Voice Of The Voiceless: The Uncelebrated Figures Of Nigerian Modern Democracy -By Olusegun Abejide & Shiloh Akinyemi

Towards Female Presidency in Nigeria: A Case Study of Funmilayo Adesanya-Davies

AMB. BISHOP (PROF.) FUNMILAYO ADESANYA-DAVIES

I like the progress millions of Nigerian women have made thus far. They are breaking the glass ceiling in many spheres. Professor Mercy Funmilayo Adesanya-Davies has demonstrated that women have the potential to move Nigeria into greater heights. She is a champion of education that we should always celebrate. Her rise to the current level is a prove that it is still within the realms of possibility for our women to be what they want in our country.

She is a linguist and an educationist who has dedicated her life to public service and inspiration of the youths. She has been an excellent and inspiring university lecturer who has nurtured thousands of Nigerian youths over the years. Teaching is a noble profession that does not only impact scholarly knowledge but opens up people’s eyes enlightening them, so they can see society from a different and vintage angle. Many may not know how many lives she has changed, but those who have had direct contact with her understand the charisma and vision Prof. Adesanya-Davies carries around around with very great passion.

Apart from serving as a university lecturer and administrator, she has also grown into an activist, researcher, poet, author and consultant at the peak of her academic career as a university don. As a researcher and an academician, she has published remarkable research articles and several books which are in eight different international languages available at: https://www.bookdepository.com; https://www.amazon.com;https://www.morebooks.de;https://www.waterstones.com;https://www.waterstones.com; https://m.barnesandnoble.com etc., and several other platforms. For online users, it’s easier to locate her publications. She is a testament to the progress that the Nigerian women are making, not only in Nigeria alone but across Africa. She pushes herself to excellence, which always drive to success.

Through, Prof. Adesanya-Davies demonstration, we can see the potential of many women’s abilities to rise in the corporate world, the political sphere, and other areas. She proves that we can be exactly what we wanted to be when we have good drive, courage, determination energy, vision and mission. There is much hope when we would see our women, sisters or mothers bracing up themselves for any challenges and pushing themselves to success. She is a role model to many girls, ladies and women in our country Nigeria, in Africa and the world at large. There is a lot to borrow from her, and I believe she will remain devoted to inspiring and guiding us all.

THE PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE

In 2019, Professor Adesanya-Davies was a promising presidential aspirant who finally emerged as a flag bearer and candidate in her chosen political party. She threw herself into the presidential race, not for theatrics but with the hope to run the country and save it from rampant corruption, poverty, unemployment, insecurity and several other challenges. I found her fit for the office; she is daring and smart a performer. If there was a Presidential candidate, I never doubted in the 2019 elections, it was Professor Adesanya-Davies. I was confident of her and firmly trust that she could deliver on her promises. She sought to vie for the presidency on the platform of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) the largest and oldest Party in the country, but couldn’t secure the ticket. As such, she size the opportunity She move to get repositioned in another Party, ,Mass Action Joint Alliance (MAJA), where she emerged as the presidential Candidate and contested the election. The presidential ticket in 2019 was then zoned to the core North. Geographically, she was disadvantaged because the Ira-born-Princess hails from ‘Ile Oba Ira’ compound, Ira, Kwara State of Nigeria at the North Central in the Middle Belt where no one has ever occupied the position of President or Vice President since independence. Ira is the home of the most popular Yoruba goddess, ‘OYA’ meaning ‘RIVER NIGER’ and she was said to be female deity married to “Sango” and later to “Ogun” after the death of Sango in Yoruba history and legendary. The two make gods were said to be the top-two Yoruba-land deities. Suffice it to say, zoning is one key component of our democracy, and I do not know if it serves us perfectly as a country inevitably.

The obvious fact is that we zoned our country politically to the disadvantage of others who may perform better. However, since we have embraced multi-partism, she had to look for another political vehicle that would allow her to contest. Since her interest in getting the PDP ticket was unexpectedly cut short, MAJA (Mass Action Joint Alliance) became a viable option for her in 2023. With our politics narrowing down to APC and PDP, MAJA became a third force.

