Still on the calls for equal participation, there are call on the government especially NASS to reconsider the place of women in Nigeria as the 1999 Constitution is being amended. ENE OSHABA reports.
The need for another alteration in the 1999 Constitution has again being drummed loudly by women and other stakeholders who are calling for the amendment of some clauses in the constitution to include quota system that would ensure adequate representation of women at all levels of leadership in the country.Many Nigerians especially women consider the 1999 Constitution as military-driven; therefore, does not truly represent them. It is to this end that gender advocates across the country are demanding that the ongoing review process of the constitution be utilised to address all the anomalies to enable women get the right places in the polity.
President Buhari and Lawan’s remarks
President Muhammadu Buhari in his speech to mark the International Women’s Day (IWD) 2021 said that any government that neglects women stands the risk of stunted growth and likely failure. Analysts are of the views that the president on several occasions had spoken on this, yet has only seven ministers in his cabinet, making Nigerian women wonder what to make of his statement.In the same vein, the Senate president Ahmad Lawan in his IWD 2021 message disclosed the Senate’s resolve to amend the constitution to ensure gender parity. Recall that other than the first, second and third alterations to the 1999 Constitution enacted during the Sixth Assembly (2007-2011), significant amendments have not been made especially with the demands of women.In his reaction, a legal practicioner and gender equality advocate, Marshall Abubakar, expressed worry that the struggle of equality is far from being achieved even with the improved status of women, describing the situation as a lack of commitment and political will by past and present governments.Similarly, the president of Women in Politics Forum (WIPF) Barrister Ebere Ifendu, while reacting to the statements expressed mixed feelings, saying women would rather wait to see the end of it before celebrating since the constitutional review process is ongoing.”For me, the statements are promises and not enough for us to go sit back. We need to pressurise them to look into the document submitted is looked into towards ensuring that there is quota system,” she stressed.
Statement can become policy – Onibon
With a different view, Felicia Onibon, national coordinator of 100 Women Lobby Group said the statements could this time become reality, noting that the promise is coming when the review process is ongoing.”I’m happy that President Mohammadu Buhari and the Senate president made such statements at the time constitution is being reviewed, this could become policy and we look forward to seeing affirmative action being put in the constitution and the issue of gender parity being discussed in black and white for the average Nigerian woman of today and tomorrow,” she said.”Nigeria is meant to be the leader and giant of Africa but we can’t talk much among our African sisters when we begin to compare notes on the number of women in leadership positions across board. So, I will like to call on Senate president to stand by his words. We believe him and we want to see this come to pass,” she added.
Patriarchy as affirmation for men
Speaking further Ifendu noted that the section 42 of the constitution which condemns discrimination against any citizens was not being adhered to, saying that patriarchy is a form of affirmative action for men.”Patriarchy is the main factor hindering gender parity in Nigeria and I tell men that patriarchy is a form of affirmative action. The truth is that in every society, the constitution cannot be a paper that can’t be amended. All over the world, there are about 40 countries that have made provisions for quota system to support women, so why is Nigeria not doing that? “I’m advocating that the day they would vote for constitutional amendment especially on those clauses affecting women, we need to see them vote openly because at this point in time, we need people to come boldly to say we are against women so that we can be guided on our choices especially with our huge population,” she said.
Need for inclusiveness Onibon said, “We need more women as leaders in this country and I believe that is the antidote to our current problems. It is not too late for our president to do something about that.”Onibon regretted that the seven appointed ministers were not given the opportunity to show their capability in moving the country to greater heights, saying four out of the seven of them are serving as ministers of state where they can’t do much.”Currently we have only three ministers and four ministers of state. These are women that can stand strong and should be given portfolios that are strong that will enable them work effectively.
GBV bane of women’s political growth
Different gender advocates argue that female political aspirants are measured on a different yardstick in governance when their counterparts in other countries like America, Tanzania and others that are rising to the very top of political careers. According to Abubakar, the Electoral Act should be strengthened to ensure that persons who carry out violence and their sponsors should be made to face full wrath of the law, saying this would deter others from engaging in such.Ifendu on her part noted that untill adequate punishment is served to pepetrators of violence on women in politics, the menace would continue to rise hence destroying efforts by women to rise to leadership positions.”If there are strong laws that can make people pay the consequences of their actions, we would know we are going somewhere, like the Kogi case where a woman was burnt alive and the pepetrator was given just 12 years imprisonment.”We have written to the judiciary to say we are against that judgment because that was a clear cut case of murder and nobody should be given 12 years. We are looking at him serving life imprisonment. We are not saying death penalty because we also do not want to kill but there must be something to do as a country to fight gender- based violence in elections.
What women want
Ifendu lamented that women are deprived of many things and the law should guide them to grow, adding that federal character principle should have a gender phrase so that men and women can be equally represented.”We are hoping that the Section 42 is amended just like Ugandan Constitution with similar clause but which another clause was added to say it would not stop NASS from doing those things to support marginalised people like women and persons with disabilities.On this, Onibon said, President Buhari should be accountable to his statement on Nigerian women demand for affirmative action, saying that it is not a difficult thing for him to achieve. She noted that his governors should do same to bring women on board in order to be active with ideas that would help the country.”We desire to have more women to get into elective positions and this is the time the president can get the party leaders particularly his own political party do more for women. How many women has APC supported? We need more support from them to have more women leaders and the moment APC does that, they will see results in their party,” she stressed.
Going forward
Abubakar noted that various factors militate against women’s political growth, but however encouraged them not to be discouraged but work hard using better strategies.”Lobbying by women groups should be stepped up and constitution review and gender rights bills sponsored at the National Assembly should be followed up until it is passed into law.”The Electoral Act should be amended to give waivers to women aspirants and they should also get leverage because a lot of factors especially patriarchy has stunted women political growth,” he said.”Gender rights groups should further step down advocacy to the state levels not just at the national alone. States should be held accountable to ensure that laws that promote and protect the rights of women are enacted and discriminatory laws be amended so that women can have their pride of place.”Ifendu said, “All we are asking is that there should be level playing field for women to participate being that men started politics before us there should be quota system to amend some of the bad laws that are affecting us.”We have many women that have the capability to rule in this country, we have women like Okonjo-Iweala, Amina Mohammed and so many women within the country who have achieved greatly in the positions they occupied. If you give equal opportunities to men and women you will see their skills playing out to the development of our nation.”
