Kemi Nelson: Politics. People. Parties

Describe her with all these adjectives—Beautiful, Brilliant, Bold and Boisterous in nature— and you wouldn’t go wrong. Indeed Chief (Mrs.) Kemi Nelson is a lesson in hardwork, persistence and an unwavering commitment to people especially those of her political leaning. An astute politician, introducing her shouldn’t be a herculean task. The All Progressive Congress’ South West Zonal Woman Leader, Chief Mrs. Kemi Nelson Nelson began her political career during President Ibrahim Babangida-led military regime in the late 1980s and early 90s. Then, she joined the National Republican Convention (NRC), one of the two parties founded and funded by government.

It was a time that didn’t witness having many women in politics. Nelson became exposed to party politics as she was saddled with assignments including the chairmanship of NRC’s electoral committee for the par¬ty’s presidential primaries in Osun State. Then, in 1992 she was the party’s Lagos West Senatorial candidate. She also emerged the Chairman, Republican Electrical Panel (RECA) in Osun State. She served as a member, National Ways and Means Committee and the National Finance Committee of NRC and a national delegate to the party’s convention in Port Harcourt 1993. At different times, she was Commis¬sioner for Establishment, Training and Job Creation, Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, ¬ during the administration of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu as governor of Lagos State. Wondering how she fared successfully in a world where many men don’t willing permit ‘wrapper-and-blouse’ personalities in leadership positions? “First, I think it has to do with God’s Grace,” she said. But another factor also helped in her political success—having a supportive spouse. Of course, she’s grateful for this. “Any married woman who succeeds in politics or any other vocation must have had the unfailing support of her spouse. When that is in place, you are good to go and you have fewer distractions. Having issues of a non-supportive husband is 100 per cent distraction. My husband is a pillar of support from the first day I started out as a politician. He is my best friend who shares my passion and vision. Maybe I’m one of the lucky few. I can recall when I wanted to vie for a seat in the Senate in the 90s. Then, my husband was abroad and many people who are opposed to my success, had told him many negative things on why a woman shouldn’t be allowed to go that far in politics. He didn’t mind anything they said and instead, he supported my dream and sent buses from the US for my campaign. He has always supported me.” Erasing the picture of a superwoman in the exemplary lives of her three kids (she is a grandmother) Yeye Sewa, as she is fondly called, remains grateful to God for making her raise Godly and excellent children. “I plunged into politics when they were still very young,” she recalled. Her daughter, Mrs. Adetoun Ibilola Popoola’s appointment as the new General Manager of the Lagos State Parks & Gardens Agency (LASPARK), by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu is laudable and lends credence to Yeye Sewa’s success as a good parent. “I would come back home from meetings and still tell them about what happened despite their ages. Though they didn’t understand because they were very young then, gradually they started showing interest in whatever I told them. “Very early in life, I made my kids know that my political career is not given a pass mark if they are not worthy examples to other children—their public conducts would be my score, no matter what I attained in politics. If they became wayward, I would be tagged a failure who didn’t have time for her children. To God be the glory, my kids have been my pride—not wayward and there are no negative issues.”

Advising women in politics and career, Nelson, who was born February 9, 1956 to the illustrious Tinubu-Meredith/Laja families, urged more women to be in politics and also seek elective offices. “Do not let anyone scare you. If you love to play politics, please join a political party and be relevant in your wards— every politics is local. Wherever you live, know where the party you are interested in holds ward meetings. Meet the ward chairman, introduce yourself and let him/her know you are in that ward. Ask where/when they hold meetings, familiarize yourself with them. “It’s so cheap to start at that level. By the time you start attending meetings, familiarize yourself with people, let them have access to you, once in a while during meetings, you can buy drinks and refreshments. This way, you are able to earn their trust. They must be able to trust you if you are going to represent them. Once in a while, when there is any festivity, share your little resources with them share in their joy and learn to socialise. Don’t forget to share in their pains too. When they start to love you, you don’t even need friends. You discover that you have more time for them and you earn their trust,” she said. To Nelson, many women are too ignorant of their political environment and too laid-back to vie for elective offices. Formerly a teacher at Corona School Apapa before enrolling for Nursing and Midwifery courses at the University College Hospital Ibadan, Nelson is a believer of mentorship. To her, you must have a mentor before you can plunge into limelight in politics. “I must admit that some leaders haven’t given room for mentoring and educating women on what it takes to be a success in politics. Most women don’t know how to go about it. Most feel they love politics, they want to be politicians but then they fall by the wayside.

