By Eberechi Obinagwam
A Senior advocate of Nigeria, Ahmed Raji has seeked for a reform in the political system that will enable women participate in politics comfortably.
Founder, Ahmed Raji and Co, Raji made this appeal during a Webinar meeting organised by Women In Management, Business and Public Service (WIMBIZ), with the theme: The Nigerian Constitution and Elections: A right to win, recently in Lagos.
He said Nigerian government should make the political system affordable for women to participate.
“The money and network involved in the presidential system of government is not favourable to women. Many women cannot afford it.
“The culture and model is not favourable to women. The electoral values promotes men more than women. Yes the constitution does not allow discrimination, but if you go deep into the culture, it discriminates.
“The electoral laws are not petitionally friendly, because, it maybe on qualification, fortification, or oath,” he said.
He advised women to educate themselves before participating in politics. According to him: “It is not seeking to participate in election, but we must know the quality of women we are bringing into the system and their output.
“Are this not the first ladies misleading the governors, and messing the whole states?
The quality of women in politics matters a lot.
“Women should first win elections and not put their hope in going to tribunal,” he said.
Also, Executive director, policy and legal advocacy centre , Clement Nwankwo stated that though the political culture does not allow women in politics, we can find someway of putting women in politics.
He suggested that additional seats should be created for women alone to vie for any position and not for the existing ones.
According to him, the issue has been with men because nobody gives up on advantage easily. It has been to men, who will leave his seat for the woman?
He explained that the present system must give something for women to run. “It should be in graphics and not proportional. There should be a reserve seat for women in each state because the more women we have, the more conscious we are,” he said.
Speaking also, Senator of Adamawa North Senatorial District, Binta M Garba stated that women are agents of change.
She urged women to be up and doing in the society because their participation will bring about better deal to the community.