My early marriage paid-off. - Mrs. Sheefau Badams

Mrs. Sheefau Badams is the wife of Kogi State Commissioner for Environment and Physical planning and the immediate past Chairman of Adavi Local Government, Alhaji Abdul Rahman Badamasuiy. Born on 30th of March 1974 in Okene to the Family of Alhaji Salihu Momoh and Late Mrs. Zainab Salihu, Mrs. Sheefau Badamsuiy obtained her primary and post primary education in Okene before she went to pursue a career as a nursing student at the Kogi state School of Nursing, Obangede.
Married at the age of 19, Mrs. Sheefau, now 33, did her internship at the Psychiatric Hospital, Usielu/Benin, Edo State and became a registered Nurse with Adavi local Government of Kogi state. She worked with the Federal College of Education, Okene and Okene General Hospital where her extraordinary attention and care for the patients under critical conditions won her a reputation and strong admiration from many.
Upon her husband’s entry into active politics, she became a full housewife to fulfil the rising need for her support for his political ambition.
She received an award for good governance from Multichioce Media Ltd. In association with the Univerisity of Ibadan during the 46th Independence Anniversary of Nigeria. After losing their Adavi home to the April 2007 Gubernatorial elections crises in Kogi state, she moved with her family to Lokoja and has been residing in the confluence city.
In this interview with our Ismail M. Kabir, Mrs. Sheefau speaks on the benefit of early marriage, her life as a housewife, her programmes as the chairperson of Adavi L.G.A among others.

Excerpts:

Tell us about life in Lokoja?
What can I say? I think it makes no much difference except that one gets home sick once in a while. Besides, we are not so used to the neigbourhood as it is the case with home (Adavi) where community life is the norm.
You seem very happy and comfortable here. Doesn’t reflect fast adaptation?
Living happily in Lokoja, Okene or wherever we may find ourself shows we are a happy family.

How happy?
Well, I have a successful marriage. My early marriage paid off. Though there are challenges just like in every marriage, when I look at my kids and the enduring lifestyle of my husband, I feel happy. There is no success or joy in a marriage without understanding between the couples. First of all, a woman must be patient and tolerant if she desire happiness. As the home maker, she must ensures her husband’s progress and contribute actively to the raising of the children. Believing that the man is the head and should be left to shoulder the entire responsibility of the family could cost a woman her marriage. So, all the family responsibility should be mutual, and it is only mutual understanding that makes it possible. These made my marriage a happy one.

You were the chairperson of Adavi L.G in the immediate past local council administration. How was it like?
It was very challenging. I had focused much on the women. A lot of attention was given to health and women empowerment particularly the widows, it was a memorable experience.
We had various programmes including HIV/AIDS awareness campaign, Youth Parliament in Adavi, Sponsorship of the book ‘Ebira Tao; A people misunderstood and their Economic Potentials’, authored by two serving Youth corpers from Eastern Nigerian, Sponsorship for about 20 people of special health problems to Noma hospital in Sokoto, Encouragement program on Garri production (Agricultural), I was the Matron for Atamaiyiayi Widows Association among other programmes undertaken during the period.

Your life as a full house wife hasn’t diminished you at all. You are still ravishing and can be passed as a working lady. What is the magic?
(Laughs). Let me start by thanking you for the compliments. Being a housewife has been very interesting and equally challenging. Since my husband’s entry into active politics, a need arose for the fulfillment of his kind desires. He is very generous and could be described as the man of the people. He enjoys seeing people around him so he needs my support.
You know how it feels like when you receive guests round the clock, almost on daily basis. It is my duty as the wife to make his guests feel at home at all time, hence my assumption of a full-time house wife.

How would you react to the political situation at home?

I can’t comment much on that since I am not a politician (laughs). My husband knows better in that regard. As a mother, I can only advise the youths to refuse being used as tools for political thuggery. No woman will rejoice over the loss of her child, and suffering such loss through political crises can be very painful. We should call our children to order and educate them properly on priorities of life.
The politicians should also be considerate in their ambition because the women suffer most from all these crises. If they desire joy for their wives, they should learn to accord same to other women out there who have been victimized through the baseless fights.

Your advice to other ladies?
They should desire and appreciate early marriage considering the modern moral decadence. The intent to enjoy life while you are still young can be destructive. When they eventually get married, their husband should be their priority as this will influence a life-long marital success.