2023 Elections: What Hope For Women?

As the 2023 general election draws near and with all the political permutations in place,  it is time to interrogate the position of Nigerian women as well as their hope in next year’s election.
The leadership of the ruling party, the All Progressive Congress, APC, has waived the payment for the nomination form for women vying for the office of the president and other elective offices on its platform. Instead of N100m paid by their male counterparts for presidency, they are to pay only 30 Million for the expression of interest form. Many other political parties have announced similar percentage cuts for youths and female aspirants on their platforms.
While that is appreciated, the question is, what other plans do these political parties have to ensure that more women occupy more political offices after the election in 2023? We saw in the past where women were asked to step down for the men, probably because they did not pay as high as the men. Will there be a repeat of that in 2023 elections?
The APC just concluded the election of their party leaders where consensus was the order of the day. How many women were considered in the consensus arrangement?  The big one, the presidential primaries of the party has been slated for May 30 – 31. As a matter of fact, all the political parties in the country are expected to have conducted their primaries for president, governors, state and national assemblies by June 3.  The parties’ flag bearers for the next elections should have emerged at that time. Speculations are rife that the same consensus method used in choosing the current leaders of the ruling party may be adopted by most parties, particularly the big two – APC and PDP. Are the women being factored into the whole equation or the party leaders think that the women are only suitable for the post of Women Leaders?
At this point in our national history where the country seems to have lost direction and hopelessness looms everywhere, women, known for their expertise in strategic planning, human and situation management, should be encouraged to come on board to rescue our sinking ship of a nation.
But another question is, how many women are ready to take part in the 2023 elections? How many women are willing and ready to jostle for leadership both in the state and federal government levels?  With the disappointment and resentment expressed by many women after the rejection of the gender bills by the national assembly recently; considering the pains and agonies of many women who have borne the greater burden of the current misrule, insecurity and economic hardship in the country, one would have expected that a good number of women would have been vying for elective positions via various political platforms so as to contribute in making the country better.
Unfortunately, that is not the case.  Only a few days to the conclusion of the primaries and just six female aspirants have joined the race to take over the mantle of leadership of the country from President Muhammadu Buhari, next year. Meanwhile, more and more men keep throwing in their caps in the ring every day. Madam Nonye Josephine Ezeanyaeche, a 102-year woman said to have joined the race due to absence of women in the context for presidency; Khadijah Okunnu-Lamidi of the Social Democratic Party, SDP; Ibinabo Joy Dokubo, APC; Patience Key of the Peoples Redemption Party, PRP; Olivia Diana Teriela, who is running on the platform of the PDP, (already screened); and Angela Johnson of the APGA are the female aspirants for the number one position so far.
Fortunately, quite a number of women have over the years broken these barriers and soared so high both in politics and other endeavours. Today, more women are educated and are venturing and dominating some fields hitherto regarded as belonging to the men. They have done so well as heads of schools, directors and chief executives of organisations, home makers, business women and others. The same thing can be done in politics. Politics is dirty we say, but how can it be made clean if the majority of the women keep aloof. Many do not have voters card talk more belonging to political parties. This nonchalant attitude towards politics must change if we must have a better Nigeria. The time has come for women to assert themselves in the main political arena beyond being comfortable as women leaders. If your job permits you to join political parties and seek elective positions, come out.
Meanwhile, the women may not be honest to themselves if they think that political power will be given to them just because they are of the female gender. No. They have to work for it. As the saying goes, power is taken, it is not given. So, it is not enough to go on the radio and announce that you are seeking the nomination of a political party to vie for a political post. Do you belong to a political party? Have you registered in your ward? Do you participate in grassroot politics and other activities of your party? What is your network like? Because every intending successful politician, male or female, needs to build a formidable political structure on which to sail to victory.
How are women groups mobilising women for next year’s election? Will they stay aside and watch the men take all the elective positions and they will be at their mercy to get bills that concern the women passed? Much as the cost of the party forms is over the roof, women can still come together, pull resources together and sponsor some candidates.
Women have the number; they have the support of their children and husband if they play their cards very well. The women sure need the support of the male folk to excel in politics so they should stop giving the impression that their reason for seeking political office is just to fight for women emancipation and all that. That attitude will continue to spoil the game for them and is dangerous for the peaceful, harmonious growth of the country.
It is also very important that only women who are efficient and have the capacity to lead should step forward. As earlier said, it will be wrong for an aspirant to think that just because she is a woman, everybody will file behind her. She must prove the stuff she is made of.  Recently I listened to a female aspirant, vying for the office of the president on the radio. She could not even convince herself of her capability to occupy the seat, not to talk of convincing the listeners. These are not the kind of women we need. We want women who can compete favourably with other contestants and have all it takes to lead.
All over the world, there is an increasing number of women who are serving in elected and appointed political positions. Nigeria’s case should not be different. Rwanda always comes to mind when talking of where more female involvement in politics and leadership is paying off.
It is imperative that sincere measures be taken to enable women freely take part in elections.
More media coverage should also be given to the female aspirants at all levels as there has been the allegation of poor media attention on female political candidates in comparison with the male counterparts.
Most importantly, women should be ready to support and vote for their fellow women. There should not be a repeat of the Sarah Jibrin story in the forthcoming party primaries and the ultimate 2023 election.

Calista Ezeaku