By Myke Uzendu, Abuja
Ahead of the 2023 general election, former National Women leader of the Peoples Democratic Party, Iyom Josephine Anenih, has reminded PDP female aspirants that the 35 per cent affirmative action for women in various offices is not automatic but can only be achieved through hard work and strategic politicking.
Iyom Anenih stated this during a meeting convened by the PDP woman leader Prof. Stella Effah-Attoe, and about 250 female aspirants from across the federation on Monday at the party’s headquarters in Abuja.
The former Minister of Women Affairs under the President Goodluck Jonathan administration said that the party has been able to engrave the 35 percent position of women on its constitution but pointed out that making it a national policy still remains a task yet to be effected by the national assembly hence the “Occupy National Assembly” protest organized by women in the past few weeks.
She went further to state that pending the implementation of the policy, women who are interested in political offices must work hard, get close to the grass root to ensure that they win the hearts of delegates and use other party instruments to ensure that they are elected.
Anenih said, “If you are not qualified and nobody knows you in your place, you won’t get the seat you are looking for.
“Some of you, if we ask, when did you last attend your ward meeting or state meeting? And you now want to be a House of Representatives member or Governor? It’s a tall order.
“The 35 per cent affirmative action we are clamouring for is not magic. We must work hard for it. Don’t give PDP a bad name by saying women are marginalized. If you are qualified you will be given a chance.”
Anenih noted that the women must recognize the authority and structure in the party, especially leaders at their local constituencies.
“You must learn to involve your local leaders and recognize them. Even if the Chairman does not like you, there are people you know who he respects. Use them to get to him.
“We will continue pushing for women’s rights in national, state and local levels but you must do your part,” she said.
Speaking further, she admitted that though politics in Nigeria is capital intensive, it is an inescapable cross women must bear.
According to her, “You cannot win elections today without money. You need money to run your campaigns, consult with the right people and fund your candidacy.”
I her welcome address, The National Woman leader said that the meeting was to intimate the aspirants on the strategies they need to employ so as to get elected into various offices.
“This meeting is necessitated by my desire to leave no stone unturned to ensure that our women do not only come out to participate in politics, but to also participate meaningfully and win elections.
“We’ve always thought about women coming to participate. We’ve been doing that over the years we’ve been participating but the issue now is coming out to win elections. This kind of meeting is unprecedented. I deem it necessary to know our female aspirants across the 36 states of the Federation and the FCT. This gathering will afford us the opportunity to understand the role of the national woman leader in broadening the horizon for female effective participation in politics.
“To share ideas with veterans and tap from their wealth of experience, enhance our approaches and methodologies as we go to the field, understand the pros and cons inherent in our political pursuits with a view to preferring solutions to them, monitor the achievements of female aspirants, plan for the future. “I believe that at the end of this significant exercise, our female aspirants will rise up from here in high spirits towards the business ahead”.
In attendance were former National Woman Leader Ina Ciroma, former Senate Majority Whip Sen. Stella Omu, House of Rep member Hon. Nenna Ukeje, former aviation minister, Dr Kema Chikwe, who joined virtually, former Nigerian Ambassador to Ethiopia and Djibouti, Nkoyo Toyo, Sen. Zaiaab Kure, Barr. Natasha Akpoti Uduaghan and several female aspirants to various electoral offices, among others.
