Efforts of the First Lady of the country Dame Patience Goodluck Jonathan towards awakening Nigeria women from their political slumber and be more involved in politics is quite commendable. The project, “women for change” was recently launched in Port-Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria. This is coming after former First Ladies and even Non Governmental Organizations had embarked on such projects with little or no success.
It is quite disheartening that since the country gained her independence in 1960, no Nigerian woman has been deemed fit for any top political position. Though, some have tried in some States with Dame Virgy Etiaba of Anambra State becoming the first female Executive Governor in the country when the Governor Mr. Peter Obi was unconstitutionally impeached by the State House of Assembly led then by Barr. Mike Balonwu. Her tenure as Chief Executive of the State did not last as Obi was reinstated following court ruling.
Recently in San Jose, Costa Rica, Mrs. Laura Chinchilla was inaugurated as the country’s first elected woman President. Need I waste space on what transpired between Obama and Hillary Clinton, or Mrs. Johnson of Liberia, German etc. The fact that womanhood has been under siege from the time of Adam is primarily evident in Nigeria. A country that boost of many academics scattered all over the world either as Lecturers, Researchers or Students.
A look into the biblical stance (negative) on women would point to the fact that the problem is more of spiritual. The “fall” story in Genesis 2 and 3 which attributes the introduction of evil into the world to women, has given rise to such actions and thoughts that people hold against women. The myth of the “fall” effectively estranges women from their early powers and symbols, “thy desire shall be for thy husband and he shall rule over thee” (Gen 3:16). Here, the woman is seen as an inferior helpmate of man and paradise is lost because of her. God’s Holy word then says, “Woman is the reason for the woes of the world and as punishment she bears children in pain and is subject to her spouse” (Gen 3:16). Here and there in the early Christian faith one find pockets of roots of male violence against women. As St. Paul argued, “women are remaining quiet at meetings since they have no permission to speak. They must keep in the background as the law itself lays it down. If they have any questions to ask they should ask their husbands at home. It does not seem right for a woman to raise her voice at meetings” (1Cor.14:34). The same idea on women keeping silent is found in 1Tim.2:11.
In modern religious art, the unusually beautiful water maid or mammy spirit (mammy water) which is said to be evil is often painted as a serpent with a woman’s head. It depicts that every beautiful woman is exceptionally evil.
One might argue that Nigerians are keeping the dictates of the holy book. But that is laughable. What of the countries where women has been Presidents – the Costa Rica, Liberia, Germany etc. Let me ask; is the holy book for Nigerians only? The womenfolk should bury itself in shame that even after the recent zoning brouhaha in PDP, no woman (even from Northern part of the country) was mentioned as a potential candidate even for the Vice Presidential ticket.
Until the whole country understands that no country achieves rapid economic and political development without carrying her womenfolk along. Her all round development is bound to be stagnant.
Until then, good luck, Dame Patience Goodluck Jonathan.
