DEspite the historical confirmation of the power of women over men, you now wonder why women all over the world go around screaming male dominance and marginalization. They went to the famous Beijing Conference in 1995 to declare Equal rights and Equal opportunity. The men openly acceded and raised no objections. In Nigeria HE Dame Patience Goodluck Jonathan took up the gauntlet to champion the same Equal rights and marginalization.

Now I am very sure that Her Excellency is not aware that the women in Anambra North Senatorial zone are anything but loyal and submissive. They have taken this Affirmative Action stuff way too far and women had tactically confiscated all the high wire political offices in the zone.

Can you believe Your Excellency that these women had taken over political power especially in the Legislative arms of government and have shown no intention of sharing it with the men anytime soon.

The only period a man had served out his tenure in the Senate was Senator Chuba Okadigbo (Oyi of Oyi) who was elected Senate President but fell prey to the military tactics of OBJ (199-2003). Since then, women held sway, staging coup after coup for the men. Senator Emma Anosike was bundled out after just 2 years in the Senate by Senator Joy Emodi who got re-elected and served another 3 years, until the abracadabra performed by Alphonsus Obi Ibeke (Ubanese) shortened her tenure by one year.

Then in 2011 Margery Chibogu Chuba-Okadigbo, widow of the late Oyi of Oyi rode to the senate after the courts threw out John Chukwuemeke who claimed to have won the election.  Even the speaker of the Anambra State House of Assembly RT, Hon Chinwe Nwaebili is also from that zone.

Even as we speak, three of these women have again lined up for the battle of the Senate in 2015. Haba, this is unfair. After 16 years of democracy, the women had managed to unseat 2 men and had spent a total number of 9 years occupying the seat.

Interestingly majority of the traditional rulers in Anambra North senatorial zone don’t seem to find the dominance of their women over the men funny anymore. I recall the statement made by one of the Igwes from the zone when Hon. Dubem Obaze, who served honorably for 6 years as the Commissioner of Local Government and Chieftancy Matters in the Governor Peter Obi administration came to intimate the Igwe about his ambition to run for the Senatorial seat in 2015.

The Igwe struck his staff on the ground and said ‘Asim, obu na nwoke bu UT. .ano si na Obodoumu nwanyi ji ejesiri anyi Abuja. Ebe si ka ndi otu Dubem Obaze no nka naeme’(meaning is there no VIRILE man anywhere in the zone that has resulted in women representing us in Abuja.

Why are the likes of Dubem Obaze allowing this to happen)) because according to him, two other women had earlier visited him for the same blessing. He laughed and added jokingly that maybe their men spend more time farming and drinking Ogogoro (the staple drink of the riverine areas) leaving the women to seek elective offices and collect chieftaincy titles.

The Igwes are not alone in this line of thought because different groups from the zone are also shouting marginalization and insisting that power shift from the women to the men. Equity group which spearheaded the agitation for Power Shift to the North in the run up to the Governorship elections have added another slant to the agitation.

Clear cut contenders

They are stressing that Ogbaru; the largest Local Government in the zone needs a shot at the Senate seat. They argued that while the Omambala and Onitsha zones of the senatorial district had in the past produced senators in the persons of Dr. Chuba Okadigbo (1999 – 2003), Emma Anosike (2003 – 2005), Joy Emodi (2005 – 2010), Ubanese Igbeke (2010 – 2011) and Margery Chuba Okadigbo (2011 to date), Ogbaru area has not produced any.

However, Ogbaru has two clear-cut contenders even if the other members of the zone accede to their agitation. There is Hon, Dubem Obaze, who was recently conferred with a traditional tittle by over 54 traditional rulers for his exemplary performance during his tenure as the Commissioner for Local Government and who many believe would have succeeded Governor Peter Obi at the expiration of his tenure in 2014.

Then, there is Mrs Stella Odua, former minister of aviation, also from Ogbaru but married in Edo State. Though very rich and connected at the highest power corridors in Abuja, she is not well known in the zone.

Our people want a home grown Senator who has lived amongst them and who understands their daily challenges and frustrations. They desire a Senator who will give them a listening ear, assist them when they are in need, attract projects that will better their livesand fight for whatever is due to the people of Anambra State.

They are tired of the Carry-go Hit and run Abuja politicians, who entice them with ‘stomach infrastructure’ hoodwink them towards voting for them only to disappear back to Abuja and never to return once the election result is declared.

•Fidel Ikenna Ndubisi, a political commentator wrote from Awka