With the 2019 general elections approaching, the clamour for more participation of Nigerian women in politics is gathering momentum. Since the return of democracy in Nigeria in 1999, Nigerians have been agitating for the implementation of United Nations affirmative action which recommends that women should be given 35 percent elective and appointive positions.
Barr Nkechi Chukwueke, former Special Adviser to ex- Governor Babatunde Fashola on Women Ethnics Group Mobilisation and Empowerment and former deputy governorship candidate of the defunct All Nigerian Peoples Party (ANPP) in Lagos State stated that a lot of factors have been affecting the effective participation of women in politics.
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She said, “Nigerian women are not actively involved in politics, so many factors are responsible for this. One, there is financial challenge, cultural inhibition, family restraint and the society. The men will always want to intimidate women and the women on their own are not supportive.
“The society will also criticise you, they say what she is going to do in politics. The society will not create a favourable atmosphere for women to participate in politics. I have heard that the men will even want to take advantage of you”.
She encouraged those women interested in going into politics to be courageous, confident and discipline enough to take up challenges that come with politics.
“I think Nigeria has a chance of producing the best female president, governor, or any other position at the local, state or federal government level, if the woman coming on board is of a reputable character, confident, a good conscience, the fear of God and has passion for our country.”
The number of elected women in the National assembly is not encouraging following by the available statistics. For instance, only seven out of the 109 senators serving in the 8th National Assembly are women. Four of the female senators were elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) while three are members of the All Progressive Congress (APC).
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The PDP senators are Stella Oduah (Anambra North), Uche Ekwunife (Anambra Central), Rose Oko (Cross River North) and Fatimat Raji-Rasaki (Ekiti Central). Those elected on APC platform are Oluremi Tinubu (Lagos Central), Binta Garba (Adamawa North) and Monsurat Jumoke Sunmonu (Oyo Central).
We have a lot of women who have served at a particular time and have proved that if giving the opportunity, they would make the country proud. They are; Mrs. Ngozi Okonjo Iweala, former Minister of Finance, who during his tenure helped the country in moving out foreign debt burden at Paris Club. Late Prof. Dora Akunyli, former NAFDAC boss, who also performed credibly by fighting against adulterated pharmaceutical drugs, her name can never be forgotten in the archives of history.
Mrs Obi Ezekwesili also laid a landmark in the history of Nigeria politics. She was once the Vice-President of the World Bank’s Africa division, she also served as the Federal Minister of Solid Minerals and later as Minister of Education during the second term of Former President Olusegun Obasanjo, she co-founded the viral #BringBackOurGirls campaign on social media. These were myriads of women in politics that have performed excellently well. Also, Mrs Comfort Remi Sonaiya, the Nigeria’s first female presidential candidate and a lot more.
The post Clamour For Women Participation In Politics appeared first on Independent Newspapers.
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