2011: The women politicians are coming!

Women Politicians Those who had seen her at close range in 1993 when she sought the presidency under the defunct Social Democratic Party (SDP) which was won eventually by late Chief Moshood Olawale Kashimawo Abiola are unanimous that she has changed considerably.

However, they can only point at her age to prove their position. But Dr Sarah Jubril has not lost her agility or candour. In fact, she still exudes the vivacity and dexterity she had 1993 when she dared venture into shark-infested political waters, hitherto regarded as the exclusive preserve of men. She lost even before the race began but unlike the case with most women, she did not recoil into oblivion. She charged into the frontline when the whistle was blown again in 1998 as one of the aspirants under the banner of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) but was won then by Olusegun Obasanjo. Since then, Mama Sarah has remained a constant player in Nigeria’s political scene, contesting for the topmost positions, also in 2003 and 2007 on the platform of the Progressive Action Congress (PAC) and the PDP, respectively. The Nupe amazon spoke to Weekly Trust, saying: “Yes, I am in the race for the fifth time, but as a motivator to Nigerian women.” Analysts tend to agree with this assertion.
Since venturing into politics, more women have not only entered the fray but have clinched positions and political appointments. In the administration of President Olusegun Obasanjo, high-flying professional women dominated his cabinet, like Oby Ezekwesili, Ngozi Okonjoi-Iweala, Remi Oyo, Dora Akunyili and others. Perhaps the highest point for Nigerian women was during Obasanjo’s era when Patricia Etteh became the Speaker of the House of Representatives. In a state like Benue and Lagos, a woman was Speaker of the state House of Assembly and deputy governor, respectively. The number of women deputy governors has risen to four in this dispensation with Princess Sarah Adebisi Sosan, Erelu Olusola Obada, Dr. Ada Okwuonu and Pauline Tallen pulling their weight in Lagos, Osun, Imo and Plateau States.
More women were also on the scene during late President Umaru Musa Yar’adua’s administration, as well as the current President Jonathan-led one. In the Federal House of Reps and the Senate for instance, women are prominent in the two chambers. Elected on the platform of different political parties, these ladies have brought strength to politics and a feminine touch to a field that was loaded with testosterone.
There are indications that the number of women elected into positions and those holding political appointments will double in the coming year.
Ahead of the 2011 elections, more women aspirants are emerging with signs that some may achieve the unexpected. Pundits pointed at the growing number of female aspirants in the run-up to 2011 elections to the leverage granted them by some political parties through the granting of waivers. One of the factors militating against female participation in politics in Nigeria, experts believe, is their lack of necessary financial clout. In order to encourage more females into politics, some political parties recently grant waivers to prospective aspirants. The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) led the pack when it exempted its womenfolk interested in vying for the presidency from paying N10 million nomination fees. The party however said the expression of interest fees at every level is compulsory. By the decision, womenfolk aspiring for the governorship, Senate, House of Representatives state Houses of Assembly among others are exempted from paying N5million, N2 million, N1 and N600,000 respectively. Other parties followed the ruling party’s example by giving concession to female aspirants.
With the coast seemingly clear, more female aspirants are coming onstage, sending shivers down the spine of male counterparts. The aspirants are many and like their aspirations, diverse. In Nasarawa State, Hajiya Rakiya Haruna Kassim Idris, the former People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Women’s Leader in the North Central is challenging the incumbent Governor, Alhaji Aliyu Akwe Doma on the same platform. The former leader’s effrontery as it were, at a time when all other aspirants are beating a retreat, surprises observers. Idri did not only throw the challenge, she vowed to win in a free-and-fair contest, while describing the election that brought Doma as “flawed.”
In Kwara, the state’s political godfather’s daughter, Gbemi Saraki, has taken up arms against other aspirants for the coveted seat of Governor.
Then from the green chambers of the National Assembly where she has represented Ikorodu people for two terms, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, is aiming to pair with the incumbent governor, Babatunde Fashola in 2011 governorship election in Lagos State if the speculation making the rounds is anything to go by. Many believe the former NTA newscaster will always hold her own in male-dominated society.
Similarly, Senator Daisy Ehanire-Danjuma who represented Edo South Senatorial District between 2003 and 2007 at the upper chamber of the National Assembly is warming up to come back. The soft-spoken wife of the former chief of army staff , General Theophilus Yakubu Danjuma said she lost her comeback bid in 2007 because she did not support then-President Obasanjo’s third-term agenda. Also, Senator Grace Folashade Jackson Bent, the Senator representing the Adamawa Southern Senatorial Zone will slug it out with other aspirants in her bid to stage a return in2011.
In Kano, Hajiya Laila Buhari and Hajiya Barka Sani, both of the PDP and male contestants will duke it out in the impending battle for Kano Central Senatorial district, while Hajiya Zainab Audu Bako (CPC) is expected to take on the teeming male contestants for the House of Representatives seat for Tarauni.
