Ebele Ifendu: Bridging gender gaps in politics

Barrister Ebele Ifendu is the Labour Party Publicity Secretary and the National President of the Women in Politics Forum (WIPF). A chartered mediator and conciliator, she is the Executive Director of a Finance firm and Director, Gender Education and Rights Department of the Gregory University, Uturu, Abia State. In this chat with ENE OSANG, she discusses how women are fairing in Nigeria’s political terrain.

You have been the publicity secretary for labour party, what impact have you made since assuming that position.
As the Publicity Secretary of my Party, it’s my primary responsibility to project the image and ideals of the Party.

Created a website and twitter account to project the image and activities of the party and give it a wider appeal to the social media savvy younger generation
Created a Whatsapp group to encourage internal communication amongst party leadership.

Fostered dialogue and engaging interaction between the party, civil society organisations and development partners e.g. IRI, Nigerian Women Trust Fund, NDI, and IFES etc. This dialogue led to capacity building, exchange programs and intra-party networking.
Exposed labour party ideology to issue-based opposition and campaigning.
Engage the party manifesto to fulfil its principles of social justice and equal opportunities.

As part of our membership drive, I led the party leadership to engage the youth and other marginalised and indigent groups which projected the party image and ideology as a party for all as the name suggests.

Women often lament discrimination in political party, what is the situation in the Labour party?

Labour Party is the most gender sensitive Party in Nigeria. At a time a political party voted against having a woman as one of its Deputy Chairman, Labour Party made it mandatory to have a female deputy Chair. It is only in Labour Party that key executive positions are occupied by women. We have a Deputy National Chairman, Publicity Secretary, Treasurer, Financial Secretary, Auditor and a Woman Leader with six Deputies, all members of the working committee.

No other Party have a woman as its Publicity Secretary. We believe in equal opportunity and social justice, there is no discrimination in Labour Party, competence is the watchword. Let me say that the Labour Party constitution is very gender responsive. It is important to state that it is not only at the National level that you have women in key positions, the constitution provided for inclusive Executive from the Ward level upwards.

How have you promoted women issues in your party as the publicity secretary?

As a former woman leader of my party, gender parity is a given and a responsibility I hold dearly.

My time as woman leader brought more women in the party into leadership positions, projected their capacities and achievements. By the time I was elected as publicity secretary of the party, women had very distinct and strategic roles within the party.

That engagement has not stopped, it is still a work in progress, and parity is our ultimate goal

Election year is drawing near what is the fate of women in your party, is there going to be a woman candidate from the LP?
This is not new to the Labour Party; we have always created an enabling environment for women to compete with men during elections. During the 2011 general elections, Labour party nominated two women as gubernatorial candidates in Plateau and Crossriver States.

It is on record that Dame Pauline Tallen did not only run one of the best campaigns but was cheated out of election victory; she would have made history as the first elected governor in the country.

At the recently concluded 2015 general elections, Labour Party also had Senator Helen Esuene as its gubernatorial candidate in Akwa Ibom state. Our tradition is to support women to achieve their political aspiration, 2019 election is not going to be any different. We hope to support more women from the local council to the highest office.

As President of WIPF what strategy are women politicians considering to enable them win elective positions come 2019?

The Nigerian political space is still not receptive to women, we have all the challenges that women encounter in their desire to aspire to political positions. From traditional, religious, societal demands from women, finance and so on, women are usually schemed out of politics.

The most troubling is the lack of internal party democracy where ‘party leaders’ decide who will be the candidate of the party, and this leads to women getting the short end of the stick during party negotiations for candidates. WIPF is working with Inter Party Advisory Council (IPAC) under the leadership of Alhaji Lawal Nalado, to ensure that parties are inclusive and equitable in the allocation of candidature to men and women contesting under their platform.

As we know, there is still no provision for independent candidate; it is only a political party that can field a candidate. This is the only way we can achieve affirmative action until there is a law backing it. Another strategy we have adopted is to identify women who are ready to run election and support them with the necessary tools to run an effective campaign, this we do in collaboration with the Nigeria Women Trust Fund. Interestingly, we have male champions who are working with us to see a more inclusive democracy.

