Politics in Nigeria has for years now been reflecting a serious need for change. While Nigerians lived at the ‘Change’ system put before them in past times; only to be left in the disappointment of their expectations, they forget to see the real strategies to achieving this needed change. A country that has the desire to progress does not exclude the participation of a group of people in preference of some others. This will lead to having national views and implementation strategies that are very limited, lacking innovation and one sided. The issue of Gender exclusion in Nigerian politics cannot be over emphasized as there is an urgent need to create room for women; who are still remain the most excluded group in the areas of politics, leadership and other salient decision making spaces.
There is a begging question which yet remains unanswered on why women should be the fore-bearers at home but cannot be at the lead positions in the society; of why women should not be allowed to have a say about decisions that affects them. The list could go on but let’s not bore you with all of it.
In all, women need to be allowed to air their views without any form of discrimination from the society. The usual saying of women need to be given a voice is not the issue as it stands because most women already have a very astute and defined voice with no spaces available for them to fill in and freely express their concerns and that of their children where needed the most.
We need to drive towards achieving this change first, before other forms of change can follow suit. Women are the future we seek; women have the voice we yearn to hear; women can push and deliver on their mandates; let us give women an opportunity as it necessitates for national development to be achieved. We must attend to the question of ‘Why women are not included in Politics in Nigeria?’ and begin to proffer solutions that gear at filling up the skeletal representation of women in various crucial sectors.
By Jennifer Bertilla Ejinkeonye