Another female aspirant who may make significant impact in the forthcoming elections is Pauline Tallen, Deputy Governor of Plateau State, as she has also signified interest to contest the governorship seat of the state in the upcoming elections. Via a phone interview, she told Weekly Trust: “I’m only answering the call of my people.” On whether the people of Plateau are ready for a female governor, she said she believes they are. “I do not see myself as a female contestant but as an instrument of God to bring peace, succor and change to the people of the state. Unity, peace and progress are the major things I hope to focus on.”
Ireti Kingibe is a known name in Abuja politics. Speaking to Weekly Trust she said women have decided to come full-force and make their voice heard. “We have to actually come out to compete favorably with the men. I’m very optimistic that if things are free and fair, that I can beat any of the men running for the same position.” As for the challenges for a woman in politics in Nigeria, she says there are a lot of lots of hurdles to cross in trying to make your mark in the political scene. “We are disadvantaged because we go through financial, psychological, social and physical difficulties. The issue of culture is also a major challenge. Obviously the educated men understand that in Islam it is okay for a woman make a living for herself. But on the other hand there seems to those that who see it as wrong,” she explained.
Amina Abdullahi, an indigene of Niger State who is contesting to represent Niger North under the PDP, speaking via phone from Mecca, said she feels the chances of most of the female politicians coming out to contest is great. “Being mothers, we are the custodians of the society and we are in a better position to see that things are done in the right way and order. The 35% women representation we are fighting for will be achieved only if we believe that we are the right people to make the desired difference in the society.” On the desired impact she would want to have in the society, she said: “We cannot have a stable nation if we are not educated. I would want to be able to give education to women and you know there is this saying that goes ‘educate a woman, educate a nation’.”
Princess Bilkisu Tinola Gambari, an indigene of Kwara, joined politics in 1999 under the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) but today she is contesting for the senate under a different party the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC). She is said to have put it upon herself to come out of her comfort zone to the public heat to fight and labour for the love of her people. Speaking to Weekly Trust she said: “My gender actually has nothing to do with my politics. I am a politician and that is it.”
Naja’atu Mohammed, an indigene of Kano State, is also a very popular name in Kano politics. She has been in politics most of her life, as she grew up with the knowledge of her father fully participating in politics. She is contesting for the Kano Central district senatorial seat under the ACN. Speaking to Weekly Trust she confirmed what some of her female colleagues have said about not believing in gender politics. “I’ll not say that because I am a woman I should be given the slot on a platter of gold. It does not work that way. Women must wake up from their responsibilities and do what we’ve to do because I believe this whole 35% affirmative thing will work.” Commenting on the risk and challenges women involved in politics face, she says there are a lot of them. “There are times when I have faced assassination threats and instances where I had to jump over the fence to save myself. There was also a time when I was almost stripped naked in Kano stadium because of a problem I had with the governor then. There is the issue of thuggery and votes not counting. Women contesting election is not an easy task especially with the men having all the money to throw around, making a mess of the whole thing. If we must stand up to the men, we must be grassroots-oriented because those are the people that will really count when the game starts when the men use money to buy off the electorate. Sometimes we are the problems ourselves as women would prefer to vote and solicit support for men rather than their fellow women, based on petty jealousy.”
Hajiya Hadiza Bala Usman is the only female in Katsina that has signified her intention to run for an elective position under the platform of the CPC. In her words: “The fact that you do not see us coming out to participate in politics and even contest elections does not mean that we do not have the capabilities or ability to do so.” Then there’s Amina Saleh Jambo, an indigene of Plateau State, contesting for the Kanke/Kankam/Pankshin Federal Representative’s seat under the PDP. She seems to have taken after her father, Alhaji Saleh Jambo, a renowned politician. For her, when elected her emphasis will be on education. Bracing up for the race in Kebbi State is Bilkisu Magoro for Zuru/Danko-Wassagu/Fakai/Sakaba Federal Constituency on the platform of the PDP. “I do not feel intimidated by the male contenders. I had the chance to compete with boys right from my nursery to university days. There was no issue of if one was female or male, so I do not see why it should be different in politics.”
Mrs Nenadi Usman is a former minister of state and later the substantive minister of the Federal Ministry of Finance. She is vying for Kaduna South Senatorial seat against several male aspirants. Though the politics of Southern Kaduna has over the years been dominated by men, Nenadi said she was optimistic she would triumph at the end of the day. “It is mostly men that come out to avail themselves of the opportunity to be voted into offices, but when it comes to those that actually go out to cast the vote, women are the dominant factor. So I believe that I should be able to cash in on that because this is my constituency, so that instead of us always voting for men we are going to vote for ourselves. My confidence is high for this exercise because I know what I have seen on ground,” she told Weekly Trust.
So, according to one of our respondents, while the men bicker and complain, women are quietly planning, waiting for the right time to execute their masterplan. “And that time is just around the corner,” she added, referring to the upcoming 2011elections. “This country needs women at the top now more than ever.