Victor Ezeja
As the call for pragmatic implementation of the affirmative action policy for more representation of women in leadership positions continues, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) national woman leader, Prof. Stella Effa-Attoe has advocated adoption of persuasion strategy to achieve that.
Effa-Attoe who is a Professor of African History and Gender Studies, gave the hint at Channels TV SunriseDaily programme on Wednesday morning, while discussing the challenges of women participation in politics and governance, and strategies to overcome it.
Join our WhatsApp Channel“We have a lot of work to do in terms of persuading the male folk, not harassing them, because when you harass people they get scared. So, we have a lot in terms of persuasion across board,” Effa-Attoe stated.
The PDP national woman leader said the culture of patriarchy is in-built in African traditional system and greatly affects women participation in politics and governance, adding that only persuasion would help to gradually convince the male folk who seems to dominate the political space to support and implement measures to raise the status of women.
“The cultural attitude where the women are coming from across almost the entire continent of Africa, there is the issue of cultural problems that are highly related to the patriarchal nature of an average community. The patriarchy is affecting the women. Not only in politics at that level but in all aspects of developmental activities.”
She stated that the attitude of male domination should change right from family level and then to the entire society to give women opportunity to deploy their potentials for national development.
Effa-Attoe also said finance is another factor that limits women participation in politics. She stressed the need for women political aspirants to have strong financial base to be able to gain traction, noting that due to the nature of Nigeria’s political system, nothing works for an aspirant without fund.
” If you’re not financially strong, it becomes a serious problem. Let’s tell ourselves the truth, politics in Nigeria, has a lot to do with money right from the ward up to the state, to the national, it has to do with money.”
Talking about Implementation of the affirmative action for women representation at political party level she said parties have not done very well, but her party the PDP has moved forward by atleast having the policy in its constitution for allocation of 35 per cent of party national offices to women. She however, noted that the challenge is how far the PDP has been able to implement it.
She said with her position as national woman leader of the PDP she is working with other stakeholders to see how that provision can be better implemented in the days ahead.
The academia said the women equally need legislative backing to remove hurdles for their participation in politics.
She applauded the recent court judgement which ordered enforcement of the 35 per cent representation of women in public offices.
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Effa-Attoe also said that when there are more women in leadership positions, they would help influence policies that affect women and development generally.
Victor Ezeja is a passionate journalist with seven years of experience writing on economy, politics and energy. He holds a Master's degree in Mass Communication.