In WIPF, we also support persons living with disabilities and the youth. We have set up the Young Women in Politics Forum with support from the Trust Fund to encourage younger women to also participate in the electoral process. Several strategies are also in the works to engender inclusive politics for all. The result of 2019 elections will show the success of the strategies.

Are women truly prepared for leadership positions?

Women are very ready for Leadership. Why does this question always come up for women in leadership? No one questions the leadership capacities and capabilities of men. As such, we take exception to such questioning of our capabilities to hold elective and appointive positions. This is a democracy, and everyone can take a shot at leadership.

Even though women have only occupied a very low percentage in governance, they have always made significant contribution to the socio economic growth of the Nation. In this present administration, with the abysmal number of women, they have nevertheless shown the capacity, enterprise and intelligence to turn things around for good. Let’s take the Pensions Transition Administration Directorate PTAD where Sharon Ikeazor is the Executive Secretary; she has been able to bring innovations to transform pension’s administration in Nigeria.

Today Pensioners get verified even at their homes and hospitals for easy and prompt payment of their gratuities. The finance minister Mrs. Kemi Adeosun, introduced the whistle blower policy, and other economic policies that has helped to recover funds and strengthen the economy of the Country, we are already getting out of recession.

Leadership Newspaper nominated both Sharon Ikeazor and Mrs Kemi Adeosun as leadership persons of the year, in appreciation of the good work they are doing. Ms. Julie Okah- Donli, the Director General NAPTIP, is doing so well to combat the menace of human trafficking. Traffickers are being arrested and prosecuted. Princess Gloria Akobundu, CEO, NEPAD, is charting a new course for African development. Yewande Sadiku, Executive Secretary, Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission is exposing Nigeria as an investors hub and has just launched a compendium of investment incentives in Nigeria. There are other women in various positions that have also shown that given the opportunity to lead, they will not only inspire good governance and economic prosperity but will also ensure stability, peace and unity.

How has it been piloting the affairs of women politicians; it is said that women are difficult to manage, is that true?

It is a very wrong perception. Politics is a game of numbers, wit and competition – it cannot be different amongst women. We always advocate for the best candidate to win and put our weight behind candidates of our choice. I have been working with female politicians for over a decade and I have never had any bad experience.

It has been a very cordial relationship and the common desire to achieve our collective aspirations has been our priority. We have our individual differences just like the men; the important thing is that we recognise our strength as women. We have successfully worked together irrespective of party affiliations and have shown tremendous support for one another.

What is the inspiration that keeps you going in politics?

I am inspired by my drive and dedication to the rule of law, inclusion and development. My inspiration also comes from seeing women take their place in decision making in Nigeria. I see a Nigeria where women will no longer ask for positions, but will be on the decision making table as a matter of choice.
With the Women in Politics Forum, we have mentored over 1,000 young women, and this led to the creation of the Young Women in Politics Forum in collaboration with the Nigeria Women Trust Fund, which has recently signed in membership of over 2,000 young women within the ages of 18-35years.

When I see the enthusiasm of these young women and the impact of our mentoring programs, it gives me the inspiration to keep going in politics. With the support of WIPF, the female Parliamentarians in the States set up a caucus known as the Conference of Female State Parliamentarians (CONFEPA) with the main objective to synergize and come up with common positions on issues concerning women, children and persons with disabilities.

Do you have any other engagement aside politics, tell us about it.

I am a lawyer, a chartered mediator and conciliator, an Executive Director of a finance firm and Director, Gender Education and Rights Department of the Gregory University, Uturu, Abia State.

Women politicians and women in general have made lists of demands on inclusive governance, is there any improvement on that so far?

Our demands are a means to an end and not an end in itself. We will continue to engage the political class, policy makers and other state and non-state actors.
As we achieve and surpass our expectations, we will raise the bar and negotiate further spaces for women.

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