Barrister Sharon Ikeazor speaks exclusively with the United Kingdom arm of the all Progressives Congress about her ambitions for Anambra central

Barrister Sharon Ikeazor is a corporate lawyer with a huge presence in the Nigerian political scene.

The legal luminary, who refuses to define herself along ethnic or tribal lines, began her journey into politics as the first National Women Leader of the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) in 2010.

Inspired by “President Muhammadu Buhari’s integrity,” Barrister Ikeazor followed the former CPC leader to the All Progressives Congress (APC) a party formed of four major political parties - Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) and All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) - in anticipation of the 2015 general elections.

It is well known the part that Barrister Ikeazor played in galvanizing votes at the elections which saw the Presidential candidate of the APC, Muhammadu Buhari win 15,424,921 votes (53.95 percent) of the 28,587,564 total valid votes cast.

Now, Barrister Ikeazor is hoping to commit herself into changing her community positively, by campaigning to win the forthcoming re-run of the elections in Anambra Central Senatorial District.
She revealed in an exclusive interview with APC UK, her hopes to create jobs, if she is nominated as her party’s candidate and elected into the red chambers.

The pioneering women leader revealed that she had “started cooperatives in Anambra” to help with employment in the state. Barrister Ikeazor described the women cooperative as a scheme for women to “farm and their produce are put together to be sold at a profit.”

Another avenue she is seeking to develop her senatorial district is the construction of industries which she believes will generate “gainful employment,” for the young boys currently agitating for the creation of Biafra.

In her views, if those protesting “had jobs they would not be doing what they are doing.”

“Most of the industries in Anambra are moribund. The state of our roads, the second Niger Bridge has not been built and all these are needed for the economic development of Anambra state,” she added. In 2014, the level of unemployment in the state of Anambra reached an all-time high of about 95%.
One of Anambra’s leading activists, Sharon, was called to the Bar in 1985. Barrister Sharon Ikeazor has rightly placed employment as one of her major priorities if she wins the party’s nomination and even goes on to win the re-run of the election which the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), has been ordered to be carried out following the sacking of PDP's Senator Uche Ekwunife in December 2015.

The erstwhile candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Mrs Ekwunife who decamped to join the APC, this month, has also picked up a nomination form for the same position.

Asked about the massive defection to her party since the party won the Presidential election, Barrister Ikeazor informed APC UK that “there is nothing wrong with anyone joining a political party.”

However, she implores new members to “imbibe the morals and integrity of the APC.

“I don’t subscribe to moving from one political party to the other. I believe in one being steadfast in what they are doing and you being steadfast imply integrity, because it is like when you don’t get what you want in one party, you move to another. That means you don’t have any ideology.”

Although she “would not do such a thing to move from one political party to the other, Barrister Ikeazor has “nothing personal against” Mrs Ekwunife who announced her decision to decamp PDP this month for the APC.

“After working in various Oil Companies and Engineering Firms, the daughter of the late Chimeizie Ikeazor (SAN) of Obosi, Anambra State wants to “influence policies.”

Barrister Ikeazor initiated the APCYF (APC Young Women’s Forum), a forum to create space for young women in the APC. She spoke candidly about the opportunities that women could take in the upcoming council elections.
“My first foray into politics was as the National women leader of CPC,” she said, expressing that as a founding member of the All Progressives Congress and member of the party’s Board of Trustee, she hopes to use “politics as a platform” for her voice to be heard.

She revealed that she had “joined politics because of the integrity of President Muhammadu Buhari and I followed him into the All Progressives Congress (APC).”

“The incident that actually pushed me into politics was the Sosoliso Plane crash in 2005, where many children died,” she said as she recollected her role in getting justice for the victims.

“I was one of the people who organised a protest because I felt that the crash was avoidable. The crash was due to negligence and we found that there was no legal consequence for the illegal action. No one was sued and no one was held responsible for it.

We had an investigative report on that crash. Did they query any one or was any one sacked? No! So, I felt in Nigeria, we have all the laws but it is the enforcement of the law that is the problem and President Buhari stands for discipline and high integrity, that is why I believe in him”. I have a leader and I believe in my leader. Through the campaign, I would say we came through. I would also say party loyalty should count.

“I am here to serve. I am here to inspire. Involvement in governance is essential because the actions of our senatorial representatives have enormous impact on our everyday lives. I am ready for this new challenge and with the help of my people; we can start making a difference together.”

Thanks,

Adenike Lucas,
Press Secretary
All Progressives Congress - UK Chapter