For long, power has been revolving around APC and PDP; I was a tad bit confident that Professor Adesanya-Davies would pull a win. However, she did not win the general election as MAJA Presidential candidate, but her confidence, brilliance, and determination remain unmatched. I admired her campaigns and her interractions and talking points. There is a lot we could learn from her running for the position of the President. She has challenged women that leadership of Nigeria is not reserved for men alone. That women should not sit back but should be ready to compete with men in all spheres.

In her running for the top office, she promised exemplary leadership. She promised selflessness and a unity government that would deliver on its pledges. I trusted these pronouncements from her because I was sure that she was among the few bests who had a genuine interest among all the presidential candidates then. She was out to serve, why others may be seen to be after power and protecting the interests of their cronies. In her powerful and confident voice, I was sure of her genuineness. She was running to bring change and restore confidence in leadership and governance in our country after many years of disappointments from past administrations. Her messaging was powerful and was centred on real change she referred to “As the CHANGE we need to CHANGE the change”, that we continue to desire as a country. Insecurity was also her major concern as a woman who has been to the labour room a number of times and can place value on human’s health, life and dignity.

If she became President, she would have protected the ideals of a fair, democratic and egalitarian society. She stands for a society that thrives on genuine constitutionalism indicting Nigeria is a secular and multi-religious state. Her agenda was tagged, “Advanced Restructuring Agenda” within a populist frame work and ideology. Those in power and out of power should uphold our constitution by respecting the liberties and rights of other citizens. This would have been achievable if she took power. Nonetheless, the future is still bright, if Nigerians would try an impeccable female President like Prof. Adesanya Davies. I believe she could bring the desired change since a female president will be focused on delivering on her promises, not pleasing, and protecting cronies who loot from the public, also as an experienced academic, professional and technocrat. She also wrote over fifty positional papers submitted to the Senate committee on constitutional review during the ongoing revie excercises, while she was present at the public hearing sponsoring herself..

Whats’more, by now, Nigeria should be ripe for a female President. It is time that Nigerians consider transferring power from men to women. The Presidency has been in the hands of men who have presided over corruption, insecurity, and joblessness. In historical context, women have proved to be great leaders. In Europe, when queens were in power, they were decisive and powerful. They led armies to war and won. They were not cowards but confronted problems more than Kings. This gives a robust justification that women can always provide leadership that helps us develop as a country. We should take a leaf from Ellen Johnson Sirleaf who served as president of Liberia (2006–18), being the first woman elected head of state of an African country. Amongst her several achievements as President, she secured millions of dollars of foreign investment and established a Truth and Reconciliation Committee to probe corruption and heal ethnic tensions. Again, Camala Harris is presently the Vice President of the United States of America, a welcome development and she is doing well.

Don’t doubt the ability of genuine qualify female leaders. We should refute the notion that power should forever stay in the hands of men. God made the women help to meet for the men according to the Holy Writ. They are the peak of God’s glorious creation. We should have the willingness and courage to entrust them with power. I support all efforts that can help us get women into power, a female President. Professor Adesanya-Davies is supper-ready to govern Nigeria. I believe she is all that Nigeria needs now and we should embrace her. She is breaking the cultural barriers that for long limited women and confined them to low-cadre positions as men run high-cadre offices to loot and enrich themselves at the chagrin of the poor.

ADVOCACY FOR FEMALE LEADERSHIP

Professor Adesanya-Davies is championing on the rights of women and human rights generally. She believes that women possess power, which can benefit the masses when properly tapped into. Even with her royal lineage, she still acknowledges that numerous obstacles continue to strangle attempts by women to champion their liberties and rights. Her support for women is rooted in her belief that if women take overpower, children and youth stand to be empowered or taken care of. Her aim is go give back to Nigeria that made her. She was quoted to have said, “When a woman comes to power, all things will unfailingly change.”

