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By Agatha Emeadi
Mrs Jumoke Anifowoshe is the head of legal, Olajumoke Anifowoshe and Co (Ajasin Chambers). She was also the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice in Ondo State during the Governor Adebayo Adefarati-led government.
She is also the last daughter of Pa Michael Adekunle Ajasin of blessed memory, a Nigerian politician, who served as the governor of Ondo State from 1979-1983 on the platform of the Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN) in the Second Republic.
In this exclusive interview, Mrs Anifowoshe, who believes in Nigeria, said: “Nigeria was beautiful, Nigerian can be beautiful and I still believe Nigeria will be beautiful”, even as she talked about politics in her state, Ondo.
Are you a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) or just a judge?
I am not both because there were criteria for becoming SAN, which I not meet up with the criteria, then becoming a judge, I was not interested. At a time when we were in practice, judges were seen as people that must not mingle with the society and I did not want that kind of lifestyle as at that time. That was why I did not apply to be a judge, though I was offered by two chief judges in my state, Ondo, if I would like to come on board. But later I was appointed the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice during the time of Chief Adebayo Adefarati when the current democratic process started.
Being in legal practice for close to 50 years, what would you say about the profession, the practitioners and the system?
Well, it is different strokes for different folks and depends on the side of the device that one is. If a case favours someone, the person would applaud the judge, if not, there would be a bias about the judge; but personally, looking at the judiciary currently, I think they have to go back to the drawing board and make sure that the public opinion is not in favour of the judiciary. That is where the different heads of different courts have work to do, let both, the old and current, including the older ones, who have passed through the system come and do workshop, lecture the new judges on how to live above board so that the confidence of the society can be restored back.
As growing up children, names like FRA Williams (SAN), Justice Chukwudifu Oputa, Kayode Eso, Gani Fawehinmi etc; were respected legal icons, I do not think such characters and qualities are seen in the present day judges; those were judges with respected words…what has happened?
Chief FRA Williams and Gani Fawehinmi were legal practitioners all their lives, Oputa was a judge of the Supreme Court who performed according to the law, and people admired his judgment, he is forever being quoted by lawyers. There were other judges who also lived above board, even currently, there are still judges that live above board. So, in every group, every association, there must be bad eggs. The world we live in is not a perfect world and if we have groups of people coming together as a body, definitely we will find some bad eggs.
Recalling your tenure as the Attorney General/ Commissioner for Justice in Ondo State, what would you be remembered for while on that position?
Before I got there, the morale of lawyers in the state council was very low.
Why?
For so many reasons, there were no vehicles provided to take them to court. Things that should be provided to make them work effectively and efficiently were not provided. Therefore, with that I was able to resuscitate what should be given to them and the governor was cooperative in that instance, things started moving and the state council became happy. The ministry moved ahead, though I did not stay for long because then, we were thinking about having mediation centre like they had in Lagos State then. We were also bringing in Lagos ideas into the system, but after I left, the Attorney General who came after me continued from where I stopped and we both achieved success. I am forever remembered for bringing back the morale of the lawyers in the Ministry of Justice then in Ondo State.
Being the last daughter of the late Pa Michael Ajasin, the political bigwig in Ondo State, what did he stand for?
My late father was a politician who stood for the people. He would ask why is there no water, why are the roads bad, some people should be answerable to us and that was amazing.
I know the political bug that bit your father also bit you because several times, you contested to be the governor of your state, Ondo?
I contested about three or four times, but male chauvinism played out on me.
Even with your father’s stronghold as a former governor?
That was even the bone of contention and the negativity that surrounded me. Someone said they cannot worship the father and still worship the daughter. But nevertheless, I have forged ahead, whatever will be, will be.
Do you win at the primary level then?
Yes, I contested during primaries all the time with the late Governor Rotimi Akeredolu, I did primaries with him in 2015 and 2019. So, I came to a conclusion that the male leadership did not want me. When they do not want you, they will not want you especially being a woman.
Maybe, you did not want to be Akeredolu’s deputy then?
We are from the same town. He was my mother’s godson.
Knowing what the murky water of politics is in Nigeria, probably, there should have been an in-house agreement before coming out to the public?
Well, he met me in the system, I was the Chairman of the Action Congress of Nigeria (CAN) before he joined politics. We were about the first female state chairman of a major political party, so I am senior to him in politics. If it was my brother’s contesting, it would have been a different ballgame, but because I am a woman, that is why they played me out. Up till now, I am still experiencing chauvinism, the late governor has asked my ward to suspend me from the party without doing anything. When they were canvassing for another party, Action Alliance (AA), because they divided APC in Ondo State at that time, when Akeredolu’s favourites could not get the ticket of APC in Ondo State, he told them to go get ticket of AA, some people went to AA, but I did not go to AA. I had an ambition to be the governorship candidate of a party, but chauvinism and corruption surrounding it, the cash cows etc; so, all played out.
