PROF. Remi Sonaiya, the only female presidential candidate in the 2015 election, has encouraged women to start seeing their participation in the nation’s politics as a duty.

Sonaiya, who contested on the platform of the KOWA Party, spoke in Arepo, Ogun, at an International Women’s Day programme organised by Media Women Forum, with the theme, “ Mobilising Women for Politics’’.

She told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that some practises entrenched in politics discouraged many women from venturing into it, but urged them to find a way of overcoming them and making their impact felt.

Sonaiya cited some of the discouraging practises that have been entrenched in most political parties as violence and late night meetings, which many women would want to avoid.

“Women who find themselves in such environments need to raise their voices to decry such practices and demand that the political climate be made more conducive for them.

“I must confess that part of my own decision to choose KOWA Party was precisely my unwillingness to get involved in all the associated aspects of political culture,” she said.

Sonaiya urged women to find ways to overcome the barriers and show more presence in the political scene in the nation.

She said that it they were in any party that was limiting their participation in any way, they should either force them to make the party conducive for women participation or leave the party.

Earlier at the programme, Mrs Moji Makanjuola, Executive Director, International Society of Media in Public Health (ISMPH) urged the media to be advocates for giving women in politics some concession.

“Most women cannot afford to pay for campaigns and adverts on billboards and other media platforms,” she said.

Makanjuola also said women need to support themselves more than they support men.

She said that women should demand more and insist that they have capable women who can handle politics.

Mr Yinka Odumakin, a human right activist,  also said it was important for women to insist that they are capable of handling political issues.

“There are about 68 political parties now and I don’t think any of them has a woman as chairman.

“Women should fight as equal stakeholders for equal opportunities,” he said.

The convener of the event, Mrs Janet Mba, told NAN that the Forum intends to use the platform to encourage more women to be bold enough to take part in elections.

She said they would be encouraged by organising more events on radio and other media platforms to sensitise women.

Mba said finances have been a major constraint for women in politics; hence, they need to support each other more.

“If one miliion women contribute N1000 each to support a woman, it will empower the woman to succeed,” she said. (NAN)

– Mar. 8, 2018 @ 20:12 GMT |