By Nduka Uzuakpundu
Governor Yahaya Bello’s gender-friendly policy is unprecedented in the political history of Nigeria. It is a policy that other state governors should copy. By it, Bello has set a standard for a race on how best to run an administration of inclusion that not only recognizes the role of women in politics – beyond being mobilizers of voters for male politicians, but also offering them high-visibility offices, such that they could play an active part in shaping and implementing policies for a balanced and solid development of the state.
It has been rightly argued that Bello deserves a national honour – in addition to what he has been offered by the National Council of Women Societies (NCWS). By his women-friendly policy, Bello has richly demonstrated that the youths of this vastly blessed country are capable of piloting her affairs. Bello should not rest on his oars. Perhaps, his next move is to start grooming a woman (of substance), amongst those currently serving under his administration, as the first woman governor of Kogi State – come 2023; in a very keen, open and peaceful election.
He has already laid the foundation for that, let it be said, as would, surely, be the case, that he it was, who made it possible for women to gain well-deserved recognition in the politics of Kogi State. By his women-friendly gesture, its Bello’s argument that no state – or, better still, no country makes any meaningful and sustainable development that holds back her womenfolk from occupying the position of leadership.
As laudable as Bello’s women-friendly policy is, he should also be grooming brilliant women to head all the local governments in the state! That would be truly Nigerian, if only to break male monopoly power at that level. Ditto the State House of Assembly. And, as what would, truly, pass for pro-women political renaissance, it may well be a refreshingly tidy development to have Kogi State’s seats in the House of Representatives and Senate occupied by women. Women deserve an ample space in the Nigerian political terrain, because the 1999 Constitution in Section 42 speaks clearly in favour of non-discrimination of any person man or woman on the basis of sex, ethnicity group or religion. That provision by the constitution is understood to make for orderliness, inclusivity in governance and good leadership, in a manner that no gender group, in this case, women is left behind in the administration of the country.
By Bello’s women-friendly political appointments, one sees a gender-sensitive Governor, who is committed to the cause of women’s political advancement. Bello realizes that, yes, Kogi State, like every other state in the country, is male-dominated, but that should not espouse discriminatory political decisions against the fairer sex or daughters of Eve. Male political leaders should realize that women are also tax-payers. Therefore, by being in position leadership, either via appointment based on merit, as Bello has done, or vote, into, say, the state or national legislature, they, meritoriously, deserve a visible presence and, an ample say on how that tax money is spent by the government.
One is tempted to think that Bello took his revolutionary gender-sensitive move in recognition of the fact that (i) they were women, who, in their swarming number, voted, enthusiastically, more than men, for him in the last gubernatorial race, in 2019, when it was widely feared that he would not secure a second four-year term in office; and (ii) without women, men wouldn’t have existed, still less be around to dominate the (Nigerian) political space!
Governor Yahaya Bello is a personification of political gratitude. He’s probably a reflection of President Muhammadu Buhari, who’s known for expressing gratitude to whoever does him a favour.
In response to Governor Yahaya Bello’s women-friendly political gesture, one is persuaded that we should be steeped in a political trend in which State Governors and the President should have at least, 33 percent of the seats in their cabinets solely reserved for women. And this is where rigorous voter education by INEC and all the registered political parties is imperative. It is also where the NCWS, National Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ), Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Ministry of Women Affairs, National Orientation Agency (NOA), International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA), etc. should team up with women – from the grassroots to the national level – to press a fair representation of women in governance.
One expects that such a pro-women cluster or geography should have, as some of its strategies, picketing the office of the state governors and the presidency and, peaceful protest against unimpressive and stingy representation of women in their cabinets. Besides such a pro-women cluster or geography could resort to aggressive lobbying, yes, it’s democratic and legal, state governors, first ladies, the presidency, State Houses of Assembly, the House of Representatives and the Senate to enforce the rights of women, to ascend to the position of leadership and decision-making at state and national levels. And let all that be “blazed forth”, in the Shakespearean parlance, by the press.
