Stakeholders urge women to show more interest in politics
NAN-HG-11
Women
By Olasunkanmi Onifade
Abuja, March 7, 2017 (NAN) Stakeholders on Tuesday urged Nigerian women to show more interest in politics.
They made the call in separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja, ahead of the 2017 International Women’s Day celebration.
The theme for this year is: “From Rhetorics to Action: Gender Champions Speak for Women’s Political Inclusion”.
One of the 2015 Presidential candidates, Prof. Remi Sonaiya, told NAN that: “There are certain things we need to do immediately, especially at the leadership level, women must change the negative political culture in the country.
“Women should come out and stop complaining at the background, they should be ready to make a difference.
“Women being more compassionate and caring, will be sensitive to the needs of children and the masses.
“They should come together to put an end to some pitfalls in the political setting,” she said.
On her part, the former minister for Women Affairs and ex-Women Leader of the Peoples Democratic Party, Mrs Josephine Anenih, said that women should change their attitude towards politics.
“Nigerian women need to show more commitment to political participation in the country, we have been saying this since the 70s.
“Women aspiring to take part in politics should study the few who have been successful in leadership to enable them perform well,’’ she said.
The Deputy Speaker of the Edo State House of Assembly, Mrs Elizabeth Ativie, also enjoined women to create a synergy to increase political participation.
“The Civil Society Organisations must be committed to whatever they fight for.’’
She, however, added that less emphasis should be placed on the monetary gain.
“We have the power to achieve, if we can come together and show more seriousness,’’ she said.
Sen. Binta Garba, representing Adamawa North Senatorial District, said discrimination against women was global.
She said women seeking leadership positions were assumed to be wayward, adding that persistence and perseverance are key to making women reach the highest positions in politics.
Garba noted that out of the 109 senators at the senate, only seven of them were women.
She, therefore, called for opportunities to be given to women to enable them add their voices to the issues in the country.
“Our leaders need the political will to do that,” she said.
The President of Women In Politics Forum (WIPF), Mrs Ebere Ifendu, called for more women in the parliament to ensure legal backing of women’s issues.
“The time has come for Nigeria to recognise that appointment of women in executive and other positions is not a favour as being muted in some quarters.’’
The Chief Executive Officer, Women Trust Fund (WTF), Mrs Funke Baruwa, said the participation of women in this democratisation process was far from equal with that of men.
“There are major and continuing constraints against women’s participation in political processes at all levels, stemming from resource limitation, traditional gender roles and associated cultural norms.
“Nonetheless, in recent years there has been a small, but significant increase in the number of appointments of women to leadership positions at the national and local levels,’ ’ she said.
Baruwa, however, called for more support and funding for women’s participation in politics. (NAN)
OEO/IFY/MST
Edited by Ifeyinwa Omowole/Muhammad Suleiman Tola