Today, young people are neglected despite their education. Millions of Nigerians are wallowing in poverty, and efforts to fight poverty are not producing any meaningful impact because men in power do not care. But naturally, women are caregivers and cannot forsake the youth and children.

Women can empathize and drive policies targeting areas that can improve the lives of the youth. The millions of Nigerian youth walking in the streets are educated people energetic enough to build their country. Unluckily, corruption has stifled all efforts to attract investors and expand our manufacturing industry or revamp industries that can be engines of job creation. Women are not second-class citizens but are people who have society’s interests at heart more than men. The looters of our public resources are not female leaders but men. We are not talking about a war between men and women, but we are in a discussion to save a country. Professor Adesanya-Davies is of the persuasion that we should try female leaders. We should entrust them with more power because they will cater to society in its entirety. We should be tired of a sad state of affairs in the nation, where only a few thrive when a majority are stuck in abject poverty.

Professor Adesanya-Davies should be supported in her noble cause to rally women and youths and encourage them to take up leadership in the country. The time for women to be at the periphery is over, they should be at the centre where they can make decisions or plans that can steer Nigeria to shared prosperity. In future elections, I believe that we shall have the boldness and shrewdness to elect female leaders into powerful officers. She also believes power to the mothers is power to the their children the youths.

HER VISION

As an impeccable and erudite scholar, this university don and writer – Her reputation and academic exposure are worth admiration. Professor Adesanya-Davies shares a vision that augurs well with a majority. She is a social democrat; this explains her desire to build a society that caters to the needs of all. Even though we have personal ambitions, such aspirations should not oppress others. Her vision is to rebuild the manufacturing sector, which she firmly believes can create jobs to enable the youth to earn a living. She said it’s time we face power supply, while especially harnessing our God’s-given SUN, the Solar energy. We must produce to create employment; otherwise, every day’s unemployment we complain about shall not be solved. Her emphasis on manufacturing is rooted in industrialising Nigeria. It should not be business as usual; the millions of unemployed youths will continue being a burden because we are not keen on finding a solution.

Nigeria is rich in oil, and it should not create a few millionaires, but it should give everyone a fair share. The oil in Nigeria is enough to support its dreams to industrialise. However, we should be willing to fight cronyism in government for people to realize that they hold offices to serve, not to loot and protect their cronies. If corruption is curbed, more money shall go to job creation. We shall have sufficient funds to allocate to critical areas that can create job opportunities for many of our youth. In her vision, Professor Adesanya-Davies still believes the youth should be at the center of change delivery. The young people should continue being at the forefront and reject politics of demagoguery, where we are told sweet words or fake promises. Today, many officeholders made fake promises, and people still want to elect them back to office. We should not tolerate such, but the youth should be ready to hold to account their leaders.

Nigerians should evaluate leaders instead of depending on their lies to make decisions. They should check their records and assess their personality. Without a background check, tainted individuals shall continue to dominate our public service or government. Ultimately, we shall not get the right leaders we want to lead us to prosperity, development, democracy, and social justice.

CONTINUE WINNING THROUGH PERSEVERANCE

How the leaders and the people begin each day is crucial. Let’s start the morning with the vigor of the rising sun. Doing the act of humanity and praying will awaken and revitalises outlives, most especially at the crucial moment of the country, we need a leader like Prof. Adesanya Davies. The busier we become and the bigger the number of problems we confront, the more critical it is for us to win the first thing in the morning and throughout the entire day. Please establish a track record of success in your everyday activities by succeeding in your first and last tasks of the day. That’s how we’ll be able to make the seemingly impossible possible. That is when we will be able to achieve a historic victory that we will be remembered for all time.

It is inevitable that as we engage in a struggle for humanity, the three impediments and four devils would come up to attack us. Every day is a serious test of will and determination. That’s why it’s essential that we powerfully engage in fighting for the people we govern through employing the strategy of voicing for them. Please, let’s strive to transform even opponents into allies for our movement. Momentum is key to winning in every struggle for humanity. The inner determination of leaders is the force that increases this momentum.

