Day women said: ‘We have danced and clapped enough’
One of the contemporary issues of the 21st century is the participation of women in politics and decision making and many are of the view that economic participation and political participation are interwoven. Thus women’s participation in politics cannot be isolated from their overall socioeconomic status particularly in a developing nation like Nigeria. 50 years […]
One of the contemporary issues of the 21st century is the participation of women in politics and decision making and many are of the view that economic participation and political participation are interwoven. Thus women’s participation in politics cannot be isolated from their overall socioeconomic status particularly in a developing nation like Nigeria.
50 years after independence, there is no female governor out of the 36 state governors; there are only three female deputy governors in Osun, Lagos and Ogun, all in the South West geopolitical zone, there are only six women as cabinet members of the Federal Executive council out of about 40 members. In the legislature, there are eight women senators out of the 109 members and 25 female honourable members in the 306 member House of Representatives, and out of about 59 political parties, only one of them , the United National Party for Development has a female Chairman, needless to say women are least represented at most levels of governance .
There is the challenge that despite the fact that women constitute the bulk of the population of the country, their participation in the democratic process is totally at variance with their numerical strength. With the 2011 General Elections less than 10 months away, it therefore behoves that democracy cannot truly deliver for all its citizens if half the population remains underrepresented in the political arena. Hence there is need to ensure an equitable participation of women in politics and government especially in decision making.
The National Summit and Rally was like a clarion call to the women folk in the country on the need to meet and unanimously discuss and chart the way forward. It was an opportunity for the women to speak with one voice and be united towards a common purpose; to review their journey so far and draw up plans and strategies to increase women’s participation in politics and governance in the country. And like their predecessors who held various protests in Aba in 1929, and executed the series of Egba Women’s Riots which made a bold statement on the need for women’s inclusion in the socio-political and economic lives of this country, they came in their numbers to Abuja from every nook and cranny of the country and as the First lady Dame Patience Good Luck Jonathan said, the massive turn out of women for the event shows their level of unity, seriousness and resolve to increase their participation in politics.
The wife of the vice president Amina Sambo ,female deputy governors, female ministers, female Senators and Members of the House of Representatives, wives of governors of the 36 states of the federation and wives of their deputies ,spouses of leaders in parliament, the executive and judicial arms of government at the National , State and Local government level,past, present, and aspiring female politicians at all levels , female party leaders and their subordinates from national to ward level, political NGOs and organisations nationwide and significantly women from the grass root attended the events just to mention a few.
Speaking while declaring the summit open, Dame Patience Goodluck Jonathan said without the active participation of women at all levels of policy making, the goals of equality, development and peace cannot be achieved.
She said women must be bold enough to seek elective positions during elections and take advantage of their large population as they constitute majority of voters during elections.
She appealed to the National Assembly to implement the 35% affirmative action in the constitution especially now that the constitution is undergoing a review.
She urged the women to remember that no matter their political ambition or position the men are the head while they are the neck and both need each other therefore they shouldn’t forget their roles as wives and mothers. She said they should carry their husbands along as they need their support and encouragement.
At the mass rally on Tuesday she advised the women not only to support fellow women contesting morally and financially but also ensure that their children are not used as thugs during elections.
Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Iyom Josephine Anenih who organised the event said the women are gathered because they are not satisfied with the status quo. She said for decades women have been chasing shadows, while the men grab the substance but the summit marks the end of that era as they will discuss their issues, share experiences and learn how to play politics and win.
She said the women, “Gathered to change things, their mindsets, the society, to make things better for our children, themselves and even for men. It is meant to address the critical issue of women’s participation in politics in Nigeria , an issue that has been globally recognised as a key component of democracy.”
Iyom Anenih said while women do not all have to run for public office, they should all register, join a political party, and vote during elections.
She urged the private sector and development partners to back more women and to see the potential in the participation of women in politics as an effective developmental tool.
She said,“At the end of the summit participants will be well equipped to face the challenges often associated with political manoeuvres, constituency outreach, strategic planning, and plan execution. So that our goal to see more women in key positions of authority and governance come 2011 will be achieved.”
Information and Communication Minister, Professor Dora Akunyili said if the male folk do not listen to the agitation for enhanced participation of women in Politics, the women would boycott elections all together.
She said women can do well in politics when given the chance as evidenced in the fact that the male intelligence quotient did not surpass that of the women even in school situations.
Honourable Saudatu Sani, the House Committee Chairman on MDG’s who charged the atmosphere at the summit with her call on women to arise , be united and take the country’s politics by storm amidst lengthy cheers, applause, and shouts of agreement said women need financial support from the government as it is a major harbinger in their participation in politics.
President Goodluck Jonathan who was represented by Vice President Namadi Sambo at the summit, promised his administration’s resolve at ensuring that relevant frameworks, institutional reforms, transformational processes, legislations and programmes that will facilitate merit at the polls are put in place before the conduct of 2011 general elections. While admitting that the political space and environment for women to actively engage in politics have remained so unfriendly over the years, he said he will ensure women’s full participation and take all necessary measures to make sure that each vote counts.
He said it is gratifying that the event is taking place at a time the country is undergoing transformation in gender issues with special emphasis on increasing the number of women in governance.
“I consider this gathering historic as it coincides with the nation’s preparations to mark our 50 years of existence as an independent and sovereign nation. The Golden Jubilee celebration of our 50th Independence Anniversary will not be complete if we do not recognise the contributions of our women. I therefore expect this Summit and Rally to underscore our women’s achievements and contributions to our nation’s growth and struggles for freedom, change and the entrenchment of democracy.” He said
The president said Nigeria cannot record any meaningful growth in its developmental efforts if women are not carried along in our planning, budgeting, programming and projects implementation processes, adding that this is so because those who are conversant with our political history will attest to the positive roles played by women in each phase of our national struggle for the advancement of the Nigerian society and its significance to Nigeria’s unity.
The women made some resolutions at the end of the summit among which are : to work with political parties to ensure increased number of women in party leadership and membership, demand entrenchment of the gender character principle in the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria(1999) through review of sections 14(3) and 147 respectively, state governors support the emergence of female candidates towards the 2011 general elections,35 % appointive positions in the leadership structures, adoption of twining at all levels of governance and female politicians build intergenerational linkages through the mentoring of a critical successor generation among other resolutions.
There were colourful match past and cultural displays by each state delegation led by the various states First Ladies and also by the various political groups.
The clamour by women to increase their participation in politics is aptly captured in the words of Olori Modupe Oshin at the second intergenerational dialogue on women in Nigeria recently, she said: “Women have clapped , sang and danced enough. This ‘Woman leader’ era has passed. Let the woman candidate who has ability emerge and be given opportunity to prove herself. Elect her to go to her constituency, look at the pot holes, the sinking drainages ,dark nights and dry taps that send her children back to the infected water holes to fetch water for drinking, which in turn sends our mothers running helter-skelter to the hospital where she is not certain to get the health care needed for her sick child. At state and national levels the men should come down from their high horse and give women a hand to climb on to the saddle of leadership. They will be pleasantly surprised to see how fast and well women can ride.”