Hajia Aisha Alubankudi is a beautiful woman of substance. She is Stylish also. She looks good all the time. She is also very brilliant. She has made her mark in her sphere of influence. She has a good pedigree and she has made a good name for herself in life.


Recently this adorable woman who is also a great politician spoke to Citypeople Publisher Seye Kehinde about her life and style. It is very revealing. Below are excerpts of the interview.



 

Tell us a bit about you. What do you do? Where were you born? Where did you grow up?

I work in London as a social worker. I've been in the social work field for over 20 years, I qualified as a social worker in the year 2000. For those who may not understand the profession, "Social work is a profession concerned with helping individuals, families, groups and communities to enhance their individual and collective well-being. It aims to help people develop their skills and their ability to use their resources and those of the community to resolve problems. A social worker helps alleviate problems. Social workers help people solve and cope with problems in their everyday lives.

I was born in Ibadan and lived in the ancient town for the first 20 years of my life until I relocated to England in 1988. I’m originally from Ijebu-Jesha in Osun State.



You are a very stylish woman. How did you develop that aspect of you?



Simplicity. I don’t go for the name brands but something I will be comfortable wearing. Also, I don’t go for styles that I can only wear once and keep in the wardrobe forever because it is too expensive to give away, or it can’t suit the theme of occasions anymore.  I hardly buy for just an occasion and I accessorised cleverly when I repeat my dresses.

Also, my weight is like a “yoyo” so I wear dresses that will fit for all weight. Also, I don’t go for what’s in vogue. I am not an extravagant person also, I give myself a deserving treat occasionally but I won’t break the bank to get that done.


 
Tell us about your dress sense. What informs what you wear all the time?



I wear clothes that make me feel attractive. I had low esteem issues when I was growing up; I will copy people's styles but deep inside, I feel heavy and uncomfortable. But I will still go ahead with it.

But now, I'm so confident that I believe in simplicity. Colours affect my behaviour and mood. If I wear orange and yellow, I always feel like the spice of the party, but green and blue is a no go area, I don’t feel comfortable in them.





You were also once into politics at some point. Are you still active?



I used to tell people that I wasn’t a politician until someone corrected me and said that we are all politicians by nature. It is just the ignorance of this idea that made most of us chickened out. I also read somewhere that if everyone was a politician, society would be better off.  This is why I picked interest in politics; I was in secondary school at the time. My dad also had a close relationship with some politicians then like Bola Ige, and some other names I can no longer remember

Also, I started having an interest in politics during General Buhari’s WAI - War Against Indiscipline campaign. Actually, I was afraid then because no one dares misbehave on the streets. So when Buhari joined politics, I strongly believed that this was the man that will lead us to the promised land. I started campaigning for him on social media in 2010 or so. When he lost, he came to London and he said that he will never contest again. I remembered that day that Zaynab Galadima called me when he returned from Nigeria and said that we must visit PMB in Marble Arch to beg him to contest in 2015. 

 That was the journey. I was so determined then. I remember people warning me that they’ll kill me, they even called my mum and told her to warn me. I remember telling my mum that the day she conceived me was the day I signed a contract with death. 
My mum was shocked and said that she will continue praying for me. Even they wanted me sacked at work but I didn’t care. We fought the battle and won but after that, we returned to our daily lives because the mission has been accomplished. 
I’m no longer active because many things happened to me then which I don’t want to discuss. Alhamdulillah, I've moved on. I will do it again if there's a candidate I believe in, but I doubt if I will ever be that passionate again. 

 Right now, I only showcase good governance, I discussed with friends on pertinent issues concerning my society, identifying with Nigeria, but I’ve decided to take a back seat because there’s no imminent solution.



You are a practicing Muslim and it shows in your Fashion Style. Does this limit what you can wear?



Actually, I use to wear tight fitted dresses. I was still modest in dressing but I had this deep conviction that I need to improve on my dressing as a Muslim. I use to be blonde, and I rock artificial nails etc.

But I decided in the year 2000 to cover my head. Alhamdulillah, today, I will feel naked if I don’t. I remember one day, I wanted to get something in the car, and my elder boy called me back. He was frowning and asked me to cover my head.



From the day I read that ablution doesn't enter nails which were also in the year 2000, you will never see me with nail polish or artificial nails. I’m still putting eyelashes, and I haven’t considered to stop or not but I will eventually stop because I don’t feel comfortable wearing it.

Two years ago, I stopped adding hair extension…



Tell us about your philosophy of life. What informs whatever you do?



My philosophy of life is to be yourself.  Be satisfied with what you have and do not fear failure. Even if you fail, don’t hesitate to try again.

Also, do not depend on someone to make you happy. Make yourself happy, and let your inner beauty reflect on outer beauty.



You did not tell me about your dad and pedigree.



My dad is late. He was a trader and a fashionable man. I’m from a polygamous family. My dad had 22children and Alhamdulillah we are all alive. He was murdered during Ramadan on the 27th of January 1997 in our house in Ibadan, I haven’t been back to that home ever since, because he was shot at the front of my bedroom. I actually avoided answering the question.
 
Please tell us about your parents

My mum lives with me, she’s also a trader and relocated to England when my dad died. We are 7 from my mum; 6 in England and one in the US.