Re:Why representation Matters -By Ifeejesu Salam

Towards Female Presidency in Nigeria -Florence Akaakar

“Why Representation Matters” -By Ifeejesu Salam, an Article published on March 13, 2022 by Opinion Nigeria is a must read piece for every female and HeForShe to spur us on, along with an appendage interview with Amb. Prof. Funmilayo Adesanya-Davies on: “Why I’m Gunning For Presidency” –  By NewsBreakNG, on Jan 6, 2022, and her short profile.

Amb. Prof. Mercy Funmilayo Adesanya-Davies (PMA) is an household name in the annals of Nigeria politics whose exploits in the game of politics actively dominated by men could not be swept underneath. Having paid her dues in humanity services and to the nation as a whole, she has decided to venture into race for the topmost position in the Nigeria political realm being dominated mainly by men.

Mercy Olufunmilayo, a multi-talented teacher of teachers is a member of POLAC Int’l Peace Advocate, who currently serves as the Country President, International director, as well as, the Chairperson on the Board, serving humanity towards achieving ECOWAS millennium Development goals. She is a frontline female presidential aspirant in the platform of PDP contesting for the 2023 Presidential election in the black most populous nation of the world, Nigeria. She says, “I have a dream that one day, a woman will become the president of Nigeria to transform it, and the dream is now!”

First, the interesting and intriguing storyline by Ifeejesu Salam: “I was nine years old when Ellen Johnson Sirleaf became the president of Liberia. I remember going to school and hearing that Africa had elected its first female president.

A woman! Someone who looks like me the president?
The highest attainable political office in her country.
A country in Africa, a continent when at the time, gender equality seemed like such a far reach.

A lot of years have passed since then, but I still remember what that knowledge spurred in me. A realisation that aspiring to become president was not just a dream restricted to boys. It was something I could aspire to. I myself could dream, pray, plan to, and one day become president of a country. And just like that, a mindset shift began.

March is international women’s month. A month set aside to celebrate the global impacts of women, and to further advocate for equality for women worldwide. As I reflect on how representation in politics has changed since that day, 16 years ago, I am filled with anger, frustration, and a very grim outlook. This was further propelled when news hit that the National Assembly voted to reject five bills that aimed to give Nigerian women more equality. Foremost among the bills was a bill that aimed to create a 35% quota for women in political party administration and cabinet appointments.

Right now, in the National Assembly, only about six per cent are women. That is 29 seats out of 469 seats! And in the Nigerian federal cabinet, we have only seven women, making up about 16 per cent of the cabinet. This number and percentage have not changed much from when I started paying attention to politics. And this is a country with over 106 million women! About 49.4% of the total population. This situation is not very different from what is happening on the global stage. So, doesn’t it make you wonder, if half of the population is a particular gender, isn’t it only right that we have a similar percentage represented in the legislative and executive arms of government? Doesn’t it seem reasonable that women have a say in the laws that affect their lives and wellbeing?

But why the quota system, you ask? What is stopping women from coming out to contest and vie for political positions? There are no laws against that. Why do we need dedicated seats for women?
The answers to these questions lie in understanding patriarchal systems and the disadvantages they pose to women.

Politics from time being has been a man’s game. In politics, there are so many structures that limit women participation. One of them is the financial costs of participation. Joining a political party and contesting a political position cost a lot of money. Women are disproportionately affected by this due to their often-lower socioeconomic status. Participating in politics also involves a lot of late-night meetings, meetings at odd hours, and a substantial time investment into strategy sessions, campaigns, and rallies. In the world we live in today, women are still the main caregivers in their homes and this time investment takes a toll on their domestic and childcare duties. Most political structures don’t have provisions for maternity leaves, child-care, or other incentives that will encourage women participation.

