Ijeoma Ogbonna
17 December 2007
opinion
Lagos — NIGERIAN women have indeed come a long way as far as politics is concerned. They have proved their mettle when given the opportunity to play any role. There is no doubt that the present Fourth Republic remains their shining glory, taking into account their exploits in the political terrain.
This may not be unexpected as over the years, the Nigerian women have come to realise that they need to encourage one another to be able to make any significant impact in the game usually assumed to be a dirty one. This may explain why the former Vice Chancellor of the Lagos State University (LASU) Prof. Jadesola Akande, resolved to get young women to step up their interest in politics. She has been involved in organising conferences for middle aged women to equip them adequately in order to achieve that objective.
She is not alone in that direction. Sometime ago, Senator Florence Ita-Giwa, also organisd so many programmes aimed at encouraging women into politics.
It is a well known fact that women globally, especially those in public offices are architects of change. In the present Nigerian democratic dispensation, there are many women whose names have become household names due to their roles in politics and leadership.
They include the Director-General of the National Agency for Food, Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Prof. Dora Akunyili, who is regarded as one of the most decorated woman in Nigeria and is one of the four greatest women in the world. Recently, the former Minister of External Affairs/Finance and Current World Bank's Managing Director for Africa, Asia, Europe and Central Asia, Dr. (Mrs). Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, has been given accolades and celebrated for her leading role in rehabilitating many countries including Nigeria, from their economic woes.
These women who have among others distinguished themselves as women of substance seem to have had a tutorial from other women who have had some exploits in the past. Such women include the woman activist, late Mrs. Funmilayo Ransome Kuti who was the first Nigerian lady to drive a car in Nigeria, Retired Major General Aderonke Kale, a medical doctor by profession who worked in the Nigerian Army Medical Corps and was the highest ranking female officer in the Nigeria Army, not forting Prof Grace Alele Williams who as the first Nigerian woman to obtain a Ph.D and was also the first Nigerian female Vice Chancellor (University of Benin 1985-1991), Margaret Ekpo who was at forefront of the famous Aba Women's riot of 1929 and Nike Omoworare Agunbiade who was the first female Deputy Speaker of a State Assembly during the Third Republic. She was later to contest the Osun state governorship election in the present Fourth Republic. All these women have made a name in politics and leadership positions and have become role models for the young girls today.
However, it is amazing that women with their number and potential, still play only roles that are imperceptible in the country's politics. Politically, women are mostly in the minority. They are just like cheer leaders or errand girls for the men, yet they constitute a large percentage of voters and participate greatly in campaigns. In fact, they are the group that are easily mobilized. Unfortunately, they make up only a negligible number in decision-making positions.
Throughout the world, women have faced barriers in their involvement in politics. These impediments exist in social and economic systems that are in political structures.
In 2007, statistics showed that the number of female representation at national level stood at 18 per cent globally. This has increased but little progress has been achieved. This means that the gap between men and women in a national legislatures and other decision-making organ is still very wide.
Women politicians have said that some of their impediments to winning elections in the country are money politics and power play that effectively scheme women out. Money has always been seen as a major factor in the game of politics along with the relative absence of financial empowerment of women. Besides, there has always been cases of much violence and bitterness in the current day politics. This is evident in the recurring cases of assassinations, violent clashes at rallies and sheer thuggery which are not really welcomed in a woman's world.
The culture of politics in Nigeria is in urgent need of a reform. It needs to be transformed to accommodate both men and women. It has become a proven fact that women would excel in the male-dominated professions of politics if given the chance. Studies have shown that when women are in power, governance quality increases, corruption decreases and there will be better representation for the citizens.
In the recent past, the professional political class had tried to correct the imbalance when the ruling party, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) deliberating sought to encourage women in politics. The party reserved some percentage of political positions for women.
Interestingly, in the 2003 elections, the PDP also exempted women from paying nomination fees usually paid by political aspirants. The ruling party has given more political office to women in the past eight years than any other time in Nigeria's political history.
The Fourth republic has seen more women getting involved in politics. Thanks to ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo's administration which gave women the pride of place through elections and appointments. This has contributed in no small measure to the uplift of women in this nation. Although Hon. Mrs. Patricia. Etteh was removed as the Speaker of the House of Representatives following the scandalous house renovation contract, she is the first woman to attain that political height.
Therefore, women should take stock, rise up and get themselves into governorship positions and thereafter be ready to run for the highest office in the land which is the presidency because there is nothing impossible in politics. After all, if a country like Liberia has a female president in the name of Johnson Sirleaf, the first of such development in Africa and Hilary Clinton is a presidential candidate for the 2008. United States of America's election, then there is still a possibility of having a woman president in Africa's most populous nation, in Nigeria.
But if this ambitious dream is to be realized, it depends on women's determination.
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