Former Nigerian Senator Florence Ita-Giwa has opened up about the deeply personal experiences that shaped her political journey, declaring that she entered politics not for status, but to find and amplify her voice.
Speaking during an interview on Arise TV on Saturday, Ita-Giwa reflected on a life marked by political upheaval, personal loss and resilience, saying her path into public service was forged long before she held elective office.
“I joined politics for a voice, not to be a politician,” she said, underscoring that her involvement was driven more by conviction than ambition.
The former lawmaker, known for her outspoken advocacy, recounted her upbringing during a turbulent era in Nigeria’s history.
She described watching her mother, a journalist, endure repeated arrests due to her political involvement.
“I saw my mother arrested multiple times. She was into Igbo politics; during the war, we were in Biafra. She made us Biafrans,” Ita-Giwa recalled.
The civil war years, she suggested, instilled in her a sense of political consciousness at an early age. “When they talk about being young, I’ve always felt I’m aging well — I’ve never been young,” she added, implying that responsibility and exposure to hardship matured her quickly.
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Beyond politics, Ita-Giwa also spoke about personal tragedy. She narrated the painful experience of losing her husband — a journalist who had abandoned a promising career in the United States to contribute to Nigeria.
“I met a journalist who left a promising career in America to contribute here. He married me, but despite living separately, I had the worst experience of my life seeing his shattered body in the mortuary,” she said.
Her remarks painted a portrait of a woman shaped by history, loss and survival — experiences she believes few women can fully understand.
“I doubt 10 women have gone through what I’ve faced,” she said, reflecting on the trials that have defined her life.
Ita-Giwa, who served as a senator representing Cross River South, has long been a prominent figure in Nigerian politics, particularly in advocacy for women’s participation and regional development.
Her comments on Saturday offered a rare, intimate glimpse into the personal struggles behind her public persona — reinforcing her assertion that for her, politics was less about title and more about voice.