Then there is the issue of gender stereotypes and how women are portrayed. Women are perceived as weak, emotional, less intelligent, and incapable of making crucial decisions. These bias and stereotypes mean a woman contesting political office often has to work twice, or thrice as hard to convince the electorate of her capabilities. Most of these gender bias and stereotypes are also internalised by women themselves leading to self- imposed limitations that cause inferiority complex and reduce the pool of female political aspirants/candidates. Then, in Nigeria, add cultural and religious beliefs to this mix and you get a political climate where the National Assembly votes to kill pro-equality bills, and the President is not ashamed to share on the world stage that his wife belongs in the kitchen and the “other room”.

Going back to the importance of representation, it is difficult to accurately express in words what representation does to a person’s mindset. It is also difficult to understand how powerful a force representation is unless you have personally experienced it. Apart from the mindset change representation offers, diversity, in this case gender diversity, in political spheres offers a different perspective. A new way of looking at and interpreting things. A fresh outlook. And most importantly, it gives women the chance to make laws that will positively impact their lives.

I have experienced the mindset-altering phenomenon of representation a couple of times in my life. As a woman, a black person living in a majority white country, and an immigrant with a very distinctive accent. Sometimes, you don’t even realise you need that mindset change until you go to class and see a professor that looks and talks like you, or you hear on the news that a black woman with immigrant parents has been elected vice president of one of the most powerful countries in the world. But when you have that experience, you recognise without a doubt the power representation has. And you understand why it is important to continue to fight and advocate for it.

As we celebrate women this month, I hope we continue to work towards breaking the bias in politics.” She concludes.

Thus, next in the interview that follows with our correspondent, Funmilayo Adesanya-Davies explains why she is gunning for the position of Nigerian President in 2023.

EXCERPT:

Do you think Nigeria is ready for female a female president, madam?

Yes, by the grace of GOD, as it happened in Liberia, to mention just but one of the African countries.

What are your chances of picking the party ticket knowing well that women have not been given enough opportunity to govern even at the local, state level?

The terrain is quite changing, I believe the chances are higher unlike in the days of Dr. Sarah Jibril and Prof. Remi Sonaiya. Gender inclusion has now become imperative globally and as such in Nigeria, successful election and governance would be based on this, as the next phase of political leadership takes shape. This we can glaringly observe in the case of Kamala Harris in the last US election, If it can happen in Liberia it can happen, even better in Nigeria.

Another simple question, do you have the structure that can win the presidency?

I shall be a delegate at PDP’s Convention representing my ward by the grace of God.

I am strong in my home, village at IRA palace as a princess, same in my ward, LGA, state and by extension the country.

Remember I did it during the last election. I am not a first timer or a novice, there are very reliable structures on ground already.

How will you manage your home front with the leadership position if you become the President?

That would be no problem at all, my man is busy and not dependent, my three (3) children are all grown-ups and graduates out of home. I’ll turn sixty (60 years) on October 15th. this year, so there is little or no family runs in that sense of home front management, thank you for caring.

What are your set objectives as female presidential aspirant?

As an academic, Nigeria will witness functional, effective, efficient, accessible and affordable education, as well as better governance, delivery of dividends of democracy, massive employment, accelerated economic development, improved health delivery, massive human capital development, massive infrastructural development, aggressive fight against corruption, improved welfare for Nigerian workers, and the masses, when I, PMA – CHOICE, becomes the president of Nigeria. As a detribalised Nigerian, services of technocrats shall be fully utilised to its maximum.

Politics in some circle is regarded as dirty game, how are you going to manuveur the storm of playing politics in the midst of die-hard politicians?

I am not new to the terrain, my political journey started with the Accord Party in Kwara state in the 80s before I joined the People’s Democratic Party in the 90s. This informed my declaration to contest the 2019 Presidential election under the People’s Democratic Party, but I later moved to Mass Action Joint Alliance (MAJA) where I emerged as the party’s flag bearer for the 2019 election. It’s been so far so good, I am currently back to PDP, my former party, where I intend to still contest for the presidential election of 2023. I have my own godly style, and cannot be discouraged or intimidated by the said die-hard politicians.