First and foremost, as leaders, are you striving with a sense of urgency, fueled by a strong desire to succeed? You must be filled with an unshakeable determination to succeed at any cost. Second, are you gaining momentum in your efforts to dispute incorrect information and uncover the truth? As the leader of humanity, I pray that a passionate spirit of justice and truth will burn brightly in your hearts as you take on your responsibilities. Third, are you marching forward with the ferocious, lion-like momentum that comes from being a mentor and a disciple? That is a mentor that produces great disciples. Please advance with the spirit of the oneness of mentor and disciple, confidently sharing the purpose of being human with one another. Fourth, is your progress marked by a vibrant, cohesive momentum that will pave the way for a seemingly unstoppable march toward victory? Please, show people throughout the country and the world the underlying strength of a great leader through unity of “many in body, one in mind.” For the sake of the country!

Everything is constantly changing. I am sure we can all see how things are unfolding in our very eyes. The problem is that; is Nigeria changing for good or worse!- Our leadership acumen practice enables us to steer those changes in a positive direction, the direction of happiness. People can always make positive changes in their lives. We can influence our environment for the better. According to the teachings of the human spirit, great leaders of the past usually convert their lands three times before declaring them to be pure land. This is exactly what Prof. Adesanya Davies is advocating for. To fully exercise such programs, she seeks the highest office of the land. Humanity is the great struggle to carry out such a transformation in our environment and turn the troubled country in which we live now into a humanistic land, a realm of happiness and peace.

As such, instead of lamenting challenging situations, let’s rouse the strong determination to change them. It took our forefathers repeated times before the land was fully transformed from the colonial era to the independent era; until truncated to the present Barbarism in the 1966 military coup. As a result, let us always remember that only through prayer and action that is accurate, wholehearted, and persistent in our efforts for mankind can we be able to positively turn our communities into the paradise that we have been dreaming of.

FEMALE PRESIDENT: CHALLENGES, POSSIBILITIES AND TIMING

By: Shiloh O. Akinyemi

From the beginning of time, ours has been a nation of women who are actively engaged in the workforce. Throughout the history of the Yoruba kingdom as well as the known history of Oduduwa lineage, marriage has never been used to exempt women from their social obligations. Even though Moremi was the wife of Oranmiyan, a son of Oduduwa, her influence in the course of her community’s life resulted in the establishment of her name in gold. The Hausa people live in the northern Nigeria; in the Zauzau kingdom, where we have our first Sarahuniya (queen), that’s the warrior Queen Amina, who led men into battle and expanded the Zauzau kingdom. Surprisingly, the people she left behind can no longer stand up for themselves anymore because their culture and history have been subdued, and the shortness of their reign has been erased. The defeated Hausa nation can’t even dream of having a King at present, let alone a Queen in their midst today. A group of people from a distant county have corroded, taking their culture and customs, as well as their own. Gone by the winds forever. What of the likes of these prominent women which include Matriarchs Sarah, Rebecca, Rachel, and Leah, Miriam the prophetess, Deborah the Judge, Huldah the prophetess, Abigail, who married David, Rahab, and Esther with pivotal roles like that Deborah and Esther in the Holy Bible? Time will fail me to give the several accounts in full.

In colonial modern Nigeria, 1929 will be remembered as the year that a group of female warriors in the city of Aba, in the country’s South-Eastern region, transformed the face of the nation. Abia State is rotting away today, and no woman seemed to be disturbed. Margret Ekpo, a lady who redefined activism was born in the same city of Aba as the Aba riots 20 years after the riots. While Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti’s were visible throughout the South West of Nigeria and were too indelible to be missed throughout the country in her time. She also left a legacy of activism that has endured for three generations. When it mattered, Kudirat Abiola was the one who stood up and was counted.

