Priscilla Ofunre, Ado-Ekiti
In order to have more women representation in the nation’s political space, some female politicians have canvassed for the establishment of a special political party for women.
The party, which is to be christened ‘Women Democratic Party’ (WDP), would afford the female gender the leeway, to contest elections easily without being muzzled by highly dominant male politicians.
The women brought the idea to the foreground in Ado-Ekiti on Tuesday at a two-day post election and learning workshop organised by ReclaimNaija for grassroots female political leaders from Ekiti and Osun States, to facilitate increasing women representation in politics .
The politicians were drawn across major political parties, including the Peoples Democratic Party, All Progressives Congress, Labour Party, African Democratic Congress, among others from 46 local government areas of the states.
Speaking at the interactive forum, a PDP chieftain and former Chairperson, Gbonyin Local Government in Ekiti, Hon. Sade Akinrinmola, said time has come for all women to come under one umbrella party and wrest power from men in the country.
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“We are facing a lot of challenges among men. Very few women can make it in politics because of lack of financial wherewithals and all sorts of abuses. But if we have a special party where we can all converge, it will be easy to mobilise ourselves to fight during elections, because we have the numerical strength”.
The Programme Manager, Community Live Project, ReclaimNaija, Mr Francis Onahor, urged women to play active roles in politics and fight for elective positions to bring meaningful development to Nigeria.
“In 2015 elections, Ekiti had two female senators but got none in 2019, likewise Osun. Though, we know that there were few women in the assembly in these states, but the numbers were not enough compared to the roles women played in politics”.
The Commissioner for Information in Osun State, Hon. Funke Egbemode, said, political empowerment for women is germane to the development of any nation, describing women as stabilisers in the society.
Egbemode, represented by Mrs. Oyeboade Shaniyi said : ” We are here to share experiences and those experiences will help us. I know with effort like this, women will get there. We should stop running ourselves down as women. We must encourage one another and work together”.
A former Chief Whip of Osun State House of Assembly, Hon. Funmilayo Olasehinde, said apart from socio-economic constraints, the reason few women succeed in politics could be anchored on the fact that women get easily intimidated.
“Some women are also petty, they find it difficult to operate with men. You must have large hearts. Women are their own problems . Women know how to take care of husbands, children and home, I see no reason we can’t bring this to bear in the political scene”.
Senior Special Assitant on politics and community affairs to Ekiti First Lady, Mrs Remi Ajayi Babington said, financial constraints and marital issues are two major impediments working against women in Nigerian politics.
“Be a grassroots person, be close to your people at home this will help you. In most cases, they always resist women contesting in her marital homes, this should not be so. Even in your father’s home, some would reject you because you are married. These are conflicts that must be resolved”, she said.