Do you think that women are ripe enough to assume the topmost positions in Nigeria politics?

Certainly yes, amongst others, take for instance, the likes of late Dora Nkem Akunyili OFR (14 July, 1954 – 2014) who was the director-general of National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) of Nigeria; the former Co-ordinator of Nigeria economy and now the current Director-General of the World Trade Organisation, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, and even I myself, a lecturer of 35 years in the University. We have been and are more than capable and ready.

There are lots of challenges confronting this nation, both internally and externally, how are you going to tackle these issues?

That’s a major question, thank you. Yes, lots of challenges confronting the nation especially as regards insecurity via criminal activities of the bandits, terrorists, kidnappers and other unscrupulous elements in the county. They invade communities, markets, churches and schools and kill, maim, destroy and kidnap without much resistance by the current government.

No much help from the developed world and the United Nations either, as they seem to be more occupied and busy with COVID-19 than pay attention to the daily destruction of lives and property on-going in Nigeria. However, with God all things are possible, I already have a road-map for Nigeria, with an agenda in my manifesto which cannot be summarised in few lines here. What I call “The PMA ADVANCED RESTRUCTURING AGENDA,” thus, people can always google it, as I have it published online already.

What is the level of awareness for a woman to become President in Nigeria?

There are several WOMEN FOR WOMEN GROUPS already set up in the past, and HE FOR SHE GROUPS, as well as YOUTH FOR WOMEN GROUPS. We are already mobilising them while creating other new ones such as NATIONAL COALITION FOR FEMALE PRESIDENCY IN NIGERIA (NCFPN). Once we are able to improve on this awareness, we shall definitely be successful because women votes accounted for about 47% during the last election.

What do you think are the
MAJOR PROBLEMS FACING WOMEN IN POLITICS in summary?

The problem of an African woman being looked down upon; Stereo typing of women to certain social roles in the society; Problem of illiteracy
Religious bias especially in Northern Nigeria; There is no enough women to woman support so far; There are not enough HeForShe mobilisation for women support; Politics is money and funding are denied due to lack of trust they could win, I mean lack of funds…etc.

Nigeria is a multi-ethnicity and multi-religious nation, don’t you view that your religious faith can stand against your aspiration as president?

All Nigerian former presidents have always been of a given faith irrespective of their religious, tribal and political persuasions; and this cannot be of any difference. Nigeria is a multi-ethnic and multi-religious nation, and that is why we are so blessed and would remain blessed by the almighty God. Therefore, my religious faith is an added advantage to my aspiration as president of Nigeria.

How would you source fund for this campaign, because politics in Nigeria we know is all about money.

I believe in being thrifty and it is not a do or die affair, one can only source funds and spend only what one can afford, cutting your cloth according to one’s cloth and size. I have always depended on good-will and we’ll wishers rather than cash. I look forward to a time when money-bag politics and vote-buying will end in Nigeria.

Your last words please!

May I conclude that, I HAVE A DREAM, THAT ONE DAY, A WOMAN WILL EMERGE AS THE PRESIDENT OF THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA, AND THE DREAM IS NOW !!!” This is because, “if Nigerians elect a female president, it will be a turning point in the nation’s history. It will also be an honour to have Nigeria’s first female president. If Nigeria can give women a chance to rule, I am sure we will never regret it.”
Long live the Federal Republic of Nigeria!

To conclude, Nigeria is now trying pave way by encouraging the women folk, such that, the discouraging expensive Nomination form is free for all women in all political parties at all levels, while all the women need to pay, is for the Expression of interest form, which isn’t cheap either for the women anyway. Last, here is Adesanya-Davies’ short profile.

