A gender advocate at the Federal Polytechnic, Ede, Dr Jade Mohammed says that marriage should not exclude women from participating in governance where they reside or get married, even in their father’s state of origin.
This, she noted should be an additional opportunity for them to contribute to the development of the nation.
Dr Mohammed made stated this while presenting a paper in Ibadan entitled ‘Citizenship/Indigeneship and Women Participation in Governance’.
Mrs Mohammed, who frowned at indigeneship which political parties adopted in the just concluded primaries across the country instead of citizenship, said the development prevented many qualified women from representation at different levels of government.
According to her, the approach of indigeneship to elect representatives being employed in most cases negated the provision of Nigeria’s constitution and federal character system.
Mrs Mohammad, therefore, urged women to rise up and support competent women at all times, describing discrimination against women as a barrier to development.
“What is in the Constitution is not what is being practiced? What is being practised in most places is indigeneship not citizenship as envisaged by the 1999 Constitution, Section 26&27.”
“Indigeneship over citizenship is a barrier to development in every society. Women are particularly affected especially if they are outside their place of origin”
“It is already rearing its head in recent times, in the just concluded primaries where many women were dropped based on indigeneship.”
“As a woman, who is competent and suitable, wherever she shows up, such a person should be promoted, appreciated and allowed to contribute her quota to the development of her community.”
“Women need to rise more than ever and understand that politics is beyond voting. They need to promote competent women and see them through in all ramifications to emerge and be able to render quality service in whatever level she finds herself”.
Another speaker, Dr Mistura Sanni said the nation needed some actions that are targeted at bringing everyone to a level play-ground in addressing women’s inequality.
She said “When we talk about imbalance, our situation in Nigeria is such that we take a blanket disposition in managing our affairs. Our data are not gender-sensitive. When we set our data right, we will be able to move forward because the data is what decision is based on”.
Two of the participants, Pastor Biodun Popoola, from IPAC and Mrs Felicia Opatunde called for perseverance and consistent participation of women in politics to make headway.
They equally urged the leadership of the country to address the issue of women’s inequality in politics head-on in order to tap the potential of women in the social, economic and political development of Nigeria.
Iyabo Adebisi
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