By ThankGod Emeh
South East women have been charged to actively participate in the mainstream politics and leadership space of the country to maximize the 35 percent women affirmative action as well as to change the narrative of governance especially in the region.
The charge was made by a civil society organization, BAOBAB in a one-day Regional Strategic Workshop on Women's Participation in Politics and Leadership in South-East Nigeria, held in Owerri on Monday.
The critical objectives of the workshop, according to the organizers are, "to identify and discuss region-specific barriers to women's participation in South East geopolitical zone and to develop action plans to drive advocacy for change of the narrative."
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The organizers who opined that "true democracy can only be achieved when women are equally represented in political leadership", expressed concern that the current statistics of women in political leadership positions of the country are abysmally poor and unencouraging.
In her address, BAOBAB Executive Director, Yeye Bunmi Dipo-Salami reiterated the significant roles of women in nation-building, noting that, "women ought to be supported by all means in politics to birth new hope for the country."
"Women are asking for more leadership opportunities. We are asking for votes during elections. And we are here to check what are we not doing right and the way forward; who should we be talking with; who should we run to and how can we have more women in politics for the betterment of Nigeria", she said.
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Speaking, member representing Ebonyi South/North in the state House of Assembly, Hon. Mrs. Chinyere Juliet Nwogbaga, the Chief Sponsor of Violence Against Persons Prohibition, VAPP law in Imo State and former State House of Assembly member, Amb. Uju Onwudiwe and the Traditional Ruler of Umuororonjo, Eze Clinton Uboegbulam urged women to go beyond mere requests to cover up the 35% women inclusion by leading exemplary lives and building capacity and character.
They further advised women politicians to always reach out to the grassroots and protect their votes during elections, stressing that people with clear vision for leadership do not wait for power to be given to them but they take it for the general well-being of the people.
Onwudiwe said, "the way we women run our homes is the way we want to run our states and the nation. And we need to let the people know that women have all it takes to lead and without the women, the nation mat never get it right and will never smile."
"It is high time women rose to boldly challenge men on elective positions; to assume critical positions of authority and to actively partake in decision-makings for the nation. I must say that women's affairs can only be addressed properly when women are actively on board to champion their course." Eze Uboegbulam added.
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Adding their voice, the founder, Women in Politics Forum, Barr. Mrs. Ebere Ifendu and the Programmes Director, Alliances For Africa, AfA, Ms. Blessing Duru also called for the support of traditional and religious institutions in the region to the project.
They noted that their support and that of other key stakeholders would go a long way in entrenching the desired change in, according to them, "long overdue one-sided political leadership in the zone and country at large."
They further called for the collaboration of men and political parties to create a quota system in political positions specifically for women to enable them come on board, adding that such would help increase women's participation in politics and leadership positions.
"We have all it takes to lead, women are smart and all we ask the president, governors and other key stakeholders is the space to operate and to make positive impacts." Ifendu said.
The theme of the workshop, which had notable female politicians and other key stakeholders drawn across the five South Eastern states of Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu and Imo, is: "From Margins to Mainstream: Improving Women's Political Participation in Nigeria."
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