Did you have a godfather?
That is another problem. I do not have any godfather. Segun Abraham was Asiwaju’s candidate who contested twice with Akeredolu and myself at the primaries; but the late governor won and all soft-pedaled and allowed him to continue.
If given the chance, will you still contest?
No, I am done with all that. I will not contest again.
And in all those times, you were not considered for any political appointment?
It depends if the governor who won is fair-minded. If it is someone that has vengeance in his heart, then no appointment will be given and that is the situation.
Though governor Akeredolu died in active service, but for politics sake, he would always be remembered. How did he fare in Ondo State?
I think he tried his best. He constructed roads.
When you were on the threshold of politics, did you have fellow women supporters?
Very, few. I can count them on my fingertips. Most of them were jumping where they could get money and food. Instead, the men were more supportive of me more than the women. Women not supporting women is all-over the world. When I was contesting, another woman went to a women’s gathering to tell them that Ondo State is not ripe for a female governor, she should campaign for something lesser. I cannot contest for the crumbs.
What fond memories of Nigeria do you have as a young growing girl?
Nigeria was beautiful, Nigerian can be beautiful and I still believe Nigeria will be beautiful. I believe in Nigeria and that is why I do not travel out much, not even attracted to going abroad again. I like life in Nigeria, I feel more comfortable here; for me, Nigeria is a place for me.
Would you advise women to go into politics the way you did?
Yes, of course. I will advise them to do so. They should go into politics because with more women in politics, positions of authorities in and outside the government, things would definitely get better.
Who was your mother?
My mother was a teacher, she was the vice principal of a divisional college, while my father was the principal of Imade College, all in Owo, Ondo State.
Was teaching the attraction for both in marriage?
No, they got married when my father was a headmaster at St. Lukes, Sapele, in the present day Delta State where he started his career before he went to Foray-Bay College, Sierra-Leone and proceeded to United Kingdom all for further studies. My mother finished from United Missionary Schools, Ibadan in Oyo State. Both were like-minds trained teachers.
How was growing up as teacher’s children who also became politicians’ children?
Well, growing up was interesting. Happy lucky children we were who had all we needed, not too much of everything and not too small of everything. Life was pleasant and I reminisce those days.
What fond memories of those days could you remember?
One of the greatest facts was that my siblings and I, even with a governor father studied here in Nigeria, from primary school to the university. I studied Law at the University of Ife. We enjoyed those days as undergraduates. I remember in my final year, I had a whole room to myself with wash-hand basin, wardrobe and a little veranda. I got that because I registered early, some other students were either two or three in a room, but I was alone in my own room. There was nothing like squatting in our days. This was in the 70s. Our feeding was also super. We enjoyed cornflakes, quaker oats and milk as breakfast, jollof rice with big chunk of chicken. Maybe also because of the population, we were not that many then.
Back home, what about your siblings, education and growing up generally?
My father was a patriot who believed in Nigeria and lived up to it. Four of us, his biological children, got our education here in Nigeria. My older brother graduated from Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Idi -Araba, my senior sister went to the Polytechnic Ibadan, before she travelled out of the country to complete her studies. While my immediate senior brother attended Igbobi College and the University of Lagos. I attended St. Lukes Secondary School, Ondo and higher school at Olivett Baptist High School before gaining admission to study Law at the University of Ife. To also tell you that we are all based in Nigeria, but unfortunately all the grandchildren are based in foreign countries.
What about your husband?
He is no longer living. I lost him eight years after our marriage. I have been widowed for more than 30 years. There was no premonition of death, but he took ill and we sought for medical treatment abroad, back and forth, we ended up in LUTH where he gave up.
What advice would you give to young widows?
I would advise young widows not to stay alone. It is good to have a partner; it is not good to live alone. I would not say people should not marry. Though I am not regretting the decision because if I had remarried, I would not have been able to take care of my children the way I did. It is not the best to be alone, but at the same time, if you have the stamina to storm it up, all the best. I am not regretting, I like the way I am; but for the younger ones; because of what is going on around, I prefer them to get married except they have the will power and strength to stay strong. If a widow gets a widower, all the best. There might be time, when one would want to discuss and confide in another person, but in my case, my siblings have enough time and are supportive of me. I have never been alone since my husband’s demise.
