Former First Lady of Nigeria, Patience Jonathan, has renewed calls for stronger legislative measures to guarantee women greater representation in the country’s political system, insisting that the proposed 35 per cent affirmative action for women in governance must be backed by law.
Mrs Jonathan made the appeal during a women’s conference organized by the Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) in Yenagoa. Her remarks came while responding to comments made by the Governor of Bayelsa State, Douye Diri, regarding women’s participation in politics.
Governor Diri had earlier argued that women should pursue full participation in politics without relying on special political concessions, warning that the creation of special seats for women might inadvertently portray them as second-class citizens.
According to the governor, the focus should instead be on creating a system where women compete equally and naturally emerge as leaders. He revealed that he had recently discussed women’s political participation with the Deputy British High Commissioner during her visit to Bayelsa.
While acknowledging that the idea of special seats for women in the National Assembly of Nigeria might serve as a temporary measure, Diri said he was largely uncomfortable with the concept.
“I do not want our women to be treated as second-class citizens,” the governor said. “In countries like Britain and the United States, women do not have specially reserved seats in parliament. Yet they actively participate in politics and hold positions of influence.”
Diri stressed that Nigerian women possess the intellectual capacity and professional achievements required to compete effectively in politics. He noted that women across the world have risen to become parliamentarians, governors, and even presidents, arguing that Nigeria should not be different.
“Our women are highly accomplished,” he said. “We have professors, doctors, engineers, and lawyers, including many from the Niger Delta. In fact, my own daughter recently earned a PhD in law at just 26 years old.”
The governor maintained that the major obstacle to women’s political advancement in Nigeria is the structural deficiencies within the country’s political system, rather than a lack of ability among women.
He also pointed out that his administration has attempted to increase women’s involvement in governance in Bayelsa through appointments and political opportunities.
“In 2023, I expected that we would have about five women elected into the Bayelsa State House of Assembly,” he explained. “Unfortunately, after the elections, only two were successful.”
Despite these challenges, Diri encouraged women in the Niger Delta region to continue organizing and advocating for greater representation, pledging his continued support for their political ambitions.
However, Patience Jonathan disagreed with the governor’s position on special seats, insisting that formal legislation is necessary to guarantee women’s participation in governance.
She argued that relying on goodwill or voluntary inclusion from political leaders could leave women vulnerable to political changes.
“We do not want mere inclusion that depends on the generosity of any government,” Jonathan said. “If inclusion is not backed by law, any administration that comes into power tomorrow can simply reverse it.”
She emphasized that the Special Seats Bill currently before the National Assembly should be passed into law to ensure women occupy a minimum percentage of political offices.
The former First Lady also noted that while some developed nations operate successfully without quota systems, Nigeria’s political environment functions differently and requires deliberate policy intervention.
“The system they are referring to may work smoothly in some countries, but Nigeria’s political structure is different,” she explained. “Here, decisions often require negotiation and agreement before progress can be made.”
Jonathan further cited examples from other African countries where affirmative action policies have helped improve women’s representation in government.
“In countries like Angola, the 35 per cent representation for women is already guaranteed,” she said. “Several other nations have adopted similar policies to ensure women are adequately represented.”
She called on Nigerian women across political parties and regions to unite in pursuit of this goal, urging them to set aside partisan interests and speak with one voice.
“Women in Nigeria must come together regardless of their party affiliations,” she said. “That is the only way we can successfully achieve this objective.”
Jonathan also stressed the need for political parties themselves to adopt mandatory quotas for women within their internal leadership structures, noting that parties play a crucial role in determining who eventually holds public office.
“The political party is the gateway to power,” she said. “If women are not part of the foundation of these parties, it will be difficult for them to be part of the future leadership of this country.”
Her comments have reignited discussions around gender equality and political representation in Nigeria, where women remain significantly underrepresented in elective positions despite making up nearly half of the country’s population.