Those looking for more contemporary examples can go to Dora Akunyili, whose campaign against bogus pharmaceuticals has become legendary, and Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, whose resignation from the helm of our economy is without question the reason why our huge ship is adrift on the sea of life. Our primary predilection for beauty has been demonstrated by Agbani Darego, Miss World 2001, and Precious Chikwendu, Miss United Nations 2014. Despite her honor before the United Nations and the rest of the world, it has proven difficult for the man who was fortunate enough to have her as his wife to leave her a legacy of dignity. Unfortunately, Nigerian women are disproportionately burdened in this regard. Despite her efforts, she is being relegated to second fiddle by a culture of male chauvinists.

Nigerian women have always had to stoop to be victorious. Many people feel that behind every successful man is a strong woman in the workplace. Then, can one, however, move in the opposite direction? Maybe, No! Many of our country’s most influential women have been bullied in the political arena, and they’ve largely faded into obscurity apart from a few women who have been appointed.

Every election season, these women turn out in large numbers to determine a large percentage of who will be our next president and vice president. In 2019, women accounted for 47 percent of all registered voters, while men-controlled 53 percent of the vote. Even though women have a significant influence on political decision-making, they continue to stand in line for hours in the sun, casting our ballots for candidates who have never had and will almost surely never have, the interests of women at heart. In contrast to their democratic strength, which should allow them to seek equity of 47 percent, but is appealing for only 35 percent, for which their bill was rejected by the National Assembly despite its merits.

The interests of women are not represented by the men in positions of authority. One of the most recent examples is the fact that the law for gender equality has been trampled on by the male-dominated National Assembly that we chose. All the gender related bills were trashed into the can. For the foreseeable future, the fight for gender equality will remain an aspiration until women respond to the task of giving precedence to female members of parliament. Among the women activists of our neighbouring West African country is Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, who was released from prison in the 1980s. During Helen’s tenure as secretary of state for finance from 1972 to 1978, and as minister of finance from 1979 to 1980, when she worked for the government. In addition to surviving several attempted assassinations, she was forced to go into exile, returned later, and declared she wanted to campaign against the then President Doe, again receiving death threats.

Despite being convicted to ten years in prison for opposing the military rule of Samuel Doe, she was granted permission to depart the country within a few months of her conviction. The epithet “Iron Lady” was given to her because of her political opposition. In 2006, she became the first woman to be elected as the Head of State of an African state by universal suffrage. It was her courage that led to her being named a Nobel peace prize co-recipient in 2011. She has demonstrated that power is not a conventional dowry that men are willing to pay in exchange for having both beauty and brains in a position of leadership. The names of former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher and former German Chancellor Angela Merkel are commonly bandied around these days. Take proper note of this; ‘power,’ Nigerian women must recognize, can only be obtained through struggle!

The world is celebrating the tremendous achievements of these women right now, and I’m wondering when Nigerian women will stand up and demand the revolution for their rights. Since 1960, we have never had a female Head of State or President, and we can judge how successfully men have led us by looking at the historical record. The most notable of our products is the first female Governor of Nigeria, who was appointed by chance. Is there an Aba spirit that would be willing to take the steps necessary to result in the first female governor of Abia State? Could Lagos adopt civility to elect Nigeria’s first female governor in the state? Forcing the men in power to recognize that we are more than simply the guys in the back of the room would be a complete and utter waste of our time. No matter how much sacrifice has been made by women in the past, such as Dora Akunyili, Kudirat Abiola, Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti, and countless others, if women don’t stand up for their rights today, all will be for naught.

This is the reason some women like Prof. Adesanya Davies, like Queen Amina, of the north and Moremi of the south are leading the women into this war against the men-dominated arena. Also, someone like Boma Goodhead will stand up against this male-dominated, oppressive regime at the gate of the National Assembly, but more other women should follow in her footsteps? Who, like Sarah Jibril, will take the risk of representing women’s gender in the face of overwhelming hurdles and constant setbacks as the first female presidential candidate ever in Nigerian history? Who like Prof. Remi Sonaiya will again float a new party, become the Presidential candidate to further good governance in the nation while coming up with a very thorough, functional and viable manifesto and agenda for Nigeria. Actually, where are the daring, serious and prominent women in politics, proven with records for 2023 Presidential election except Professor Funmilayo Adesanya–Davies!

