By Josephine Agbonkhese

Ahead of the fast approaching 2015 general elections, the Women Advocates Research & Documentation Centre, WARDC, recently engaged male leaders of various political parties, as well as human rights groups, in a summit that pursued the opening of a new vista for women in Nigerian politics.

Executive Director, WARDC, Dr.(Mrs)Abiola Akiyode-Afolabi, who argued while speaking at the opening of the summit that Nigerian women had been faced with lots of obstacles preventing them from participating in decision-making and political participation, noted that this was regardless of their predominant population.

Explaining reasons for her disappointment over the status quo and why change is essential, the foremost women’s rights activist noted that women around the world presently play increasingly visible roles in the democratic processes of their various countries, as mothers, caregivers, voters, candidates, representatives, peace mediators and civic educators in the home, community and beyond.

“We believe that for us to ensure gender equality in Nigeria, attitude must change and political parties must show strong disposition to gender equality, women’s political participation and empowerment,” Abiola said.

However, National Publicity Secretary, All Progressives Congress, APC, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, while speaking at the summit, swiftly denied that political parties were culpable for the challenges facing women in politics.

“The challenges facing Nigerian women can be blamed on governance. Frankly speaking, they have been very disadvantaged and have not enjoyed a level-playing ground, but the solution to this is not in the hands of political parties. In many parts of the world, issues such as this are settled with legislation. Nigerian government must make laws that would cushion the plights of women.

“Women should also come out with a bill of demand on government, and lobby, if necessary. However, I feel most importantly that government should, on its own, make certain legislations that will give women a level-playing ground. That law can, for instance, say, of every State’s senators, there must be at least one woman.

Otherwise, which party would like to bring out a female candidate when another party is presenting a male candidate for a seat with the way things presently are?” Lai said.

Others who also spoke were Lai Labode, Youth Leader, Peoples Democratic Party, PDP; Director, International Press Centre, Lanre Arogundade; Comrade Ayodele Adewale, former Chairman, Amuwo Odofin LGA; Comrade Ayodele Akele of the National Conscience Party, NCP, and Lanre Suraj, Executive Director, Human and Development Agenda, HEDA, who argued that there was need for gender democracy to be fundamentally entrenched in the political party system.