Alhaja Salmot Badru is the ever-smiling Yewa-born politician who served as Deputy to former Ogun Governor, Gbenga Daniel for 8 years. With her charisma and panache, the former deputy governor has been able to mentor countless women in Ogun State and beyond on how to be a successful politician in a men dominated terrain. She hails from Tube, an area that can simply be called a rural area in Ogun State. Born 60 years ago, on May 16, 1957, Alhaja Salmot Badru who came from Ipokia local government area of Ogun State celebrated her 60th birthday amidst fanfare few months back.
During her childhood, she moved to Lagos to stay with an uncle where she had her primary and secondary education, she attended Badagry Grammar School for her post-primary education and later proceeded to Ansarudeen Teachers Training College in order to be a trained teacher.After her marriage which was consummated in 1981, She went to the University of Lagos where she got a Diploma in Community Health and proceeded in life with her nursing profession.She rose to become the Chief Nursing Officer at the Ogun State Local Government Service Commission before she retired. After she became a member of the Elders’ Caucus, she was appointed Supervisory Councilor in her local government – Ipokia and then became the state Woman leader of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and from that position she became the running mate to Otunba Gbenga Daniel in the 2003 elections where they both served for 8 years. In this interview with City People Society Editor, TAYO FAJORIN OYEDIJI, she spoke on her political career of over 20 years and life after office.
What have you been doing after your tenure as Ogun Deputy Governor?
Well, at a time I went back to school as a retired chief nursing officer, I just thought that I should add to my knowledge so I went back to the university,I got a degree in Peace Studies and Conflict Resolution. I thought it will be of an advantage for my new career but now, after the university,degree, I have not done anything for now but to take care of my children and grand children.
Why nursing and politics?
Nursing has been my career ,that is where I started from, that was my foundation.Nursing laid the foundation for the progress I have now and for my future. It was when I retired that I decided to go into politics and after my tenure ended, I just thought I needed something to top up on my nursing career.
What are your political achievements?
We did a lot during my terim. you know whatever the governor does,it is also what the deputy governor is part of, so whatever the governor did for the whole of 8 years also goes for the deputy governor, I was in charge of local government and chieftancy affairs and I thank God we did a lot in that area,empowering and encouraging the women to come on board, I also tried my best
As a woman, how were you able to cope in a male dominated terrain?
It is a matter of interest, if you have your interest in some thing ,you will try your best to get the best out of it. Once I decided to go into politics,I said whatever I have to do to achieve the best, I have to do it and that was how I started rallying round women. Fortunately for me they yielded to my call, during my time we had a lot of women who were appointed into political offices.We also had some female elected officers like the speaker of the house then, Chief Mrs Titi Oseni and some women too,so I think we did not do badly when I was a deputy governor and I made sure I worked smoothly with both men and women in a firm and equal manner with a team goal.
Why did you go into politics?
I think it’s just an interest, I needed to serve my people. We are really backward,from the senatorial zone where I came from, nothing is really happening there, even the highest office that we had since the creation of the state is the office of the deputy governor that I held,up till now, we have been struggling to be the number one person in the state but we are yet to have it. I went into politics just because I thought I needed to serve my people, especially my senatorial district,Ogun West senatorial district.
Joining politics as a woman comes with its own sacrifice of finding your feet within the party, how easy was it for you to go into politics?
I think I started from the grass root, because after my retirement, I retired from nursing in 1996, I went into politics immediately I retired. I went straight into politics and during the transition period, between 1998 and 1999, I was appointed a supervisory councilor of my local government and after that I became the PDP women leader of the party for the state,it was from the PDP women leader that I became the deputy governor of the state.
How easy was it for you to work with Governor Gbenga Daniel to achieve his dream for the state?
It was smooth, it was okay because when we got into office, he told me the dos and donts, what he likes and what he does not like and I tried to abide with it so it was okay for me. We had a smooth time running the state affairs together. There were no time issues of disloyalty came up, I knew what he wanted and I went with the flow of the work.
What were your feelings when you were picked as his running mate?
I felt very happy, I did not even expect it, I never thought I could get such a big office, I was thinking maybe I will be offered a commissioner post but as God would have it, it was OGD who called me and asked me to return to Ipokia from Lagos State and meet the leaders. He told me to tell them I will be his running mate so that was how I entered fully into politics. I am delighted that I was able to serve my people.
With the rigorous work of standing out as one of the best deputy governors in the west, how easy was it for you to combine your home with your appointment?
At that particular time ,most of my children were already grown ups,I had majority of them in the university, I think about 2 or 3 of them were already in the university,then the others were in the secondary school, boarding house,so I had sufficient time to face my responsibility, it was during the holiday that we normally see each other. It was fine running my home with my state job. My children are doing very well by His grace, two of them are medical doctors, one is a pharmacist and the other 2 studied Computer Engineering. I thank God for my children,They have always been there and have been so supportive despite the loss of my husband who died very early. We were married for 17 years,We met immediately after my School Certificate and he literarily pushed me to go to the Teachers Training School.
For women who have also decided to go into politics, what will you advice them having been in the politics for over 2 decades?
Well, I will advise women who are going into politics that they should think well on what really they are going there to do, if they want to serve, fine, but if its for another interest it is better they stay back. If they are rest assured that, why they want to go there is for service, then why not,they should join,but only on the permission of their husbands.
So you are still in the party that appointed you as the deputy governor, is there any possibility of you leaving the party?
Yes, I am still there, I am still a leader of the PDP and I don’t intend to leave the party for any other.
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