Opinion: WOMEN IN POLITICS: WHO IS AFRAID?

 

By Jauhar S. Salihu

I will like to say this categorically with emphasis and vigor that I don't see any rational behind your worries when a societal operational system allows talented and hardworking women in your society to fully participate in the process of social, political, moral and economic rejuvenation of that society. The chauvinists who insist that their daughters would not go to school or if they're allowed but will not be given the chance to excell in their respective fields of endeavors, based on the belief that campus and work place would corrupt them, still want female doctors to attend to their wives, daughters, sisters, aunts and nieces, at the hospital.

First and foremost, let us take a look at Aishatu Dahiru Ahmed who was (born 11 August 1971) also known as Aishatu Binani, she is a Nigerian politician who is currently serving as a senator representing Adamawa Central since 2019. She recently become an epitome of all what a misogynistic society stands to demonize for obvious reasons. Her heroic political revolution that she brought to bear in the recent governorship elections in a dexterous fight and challenging all patriarchal gimmicks is unwavering.

Nigerian Women in Politics 

She mobilised people from across ethnic and religious divides both men and women, young and old. She has massive grassroots support. As a Senator she has performed extremely well that was why they supported her. She is currently facing stiff opposition from ultra conservation Islamic clerics who preached against her candidacy. As Muhsin Ibrahim have posted on his Facebook page: "Welcome to Arewa...Educating/empowering women is "un-Islamic", Female leadership under democracy is "un-Islamic", Marriage, death, and birth certificates are also "un-Islamic"? I am stunned! What Islam do you practice – in Nigeria?  Why wouldn’t you relocate to the Taliban-led Afghanistan?"

I have taken my time to observe this amazing lioness for long with keen interest, mobilizing not only fellow veiled women to break the chain of servitude but also gingers her male counterparts up, with her outstanding charisma and relentless commitment in politicking. This iron lady will no doubt continue to make special mention and cheerful recognition by the posterity whenever History of women's struggles in politics comes up for review in Nigeria.

Binani's tenacious outing notwithstanding has never occurred in vacuum, considering the number of fellow courageous, supportive and agile young women and men beautifying those skillfully coordinated electioneering, in such a large number which seems to surpass that of male opposition parties.

The North is a region where women are powerless has done a great disservice to its faith and belief, as we all know, it's the same women, and not men, that shape and mould our personality and future at the formative age. A woman deserves her freedom to fully be educated, and to  participate in all administrative and economic aspects of the society as well as having a proragative to rightly decide who to marry equable to her male counterparts.

There are certain problems that had became a stumbling blocks always trying to stop the wheel of our progress as a people in the North, had thrived for centuries simply because of the unwarranted fear that fundamentalists created to tame the progressive voice in the region. However, we still have some politicians who are ready to revolutionize an already injured  fabric of our existential essence in life, but reality at hand always dictates otherwise.

It is very easy for the honest  seekers of truth to see the differences between the contexts of the ancient Arabia and our modern world; we must acknowledge that, Nana Khadija (RA) had succeeded to become the richest woman in pre-Islamic Arabia owing to the freedom that women had to compete with men in the socio-economic spheres of the society then.This exposes any attempt by religious fundamentalists to prevent women from holding any political office as one of those patriarchal agendas promoted by men of low self-esteem in furthering their hegemonic  domination over women.

The emergence of Binani as a politically woman revolutionist in a caged environment as Northern Nigeria compared to other regions is becoming a far-fetched dream. It remains the cumbersomely elusive question ringing bell in my little head. Not that we don't have numerous young and educated women of her caliber down here in the north but the culturally structured patriarchy that extrinsically goes beyond religious underpinnings we always  rush  to associate Islam with (after most northern states are Islamically conservative if not all) severely frowns at such.

I'm just imagining the response expected from the parents of an average lady in the core North, if she dares express interest to join politics for whatever course, the worst in all is the gender-mixed match exemplified by Aisha Binani and her peers in other regions. In another twist, what first comes her mind when the idea of making herself available to contribute in such physically competitive episode pops up?