…saying such ‘soft landing’ for female politicians would only give opportunities for emergence of mediocre
A Human Rights Activist, Mrs. Marjorie Ezihe has kicked against any legislations offering special considerations to female politicians based on gender, saying such ‘soft landing’ would only give opportunities for emergence of mediocres.
She said all the women needed were security, safety, as well as level playing ground for healthy competition with their male counterparts.
Ezihe spoke in Awka, Anambra State at a one-day capacity building training on Preventing and Responding to Violence Against Women organised by Women Situation Room Nigeria (WSRN).
She said, “There shouldn’t be different set of rules for women and those for men. It should be based on qualifications and competence. The standard should not be lowered to favour the women. That’s not the way to go. Otherwise you won’t get the best.
“Leadership is reserved for the best. Women should be able to compete with the men. Let the natural playing field be made safe so the best can be thrown up. Government business is to provide the enabling environment.
“Lowering the standard takes away the power of 35% women affairmative action supposed to give. As a stakeholder, if you stake, you hold. If you say it’s free, what position will be given to me? We demand the best, nobody should give us anything free.”
Ezihe, Executive Co-ordinator, Sisters With A Goal Initiative further refuted alleged assertion that failure of female politicians in securing election victory was based on hatred by their fellow women.
She described such arguments as erroneous and misleading, saying they were being peddled by male politicians for their selfish interests.
She said it was high time such erroneous narratives were discredited and jettisoned to ensure women were kept where they truly belonged.
“I’m not just a lover of human beings, but a supporter of women. I don’t believe in the narrative that women hate themselves.
“A woman has a natural affinity with a fellow woman because she believes her realities, goes through the same challenges and a natural support base of her fellow woman.
“It’s a mischievous narrative being pushed out by men to be able to remove basic vital ingredients from women and it’s high time we begin to discredit and jettison that narrative to keep the women where they belong,” she added.
Earlier, State Coordinator, (WSRN) and Executive Director, Integrated Anti-human Trafficking and Community Development Initiative, INTACOM, Africa, Okoye Hope said the body aimed at increasing women substantive participation in political process and conflict prevention in accordance with UNSCR 1325.
She said, “The goal of the WSRN is to ensure that all elections in Nigeria are peaceful and women and youth play substantive role in sustaining and building peace in communities, states and national levels.
“Governance can be said to be effective when it is all inclusive, providing for citizens of all cadres and is not a reserve of a select few. UN’s CEDAW is clear about gender mainstreaming as far as politics is concerned.
“Women’s participation in politics needs to be increased in Anambra state, more Women to freely enroll into politics and supported, no segregation of women politicians and non violence elections.”