I remember when I was the APC Lagos State Women Leader, I approached Asiwaju Ahmed Tinubu to support women and kindly release five slots for us—he did. I was able to push five women into the state Exco. In fact, at the party level, one lady who had never played politics before emerged the party treasurer. From that position, she started picking up and now she works in her local council. “Also, I picked up a female lawyer and started mentoring her. She started as a ward officer and she is now the legal adviser of her Local council. If she decides to vie for a seat at the House of Assembly, nobody would ask where she is coming from because she is already part of the system. For older female politicians, I always advise that it’s good to build your structures from the wards. We have about 26 offices at the ward level; look for new people you can trust. If it’s only six people you can sponsor for elective offices, do it. There is no decision they make in that ward that they would not call your attention to it because you have been a part of them and contributed to their development,” she said. But then, taking a swipe at men who don’t support women, Nelson advised women in politics to exercise patience and remain persistent. She said, “I still can’t comprehend why some men can’t support women! They have daughters and must have forgotten that someday, their daughters will need other men’s support to attain political positions. Unfortunately, over the years, men have occupied the political space and for women to penetrate, we have to be tactful and consistent. We can’t fight them. Rather, it takes subtle pressure here and there, and when we want to be firm, we will be firm.” Was that why APC refused to nominate a female deputy governor in Lagos? Why were women deprived of such a role? In what seems like an appeal, she made women realise that a political party is bigger than any individual’s interest or opinion. She said, “Women in APC also wished we had a male Governor and female Deputy ticket in Lagos, which had always been the norm— Lagos state had always had a gender-balanced ticket. But the party leadership, for the first time in a long time, believed we don’t need any crisis. We must manage our crisis. Bringing the two together is to keep our party together. That Babajide Sanwo-Olu/Hamzat were elected doesn’t mean women are not seen as worthy. No! We are the best players in politics but remember, we thrive well when there are no crises in the party. There is the need to keep the party under one umbrella and maintain peace. However, we can see that women in Lagos have been granted adequate compensation in the next cabinet of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu.” Enough said of politics. Obviously, she has refused to fade out of the social scene. Chief Kemi Nelson, who sports a low-cut, can rival any young lady in the style department and she is one of the most fashionable women in the society.

“My parents were very fashionable. I remember my father was so fashionable that everyone admired the parting on his head. Fashion is what flows naturally with me. My choice of clothes depends on the occasion and I dress what the occasion demands,” she said. So, who ties Yeye Sewa’s significant and kinky gele? “I do,” came her response with a smile. “I have been tying my gele in a particular manner for many years and that has been like a signature. I love looking good but I never like to expose my body beyond reasonable. Even when I was younger, I don’t expose my body because I have lovely legs.” To think she is well over 60 years old! What has been the secret of this unageing looks? She said, “God’s grace, peace of mind and not harbouring evil about others. When your heart is happy and clean, it radiates. Inner peace and joy are major requirements for good looks. I am not into supplements. I manage to go for exercises and I don’t eat anyhow. I am a very active person but I have my routine. At night, I cleanse my face, apply my astringent and apply night cream. I do same in the morning. I have used Clarins beauty products for over 25 years. Also, I have a masseur who comes thrice a week for massage. I also eat lots of fruits and of course, I love life and I don’t allow anything to weigh me down. I have one life to live. Also, I learnt to pray a lot too.”

With a responsibility of mobilizing women in six states as APC Woman Leader, she would advise women to always support one another. Urging women to love and not pull one another down, she said, “Let women stop saying they are not getting support from the men. When the men see that we support ourselves and shun envy and strife, they will support us. We must see ourselves as sisters and realise that God has bestowed women with greatness and we must stand up for one another.”