm. We are grateful to God.
How do you feel about the honour done your family by the Zone A Women Progressive Forum?
It was a very exciting moment for me at Ushongo. It was also symbolic for me as my husband hails from the North-East senatorial district of the state also known as Zone A and had represented three local governments out of the seven in the past at the House of Representatives.Then, he became governor of the state and for over one year we left government, we are being celebrated. You could see that it was a genuine act that came from the heart of the people without sycophant, no flattering. One can’t say they did it because they were looking for favour of government; it was purely an act of love and deep concern, as well as a sense of value for their own. We are happy for that and we appreciate the women of zone A for the honour done us. The zone A women which comprises of Ukum, Logo, Kastina-Ala, Vandekiya, Konshisha, Ushongo and Kwande local government areas respectively has been our women over the years, we have worked with them, they have tested us and they have a lot of trust in us. They know that throughout the period we were leading them, it was a big privilege for us which we didn’t take for granted. We’d carried them along and didn’t despise any by embracing them all. So the thanksgiving service in our honour was simply a show of the appreciation that we carried them along over the years. I think it is one good turn that deserves another. For me, we are quite grateful, excited and encouraged. They told us in some of their speeches that regardless of what they see or hear, they know who we are and they appreciate us for what we are and that we remain their role model. These are words of encouragement, words that comforts, especially when people think you are no longer in office and no longer relevant. We are happy that at home, they have deemed it fit to honour us in this manner.
How would you describe your experience after leaving Benue government House?
You know for 16 years, we have been in very active politics serving day and night with all our hearts, talking to people and moving from one place to the other. So after all these years, one year without those activities was a big relief. It had been a wonderful pleasant moment for us (my husband and I) to look at ourselves again and all the sacrifices we have made. Things we couldn’t do privately within immediate families or close friends, we have had time to catch up on them in this past one year. Thank God that the people understand, that we were not so far from them but for the exigency of the office. Then, also the personal things we had left like our profession; I had left my profession during those period but now I have dusted my books and return back to my career. I was very happy to do so and then I have a lot of time on my hands for my household chores which I tried to do in the past but couldn’t. Now, it is a lighter load and no pressing moment such as one having to sleep at 3am and jumping up at 6am to catch up with a village or local government activities. So it is been a wonderful one as much as at even when it was a big load, it was a privilege. We didn’t take it lightly. We gave it our best shot. Now that we have been relieved of those responsibilities, it makes life easier.
How are you catching up with latest trend having left you profession for all these years and now returning back to it?
It wasn’t a total departure even in the last eight years I still did little designs. In my leisure time, I find myself sketching and doing little designs which I further developed. In those years, I didn’t leave my professional body, I was on tap and attended two or three seminars and conferences of the profession even while in office. It’s just that it wasn’t a full time thing but I did keep abreast with my profession. So catching with trends wasn’t so difficult because once you are a professional, you remain one. It’s like a professional driver who though didn’t drive for three years picks up again as soon as he gets on the steering. The foundation is already there and solid, it just requires a brush up for every other thing to be added. Moreover, I’m working on a lot of seminar papers and my projects at the University of Jos, so I’m still within update of the profession. There is no limit to knowledge so I’m still exploiting other avenues and thank God for the Internet which helps to catch up on lots of things.
In the past, my husband had public speeches written for him which he tries to go through before presenting same at functions but now he drafts everything by himself
