Gender inequality has been a scourge in our
political terrain? Judging
the credibility of this axiomatic affirmation,
women emancipation-just
like slavery has been fought by both past and present heroes. Despite
lugubrious cry over women empowerment, this weaker sex is yet to find a
stand in the
political queue. But the twenty-first century is recording
higher statistics of women participation in this dogged game called
politics. A part from Burundi and Mozambique that have 30 percent women
in their parliament, Rwanda’s parliament is 49 per cent women – the
highest in the world.
People of high intellect have attributed women’s indifference in
politics to the following factors. First, over the years, house keeping
has been the primary role of women. Their male counterparts have
mitigated their political interest because of this very traditional
fact. Secondly, the present politics is highly exorbitant-not every
woman can afford to take part in such expensive exercise. Thirdly, time
factor is another constraint. Children as we all know have a natural
affinity for their mothers. Not every women would like to stay late at
night thereby denying the kids maternal affection. Lastly, the level of
education: although nobody can boast of having monopoly of political
wisdom but, for any woman to have a say in politics, she must be
educated. Roughly over 75 percent of African women are illiterates.
Notwithstanding some of these sordid points made above, some notable
women in Africa have above; some notable women in Africa have broken
the jinx of gender inequality in politics. The list includes numerous
such as: Zimbabwe’s vice-
president “Joyce Mujuru”, South African
Vice-President “Phumizite Mlambo-Ngcuka” (former energy and minerals
minister) Gambian Vice-President “Isatou Nji-Saidy”, my senior sister
in journalism – Ghana’s minister for tertiary education “Elizabeth
Ohene (former focus on Africa Deputy Editor), Mazambique prime minister
“Louisa Dias Diogo. In Nigeria we have women like Ngozi Okonji-Iweala,
Oby Ezekwesile, Professor Dora Akunyili, et cetera. It would be a gross
negligence on my own part, if I fail to mention a woman with a
conspicuous difference! A woman who shook the men’s world – it’s no
other person than former banker, finance official and a business woman
and economic personnel of World Bank repute. She’s Liberia’s incumbent
president “Ellen Johnson – Sir leaf”! Hear her in BBC focus on African,
January-march 2006 edition... “I hope I can reconcile and unify all
Liberians, to make them all feel that they have a stake in the future”.
This is indeed the age of women!
In conclusion, the world is ruled by men with all their superiority;
yet we are faced with economic tottering, hunger, ignorance, violence,
disease, racial killings, just to mention but a few. It is high time we
gave women chance to contribute to global development. “The women as a
special marginalized group must do all in their power to play
meaningful roles as direct participant in policies and its making; as
supporters and advisers of their men folk and families”. (Johnson O.
Oleru in moving Nigeria to greatness). Prof. Dora Akunyili is a living
example! To achieve these, they should have a lion’s heart and never
always accept the Murphy’s law (i.e. if anything can possibly go wrong,
it will go wrong).