“The most common way people give up their power is by thinking they don’t have any.” – Alice Walker
By Tayo Onimisi Omodaiye
Now that the Kogi State Independent Electoral Commission (KOSIEC) has released the timetable and schedule of activities for the 2024 local government election, set to hold on Saturday, October 19, 2024, what is surprising is the number of women courageously showing interest in joining the chairmanship and the councillorship race, at least to test their popularity at the grassroots level.
Interestingly, the Kogi State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has recommended that all their would-be candidates in the 21 local government areas of the state should take women as their deputies and also, a reasonable number of councillorship seats should be reserved for women in every local government area.
This demonstrates that Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo, like his predecessor, is determined to increase women's representation in political offices through the political party structure.
Women, by virtue of their status in society in the 21st century, demand recognition and special attention.
Every genuine and responsible government should focus on promoting gender-responsive policies.
It's high time we understood that womanhood is more than just an identity. There is the urgent need to create an atmosphere where all members of society, regardless of gender, religion, socio-economic background, or any other characteristic, feel valued and included.
Throughout history and across cultures, women have faced innumerable challenges and injustices.
Here in Kogi State, before 2016, women who were part of all the electoral processes—voter card registration, nomination of candidates, campaigns, and voting—were often neglected and relegated to the background after the election victory.
Thank God for the emergence of Alh. Yahaya Bello in 2016 as the executive Governor of Kogi State.
His government brought relief and a new dawn for Kogi women at home, and in the diaspora.
The former Governor Yahaya Bello saw the need to amplify the voices of women in the State. He gave them all the necessary resources and support they needed to thrive.
During his administration, we had women as the leaders of the Local Government Legislative Councils in the 21 local government areas. All the Vice Chairmen were women, and the womenfolk had their chances in high political offices in the state.
Kogi women became politically exposed and stepped up their game by taking the bull by the horns.
It was at that time that several women political groups sprang up to show solidarity with the government of Alh. Yahaya Bello.
One of the groups worthy of mention is the FairWin Women Advancement Association (FAWWASS), a socio-political group founded by the present Accountant-General of Kogi State, Hajia (Dr.) Habibat Oyiza Tijjani Onumoko.
The membership base of this adjudged most formidable group in North Central is far over 30,000, as its members cut across tribes, religions, and regions.
Even though the founder of the group, Hajia (Dr.) Habibat Oyiza Tijjani Onumoko, has often said she’s not a politician, the politicians in the state still see her as a Marshal in the field of politics.
As we count down to the local government election, and the governor of Kogi State, H.E. Alh. Ahmed Usman Ododo, is adopting measures such as quotas and affirmative action to increase women’s participation in politics and governance, I congratulate Kogi women.
This is obviously a consolidation of the legacies left by his predecessor, Alh. Yahaya Bello.
It's my prayers that as our women have audaciously declared intentions to contest in the forthcoming local government election in a society widely acknowledged to be dominated by men, the men will play to the gallery of the party and "Let The Women Breathe".
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