Executive Summary
Nigeria’s democracy and the reservation of positions for female politicians have significant implications for the country’s political development. The concept of reserving certain percentages of political positions for female politicians is often viewed as discriminatory and is discussed in the context of promoting gender equality and increasing women’s active representation in politics.
This approach is based on the assumption that women are underrepresented in the political decision-making process and that affirmative action measures are needed to address the perceived imbalance. However, this policy raises several concerns, including the potential for tokenism, the infringement of the rights of male politicians, and the undermining of the principles of liberal democracy.
The Way It Is:
In all liberal democracy in the world all elections are conducted through the vehicle of political parties without any form of discrimination. All candidates emerges through the will of the party faithfuls through self- presentation and adherence to the party manifesto and the principles couple with the way and manner every aspirants presents him or her self to the members and electorates which after the evaluation of the content of their character, presentation and participation. Note that no aspirant is considered based on gender but on the aforesaid qualities. So to increase the number of female politicians in the senate or house of representatives or even as the head of the government rest squarely on character, political finding and acceptance. With quality performance and leadership, a woman wins her election and pave way for many other women to participate and thrive in politics. Examples abound from the developed nations of the West to Asia and Africa, women had been elected to the top echelons of power through the same democratic elections; the resplendent, and glamorous Margret Thatcher ( Iron Lady) of the United Kingdom had years that span for over a decade in politics without lowering the bar for her to ascend. Benazir Bhutto was a Pakistan politician and Sate woman who served as the 11th Prime Minister of Pakistan from1988-1990 and again,from 1993-1996, being the first woman elected to head a democratic government in a Muslim majority country. Ellen Johnson sirleaf . Was elected the first female president of Liberia and the first woman to be elected head of state of an African country from2006-2018. Coming home, Her Excellency Pauline Tallen was elected deputy Governor of Plateau State without any known concession , Senator Ireti Kingibe and senator Natasha Akpotive Uduaghan won their seats to the senate from the opposition parties under stiff opposition from the ruling party and irredentist power bloc of the caliphate. Women in Nigeria politics currently occupy less than 5% of the seats in the national parliament due to participation and winning their election. The national assembly proposing an increase through legislation to around 20% is not healthy as it is undemocratic. To add fresh to this skeleton, all the major political parties reserved the position of woman leadership to only women and at no time have any man have ever held such position for the female folk. Therefore, if at no time that women’s position was usurped by the male folks, it thereby proves no form of marginalization and calls for the maintanice of the status quo as no side of the gender has ever been marginalized or relegated besides political shenanigans.
Theoretical Principles
The concept of reserving positions for female politicians is rooted in feminist theory, which emphasizes the importance of equality and challenges existing power structures that perpetuate gender-based discrimination. However, this approach can be seen as contradictory to the principles of liberal democracy, which emphasize the importance of individual merit and the equal treatment of all citizens.
Implications of the Policy
The policy has several implications for Nigeria’s political development, including:
Increased Representation: The policy may lead to increased representation of women in politics, potentially influencing policy decisions and legislative priorities.
Challenging Patriarchal Norms: The policy can help challenge patriarchal norms and stereotypes, promoting a more inclusive and equitable political environment.
- Tokenism vs. Empowerment: The policy may be seen as tokenistic or empowering, depending on its implementation and context.
- Constitutional and Legal Implications: The policy may face constitutional challenges, requiring careful consideration of existing laws and regulations.
Problems with the Legislation
The legislation has several problems, including:
- Lack of Clear Implementation Mechanism: The legislation lacks a clear implementation mechanism, which may lead to confusion and disputes.
- Infringement of Male Politicians’ Rights: The legislation may infringe on the rights of male politicians, potentially leading to constitutional challenges.
- Undemocratic: The legislation is undemocratic, as it reserves positions for a specific group based on gender rather than merit.
Recommendations
To address the concerns raised by the legislation, the following recommendations are made:
- Reconsider the Legislation: The legislation should be reconsidered, taking into account the potential implications and challenges.
- Implement Alternative Measures: Alternative measures, such as education and economic empowerment programs, should be implemented to support women’s participation in politics.
- Ensure Constitutional Compliance: The legislation should be carefully reviewed to ensure compliance with the Nigerian Constitution.
Conclusion
The reservation of positions for female politicians is a complex issue that requires careful consideration of the potential implications and challenges. While the policy aims to promote gender equality and increase women’s representation in politics, it raises several concerns, including the potential for tokenism and the infringement of male politicians’ rights. The legislation should be reconsidered, and alternative measures should be implemented to support women’s participation in politics.
Sir SNC Nwagu, MNIIA, FIICA.
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