Now, Prof. Funmilayo Adesanya is the only Amazon running for the 2023 Presidential election, amongst the five female candifates that participated but lost in the race of 2019. She is confidently running for re-election in 2023, and one wonders, we haven’t even heard a single mention of her among all the men running nor her mention even the Nigerian women leaders. Who has done this to the women folks in Nigeria. Thanks to the youths in the tertiary institutions National Association of Nigeria Students (NANS) and National by Association of Northern Nigeria Students (NANNS) as well as Niger Delta Students Union Government, National that acknowledged and endorsed her. Thanks to the YouWin-I-Win Youth group and YELI and CAPH that also gave her endorsements for instance, and the media always on her for support. Where are the EIMEN GROUPS and their endorsements? Are they afraid or unconcerned about the state of the nation or they feel incarpsble for the tough job. Kodos to the women groups that just won the 35 percent affirmative action for women in appointive position of recent. If the women will embrace the Princess Funmilayo Adesanya–Davies vision and every woman vote would vote for her, they will surprise the entire nation and we could have such a huge influence.

There is a revolution within us if we only recognize it. It is in the bosom of a woman where the Nigeria of our dreams resides! A wima Women named Nigeria by inspiration, Flora the girl friend of Lord Lugard after they came for the exploration of River Niger in Africa. As our mothers gave birth to all the men they can still nurture us all as they did while we were children. We have two options: Hide in fear or show up in large numbers to support our preferred female presidential, gubanitorial, and other elected positions candidates in the country.

Always remember Adesanya-Davies was found of saying with passion and quote “l have a dream that one day a woman will become the president of Nigeria to transform and the dream is now!” She adds, ” I am most passionate about the transformation, development, progress and unity of Nigeria, as an accomplished educationist, I believe I can boost Nigeria’s Human capital development index and its competitiveness in the area of skills acquisition, talent management, economic development for our noble but jobless teeming youths, as well as social emancipation for women. One need to read some of her poetry works on Nigeria for instance: “I see a new Nigeria where all things work!”, Nigeria My Fatherland”, Welcome to a New Nigeria”, My Niger Area”, “Arise oh Women in Nigeria” “Stop Boko Haram in Nigeria”, Africa: My Land of the Living, etc,. You can assess to read some of them online at Allpoetry: World web largest poetry site, where they are displayed Online; and where she has published about five hundred general poems, and several on CIVID-I9. (https://allpoetry.com ›).

In her last declaration at Abuja, FCT, on 24th March, 2022, at Change Ambassadors for Peace and Humanity (CAPH) and YELI International / Yeshua International School of Theology (YIST) Annual event, once again she reinstates, “May I declare again to you all, that I, Professor Funmilayo Adesanya-Davies, a linguist and educationist, who has served as a university lecturer and administrator for the past thirty-six (36)years. Also a consultant, human resources prrson, communication expert, journalist, technocrat, researcher, writer, poet and activist, and a frontline politician, and presidential candidate of Mass Action Joint Alliance (MAJA) in the 2019 election in the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is now re-declaring to be a presidential aspirant on the platform of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP aspiring to become the President of Nigeria come 2023. She is foundly called by her nick name which is, PMA-Choice!

Thus, she calls on the women, the Youths, the HeForShe as well as all Nigerians to vote for her as the next President come 2023, once she wins the PDP Presidential primary; stating that, “She has the vision, mission, dream, knowledge, drive, creativity and capacity and needed intelligence to reshape Nigeria with a feminine touch in grand style and lead the country to social, economic and political advancement and stability through her “PMA ADVANCED RESTRUCTURING AGENDA.”