Politics can be said to be the act of making public choice and making decision on behalf of people through the medium of the State and its apparatus. It is accepted that for development of any kind to be successful woman which make up a larger proportion of the population should not be left out because there is no doubt that both men and woman have some potentials and rights to contribute meaningfully to the development of their countries through out the world. Africa inclusive. There is abundant historical evidence that African woman have for long been playing crucial role in political life of their countries. So many great women of yesteryears have help in shaping. African politics. They have played crucial roles in redeeming or elevating their countries.
HISTORICAL BACKGROUND OF SOME WOMEN
Long before British colonial administration and the struggle for independent, some women in the parts of the territory later designated Nigeria proved that their position would not be in the back seat one can say that women have always played political roles in Nigeria . There are well-documented accounts of women’s role in pre-colonial Nigeria that shows that quite a number of women’s groups and organizations existed. There are accounts of women rulership of various kingdoms in Nigeria . For instance the IGALA was said to have been founded by a women named EBELE EJAUNU. In IJESHIA in Yoruba land, five of the thirty-eight OWA (kings) had been women. There are so many other Yoruba towns that legend had it that they were founded by women. ONDO for example. There have been also female sovereign in Northern Nigeria, prominent among who was Queen AMINA of KATSINA who in the 15th century extended her influence as far as NUPE- and still held to have been responsible for introduction kola nut to the region. The role of UMU ADA in the East and Niger Delta part of Nigeria as civil society organizers, the role of “UMA ADA”, and the “OMU” were very significant. These groups had control of market and ensured preservation and that standards were followed. In Bonny, Queen KAMBASSA of Bonny was perhaps the only female AMANYANABO of Bonny. Education helped in the emergence of a political force to fight colonialism. This education was in the main male dominated thus creating latitude for superiority. The rise of Mrs. OLUFUMILAYO RANSOME KUTI’S, as an Icon in the Nigeria political space must be attributed to her early incursion into western Education. Also Mrs. MORGARENT EKPO contributed significantly to the politics of the COLONIA period. She worked for equal enjoyment of civil rights between European and Nigeria .
Analyzing the effects of women in politics and their various activities, including their names and portfolios.
One is likely to conclude that the BABANGIDA era marked a watershed in the history of women struggle in Nigeria . When MARYAM BABANGIDA Institutionalized the office of the first lady in 1987, she took the issue at woman to an unimaginable level. She transformed it into an intensive, supportive mechanism for presidency. She became the first working first lady and lunched the better life for rural women program. The committee at various level liaised with and motivated the women to initiate and execute self-help development projects. She transformed the institute into an intensive, supportive mechanism for the presidency. Here are some other examples of women who made impact in the country. Mrs. NGOZI OKONJO IWEALA while she was in the finance ministry, saved the nation records of billions of NAIRA as a result of her hard working public sector. MRS. OBI EZEKWEOILI also lay a land mark in the history of Nigeria politics. PROF. DORA AKUNYILI the NAFDAC boss has also perform very good in her office, MRS. NNENADI USAM who also held the portfolio of minister has also done well. That even necessitated the outdone president chief OLUSEGUN OBASANJO labeling them as the winning women of ASO Rock.
The Federal Government Position and Western Point of View
The united Nutrias argument is that the whole can never be understood by a mere representation numerical strength are relegated to the background, development will continue to be a mirage in Africa and underdevelopment world.
According to MC AULEY, after detailed study of women in Russia, concluded that female participation in development series of world conferences on women like and the Epochal conference of Beijing China , in 1985 etc clearly attest to this.
Today in many countries of the world fair representation of women in politics and public offices have started taking place, for instance Rwanda has 48.8% of women in parliament. Tanzania, 23.3%, South Africa has 29.8%. Take for example the Liberia president Helen sir leaf Johnson is a women. This is because women have been given opportunity in political affairs.
Despite the effort being made by our sister countries in Africa to bridge the gap between men and women in politics. Nigeria Government has not deemed it necessary to implement this. The recent election of female president in Africa, Latin America, Europe is being hailed by many as a seminal movement for the advancement of woman in politics. The international communities has encouraged countries to keep at least 30% seats in National parliament reserved for Women. But the representation of women in the last republic (2003) election, three women made it to 109 members upper house, while 21 were elected in 360 members lower house, six women were appointed ministers, with three subordinate minister and other three as full minister. This is a very poor way of representation. In Nigeria today the roles of men are highly valued than those of women when it comes to politics. Women today are still seen as poor political social problem solver and therefore, ineffective leaders” Despite the huge contribution they have made in developing the country, they are still sidelines in both election and appointment into public offices. When Nigeria attained independence it was expected that the activism of late MRS. FUMILAYO RANSOME-KUTI, HAJIA GAMBO, SAWABA and MARGARET EKPO, among others would blossom into politics which should propel Nigerian women to the fore front of governance.
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