Truth be told, government and politics have not been fair to Nigerian women. Since the 1920s, the lot of women in Nigerian politics has been a culture of tokenism, in which the men, who dominate the political terrain and positions of leadership, were, unrepentantly, stingy – in a clear show of ingratitude – by tossing an office or two to women.
It explains why little is, today, being said about the likes of the late Chief (Mrs.) Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti, Hajiya Sawaba Gambo and Margaret Ekpo, who played quite prominent roles in the country’s struggle for independence in the ’40s and ’50s. We seem, in a clear case of destructive self-denial, to have discontinued the teaching of history, so as to bury the heroic contributions and memory of these great Nigerian women nationalist. But, Gorvernor Yahaya Bello has said “No”; that it is unhealthy and unconscionable.
Alone, men cannot build a healthy political system or milieu. It would be foolish and unprogressive, not to give the womenfolk a generous and clearly spelt out roles in the noble task of sculpting a fairly-balanced, male-female chemistry in the art of redefining the place of gender in the politics of inclusion and nation building – the Governor Yahaya Bello style. It would not be a surprise if the youthful Governor at the confluence is crowned with the Noble Prize for Peace – for his unique and profound generosity to Nigerian women in politics!
By his women-friendly political appointments: Dr. (Mrs.) Folashade Arike Ayoade, for instance, is the first woman Secretary to the Government of Kogi State; and one understands that, under this tip, there is an unusually vast iceberg of nearly two hundred other productive women occupying political positions; Governor Bello has made a ringing statement. And it is to the effect that it’s high time Nigerian leaders, especially State Governors and the Presidency respected the constitutionally-guaranteed rights of women, in terms of participation in politics or appointment to position of leadership or decision making what – since the country’s independence, in 1960, has been, unrepentantly, observed in the breach. The same pro-women cluster or geography, should, in an election year, make it amply clear to political aspirants – especially men, that they would not be voted for by women, unless they have, in their manifesto, a provision, just in case, of 33 percent of their cabinet – a la the United Nations-sponsored Beijing Platform for Action (BPFA) – solely reserved for women.
The intent of this quid-pro-quo politics is to press a cousin of fairness, equity and justice for women. That way, women would be on the path of finding not only their voice and bearing, but also making a forward-looking contribution to the affairs of the state. The flip side is to remind political aspirants what awaits them – “a comprehensive and humiliating defeat” – at the polls, should they fail to carry women along. And for those, who would want to insist on winking at the political promises they have made for the progress of women, the pro-women cluster or geography, should, via press reports, rally, picketing their parties’ or constituents’ offices, name and shame them.
By Governor Yahaya Bello’s rare generosity to women, it should no longer be business as usual.
Arise, Nigerian women! You should reject tokenism or being consigned to the so-called “women’s wing” of any political party.
Arise, Nigerian women! Reject political bribery of food items: salt, sugar, milk, textiles, yam, plantain, stationery, T-shirts, false promises of sponsorship to pilgrimages, N5,000.00 concealed as bribe in gargantuan or miserly loaves of bread.
Arise, Nigerian women, to the call by Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State, to demand your constitutional right for representation in positions of leadership or circles where far-reaching position that affect your welfare, that of your children and that of unborn generation!
Arise, Nigerian women! Say “no” to unfair representation of your tribe in Nigerian politics.
Arise, Nigerian women! Realize that you are an indispensible political asset in Nigeria.
Arise, Nigerian women! Make good use of your formidable political power by voting for the likes of Governor Yahaya Bello, who’d, honestly, promote your cause, especially empowerment via jobs, education, food, security, provision of portable water, good roads, etc.
Arise, Nigerian women, join the campaign to re-engineer the Nigerian political space, so that there would be a generous accommodation of your productive, but long-marginalized tribe.
Arise . . . ! Arise . . . ! Arise Nigerian women and vote for Governor Yahaya Bello!
*Uzuakpundu is a Lagos-based journalist.