University Don Decries Marginalisation Of Women In Nigeria’s Politics

A Political Scientist in the University of Ibadan (UI), Dr. Bukola Adesina today decried the low level of involvement of Nigeria women in the nation’s politics, pointing out that while Rwanda tops the table of women involvement in politics with 56.3, Nigeria is ranked 118 with 7.0 percent out of 192 countries in the world.

Dr. Adesina disclosed this in a paper titled “Role of Women in Politics”, at Pa Alayande Conference Hall, NUT Building, Samonda, in a lecture organised by the Oyo State Chapter of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) to mark the International Women’s Day.

She said that the disparity between women and men in politics is the outcome of social constructs founded on many existing stereotypical ideas and the patriarchal nature of Nigerian society.

She further pointed out that Nigerian women’s contribution in the building of the nation is not appreciated going by the lack of sportsmanship by the men who discriminate against them when it comes to allowing them to take active part in the running of the nation at all levels.

Disclosing that though Nigeria is a signatory to international treaties on adequate representation of women in politics, it is disheartening to note that with women constituting about 50 percent of the country’s population, and 51 percent of voters in election, women’s numbers are ridiculously low in governance.

In her analysis, in 1999, only three of the 109 senators were women, 13 of the 360 members of the House of Representatives were women, 12 of 978 members of the various Houses of Assembly in the states were women while there were nine women as local government chairpersons and 143 local government councillors as well as one female deputy governor and one speaker of the House of Assembly.

In 2003, according to her, there was a slight improvement as women in the senate increased to four and House of Representatives increased to 21, while 39 women won seats in the various state Houses of Assembly and only few women were elected as chairpersons and councillors.

“No woman held a substantive party position except in the relatively new political parties where a few women are found in the NEC,” she lamented.

Outlining the barriers responsible for low representation of women in politics to include cultural barriers, party membership, religious constraints, violent nature of politics, godfatherism, financial constraints and lack of and limited access to education, she urged women to support one another in their bid to attain political offices.

She declared that the lone vote received by the Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP) presidential aspirant, Mrs. Sarah Jubril at the party recently held primary election where the flag bearer for the presidency was selected was an indication that women should not expect men to support them when they cannot rally round a woman like them.

The don called for the introduction of a formal quota with enforcement mechanism to increase the number of women holding political offices charged the media to work toward changing some erroneous impressions about women in politics.

Her words: “Women in politics are frequently demonised or presented as loose women. The media should dissipate energy on sensitising the populace on the need for women to be actively involved in politics. Equally, there is a need for enhancing women’s access to the media as a tool to rally public support.

“However, the National Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ) has a bigger role to play in this regard, through adequate coverage and proper packaging of women politicians.”

Continuing, she said: “They should objectively report their activities in their news stories, features, news analysis, opinions, and editorial. They can also do documentary programmes on women politicians where their strengths would be properly highlighted.”

Speaking Earlier, Chairperson of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) Women Committee, Comrade Modupe Agbaje noted that the choice of the theme rather than this year’s universal theme, ‘Equal Access to Education, Training, Science and Technology: Pathway to Decent Work for Women’ was as a result of the high marginalisation of women in the democratic process in Nigeria.

According to her, there is need to convert the strength in women’s followership to that of leadership so that the society could enjoy the potentials in women as capable to improve the lives of the citizens.

She added that by the time gender discrimination is reduced, Nigeria women achievers would be recognised and celebrated as much as their male counterparts.

By Gbenro Adesina/Ibadan