A SHORT PROFILE OF AMB. PROF. FUNMILAYO ADESANYA-DAVIES

AMB. FUNMILAYO ADESANYA-DAVIES, a linguist educationist public servant since 1988, in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria, has served as a University lecturer and administrator for thirty-six (36) years, 1985 to-date as a consultant, researcher and activist to-date. Mercy Olufunmilayo, a multi-talented teacher of teachers is a member of POLAC Int’l Peace Advocate, who currently serves as the Country President, International director, as well as, the Deputy Chairperson on the board, serving humanity towards achieving ECOWAS millennium goals. POLAC – Positive Livelihood Award Centre, alias UN-POLAC ‘s mandate is to enhance the effectiveness of the UN millennium development goals and UNESCO Culture of Peace Programme particularly the maintenance of peace and unity in diversity.

Funmilayo Adesanya-Davies hails from Ira, Kwara State, North Central Nigeria. In the political parlance, once an ardent Member of ACCORD Party in Kwara State over the years, then a prominent People’s Democratic Party (PDP) member, and presidential aspirant in 2019, she later emerged as the presidential candidate of Mass Action Joint Alliance (MAJA) in the 2019 election. She is the editor and co-author of the celebrated and popular presidential endorsed book, Jonathan/ Sambo Presidency in Nigeria: A Symbol of Peace, Unity and Progress, placed by the National Universities Commission (NUC) in every University and National libraries of the Country, in line with the Commission’s continued efforts to promote publications, research quality and global visibility of academic staff in the Nigerian University System.

A credible woman of impeccable character, she believes in determination, professionalism, excellence, accomplishment and experience. One who cherishes the ideals of a democratic, free and egalitarian society, she thus emerged as the ticket bearer of MAJA and a female candidate in 2019. She is known for her leadership prowess and competence, strategic mind, ability and skills, vocal audacity, strong presence and personality. She demonstrates resilience as well as versatility, locally, nationally and internationally and political interest, education, humanitarian activities, general experience in administration, in over three decades.

Mercy Olufunmilayo Adesanya-Davies with her B.A (Ife), M.A English (Ilorin), Ph.D Applied Linguistics & Communication Studies (Port Harcourt) and P.G.D.E (Port Harcourt) holds a Doctor of Divinity (D.D) and Professor of Divinity (Honoris Causa) of Northwestern Christian University, USA. She is also working currently on her second Ph.D in Clinical Linguistics and Psychology at TBU-GE, New York, USA, where she serves as an adjunct professor and consultant.

Mercy is an academic and educational consultant, on professorial cadre, at Rivers State University of Education, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria, where she has lectured in language, linguistics and communication studies in the past thirty-two years. She also facilitates courses in Language and General Studies at the National Open University, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria and has served on sabbatical, as Deputy Provost at Life gate College of Education, Ilorin; Kwara State, Nigeria; Dean at the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences of Regent University of Science and Technology, Accra, Ghana and a Visiting Professor to the University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast, Ghana. Mercy, an international educationist, is an External Examiner, supervisor of Doctoral dissertations, for the School of Postgraduate Studies of one of the African number One Universities, University of Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa. Mercy Davies facilitates Seminars and Workshops for Longman Pearson, Nigeria and Cinefores, Brainfriend Project, Lagos, Nigeria.

She has over one hundred national and international published articles, books and poems to her credit and has delivered several scholarly, professional and public lectures in Nigeria, Africa, UK, Europe, United States, Canada, etc. Mercy is a member of; The British Association for Applied Linguistics (UK), Internationale de Linguistiquee (AILA), International Phonetics Association, UK., Linguistic Association of Nigeria (LAN) Nigeria, The Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA), and Teachers Registration Council (TRC) Nigeria etc. She also serves as External Examiner supervising Doctoral dissertations for the School of Postgraduate Studies, University of Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa.

Passionate about the transformation, development, progress and unity of Nigeria, she is an accomplished educationist, who believes she can boost Nigeria’s Human Capital Development Index and its Competitiveness in the area of skills and talent management. Funmilayo Adesanya-Davies, the Chairperson of Princess Mercy Ade-Davies International Foundation (PMADIF) is the newly appointed Country President of POLAC vying for the position of Nigeria President as the only Amazon Aspirant of Nigeria’s largest party, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in 2023.