The Rivers State deputy women leader of the All Progressive Congress, APC, has blamed Nigerian cultures for the lack of active participation of the Nigeria women in politics in the country.
In an interview with Theportcitynews reporter on Friday, Princess Ureh Ejims, the state deputy women leader of APC said “Africans believe that men are the heads of the family. It is the African belief and culture but it is saddening that this ideology is brought into the business world and also in politics in the country, thereby making it an impediment for the Nigerian women to participate in active politics, which is not ought to be because it is not so in other countries of the world”
She said that “this ideology of men being the heads in their individual homes, families, the circular world and even in politics, when both women and men put in the same measure of work, including attending late night and early morning meetings, but at the end of the day, they are not been considered, have deprived the women of getting what they ought to get considering their huge contributions to the development of their parties”
Continuing, she said that “It has has been proven that women who hold political offices in the country and state, relate and reach out to the needs of their people because they are more sensitive to the plight of the citizens more than the men folks. Like the saying goes ” if you develop a woman, you develop the nation ” the women in the country have proven that adage with the few political offices they were entrusted with”
“We (Nigeria women in politics) need to be given more opportunities in both federal and in the State”.
” Take, for example, the Rivers State house of Representatives aspirant and presently the member representing Phalga one, Hon. Victoria Nyeche. She has done marvellously well in her constituency, her projects speak volume and her people applaud and sings her praises every day because of the giant physical projects she has put in place for them.
“At least I have been opportune as a stakeholder in the party to join her in commissioning some of the projects, so I am testifying as an eyewitness. And now that she had made her intentions known to her people, that she wants to go and represent her people at the federal level, she has their support. Hon. Victoria Nyeche has proven that as a woman, she feels the needs of the people more than her male counterparts”.
“Another woman who has been given little opportunity, but proved that Nigerian women need to be given more opportunity in politics is Hon. Mrs. Maureen Tamuno.
“Mrs Maureen Tamuno is a wife and a mother, yet made great impacts in the period she was given the opportunity to serve her people. Maureen Tamuno who hails from Ogu/Bolo local government area in Rivers State, built a bridge linking Ogu and Bolo, also brought electricity light to the people of Ogu/ Bolo LGA when she served as the first female council chairman; but this is the same positions that have been held by men in the same LGA. And today Hon Maureen Tamuno is going to the green chambers and we know she will do more if given the opportunity, because she had proven her abilities.
“Nigeria women should be encouraged and given greater opportunities in politics in the country, and until then, we will not witness great turn around in the development of our dear nation”.
Princess Ureh said besides culture she does not see marriage as an impediment for Nigeria women being active in politics as some would claim.
She said that some people in the society see women in politics as wayward women, adding that its vintage.
She advised those who see Nigerian women in politics as wayward to consciously change their concept or ideology because it’s all wrong and primitive.
She added that any women who is wayward in nature will remain wayward despite her chosen career as she will always display waywardness. “Politics as a choice of career does not give one the room or opportunity to be wayward, but waywardness is an attitudinal characteristics.
She used the medium to call on Nigeria women who desire a better society to join politics and effect the change they so wished for.
