Sola Lebile
It is unpleasant to note that close to a hundred aspirants vying to occupy the governorship seat across the various political parties in the state are men except for one or two women, which makes it appear like an all-male- affairs, though definitely not. It is true that men have continued to dominate the political space and become the custodian of political power since women folk have for some (un)tenable reasons held back their over aching interest in politics, even strangely avoiding the battle for occupying topmost political offices such as governorship and presidential posts like a plague. Why will our women stay away in political contestation against their male counterparts? Women! Why let off your ambitions and leave what you have legitimate rights to aspire and enjoy? Interestingly, women are synonymous with good governance and less corruption. The other time, a women contested for the governorship in Taraba State and she somehow emerged as governor until the court ruled otherwise.
Also, recall that political amazon, Mrs. Mobolaji Osomo who slot it out with Baba Adebayo Adefarati shoulder to shoulder during the governorship contest under the defunct Alliance for Democracy(AD). Indefatigable Osomo was reportedly coasting on to victory until the pendulum swung the way of Adefarati who eventually became the governor in the 1999 general election in the state.. What then are the stumbling blocks in the way of women? One of the major negative factor is violence and thuggery which have riddled our body polity. Thurggery and all forms of violence have drowned decorum and it appears that politics is not for everyone, particularly for the women folk. This is why so many(women) have stayed away, waiting for sanity to make a miraculous entry into the nation’s body polity.
One case that readily come to mind on thurggery issue is the recent foul mouthed Senator elected to make law for the warfare of the nation who allegedly made horrible remarks against(assaulted) a lady senator at the hallow chamber and yet the man had the gut to say “nothing will happen”. The point being made here is the impunity and thuggery that have perverted our politics and only few women would pray to experience such silly assault. Another factor pushing away our women is dirty money matter: money is key in Nigerian politics and so moneybag politicians usually have their way. Thus, even when you have the competence and exude the passion required for the job, but not having the financial muscle, you are likely to be thrown overboard.
Our women are rather conscious of their hard earned resources and won’t want to throw money around as men are seen doing. Nevertheless, women arise! Gather the needed courage and will power and dismantle these barriers that are place before you plus the patriarchal society erected over the years. Women should know they have the number to their advantage if only they can explore it. Statistics has shown that majority of the voting populate are from the female folk. So unite women! You must refuse to confine yourselves to the praise and singing roles in the political arena, refuse to be intimidated by men; refuse to see men as threat but partners in progress. Remember you can surely do far more than these praising and dancing at political campaigns .Indeed, from among your fledging number, anyone can as well mount the rostrum and seek to be elected as the number one citizen either in the state or in the country. Furthermore, women don’t say you don’t have the money to throw around or lack of connection like men. Never make such complains. What you need is unity, courage and your constant desire to rule. In this direction, start to queue less behind the male aspirants but do more in rallying round and queuing up behind your female colleagues in any elective positions. Is it not astonishing that even when the nomination fee for these elective positions are usually free of charge for women, we still have scarcity of women on the political blog? It bear reiteration to say that our women need to be consistent; they must believe in themselves that they could do it as men, then sooner than later we shall see a female governor occupying the Alagbaka House. This is doable. It yield no fruit if we(men) fail to canvass for women in this important post, to do what it takes to give a political equilibrium in politics already overloaded by men. There is no arguing the fact: our women have the potential and experience in contributing to the national development. Women who had occupied highest positions have equally prove their mettle. We have the Ellen Johnson Sirleaf in Liberia, we have Angela Merkel in Germany. Here, it is on record that the Dora Akinyulis,the Okonjo Iwealas, Oby Ezekwesilis the Justice Mariam Aloma Mukatars and many more women from every part of Nigeria have done us proud. In truth, many men who ruled us have wobbled and fumbled, they have failed us in many ways. Let us also try the women even if it is for political inclusiveness. If only we could remove these stumbling blocks from the way and give them an amble chance to those women who do the job better, the society will be better for it. Finally, for the Ondo governorship, let it be for women: make no mistake, the state is ripe for a female governor. Women are capable and they are not short of the experience needed in the office. The emergence of a female governor is for our own good. And as senator Ben Bruce said: Women in politics means politics without bitterness and politics with ‘betterness’. This is not being feminist, it is just about common sense.
