A former Nigerian President, Olusegun Obasanjo, is not just a prolific writer but also a vastly experienced actor who likes to hug the limelight. He has great stamina which he usually exploits to advantage on the pulpit. The retired army general has not quite played his political ace yet but no one doubts the man’s capacity to spring surprises at the last moment.
Ex-President Obasanjo wants Nigerian women to get actively involved in 2019 election so as to take up more position of power in politics. This seems quite logical although the women who invited him to their forum might not have bothered to consider his motives.
The general made the call at the 14th annual lecture of Women in Management, Business and Public Service, WINBIZ, held in Lagos, recently. Hear him, “Women as majority must be reckoned with. They need to be participants in decision-making positions. It all starts by commencing mobilisation through our children and youths. Through the coalition for Nigeria women movement, I believe women have found a place of honour where a political party may emanate from, that will enable women have 40 per cent in politics and youths 40 per cent as well.”
The former military Head of State and President blamed the marginalisation of women in politics on the selfish attitudes of some men who wish to keep women permanently under their control. He noted that male politicians have always been an impediment to women, and advised women not to be discouraged but to learn to use the power they have over men to their advantage.
Obasanjo sounded rather comical when he told the women, “It’s not that you don’t have what it takes, but there are some people holding you back. But you have to make them give way. You need to make use of them, learn how to apply the knowledge you have”.
In his opinion, there are many reasons why the country does not have many women in elective positions. Obasanjo enumerated them, “Some will say it’s tradition, culture, or religion, but its out of the selfishness of our men. They will look for any reason to keep women under. My first child is a girl, and she will not take nonsense from you. I have more girls with Ph.D.s than boys,” he said.
Like him or not, Obasanjo who has become a phenomenon in Nigeria’s political life , frowned at gender inequality in Nigerian politics, stressing that women and men are same except in the role of procreation. That is food for thought for the women.
