ABSTRACT
Issue of gender equality (men and women) are equal in al ranks,
which also includes politics, which is aimed at women rather than
men, these debates degenerate and disintegrate into discordant
posturing, grandstanding, sweeping, generalizations and
misrepresentation. I do not intend to throw my hat into the ring. I only
wish to add my voiced to the discourse. Before women’s participation
in politics remained a contentious but neglected area in dedicated
academic discourse or forum such as the instant one. This, thus long
essay is but an attempt to shed light on some darkened areas with the
hoe that the eager picture will be clearer and with the realization that
Islam, rather than dehumanize, it actually enhanced the status of
women.
In this long essay, an attempt is made to analyze and examine the
divergent views and arguments of both proponents and opponents of
women’s participation in politics. On the other hand, women in
politics, although with a caveat, that should not be at the expense of
the family and dewomanizing the women. This long essay further
seeks to address the need of open mindness and accommodation there
on from both sides of the divide.
CHAPTER ONE
GENERAL INTRODUCTION
1.0.0: INTRODUCTION
In spite of the fact that around the world today, democracy has become the pillar
upon which nations are building the hope of attaining sustainable development,
the definition of democracy remains exclusive, politics though remain an integral
part of democracy bearing traditional definition, which characterizes. It was male
dominated and excluding women. It needs to be stressed that women’s political
rights remains an integral part of human rights and women’s rights generally are
necessary aspect of any democratic frame work. This long essay will examine the
extent of women participation in Nigeria politics and the extent of marginalization
of women in politics.
If the definition of democracy allows for diversity opinion and participation of
different groups, then it cannot be thrive by excluding women, which effectively
constitute half on the world’s population and half of each and every single
national population. The fact that the constitution is supposed to promote the
evolution of the notion of the democratic process is not in doubt, what seems
debatable is whether democratic process can flourish in the current dispensation
2
where the constitution guarantee for women participation in politics are limited.
In Nigeria despite the significant roles of women before and after independence in
development of corresponding economic, social and political power is still
wanting. The fact that military ruled for years helped to institutionalize violations
of human rights that resulted to severe political, social and economic crises. These
anomalies have impacted negatively on the development of women’s right,
despite the many international norms and institutions designed to advance the
cause of women. This long essay under scores the extent of degration on this light
and properly examines the ideal status of women in Nigeria under the relevant
statutes.
The challenge of women’s participation in the political process in Nigeria has
gained additional significance, since the return of democracy. The last election
saw men taking over their male dominated model of politics altogether or
rejecting male single of political. Women’s aspiration to participate in governance
is premised on the following grounds, it is the believed that women constitute half
of the population and hence should be allowed to a fair share in decision making
and the country, secondly that all human beings are equal and women posses the
same rights as men to participate in governance is an entitlement conferred upon
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all citizens by law. By virtue of section 4011 of the constitution states the
following;
“Every person shall be entitled to assemble freely and associate with other
person and in particular he may form or belong to any political party, trade
union or any other association for the protection of his interest:
Provided that the provisions of this section shall not derogate from the power
conferred by this constitution on the independent National Electoral
Commission with respect to political parties to which that commission does not
recognition”
Section 422 of the same constitution states further that;
(1) A citizen of Nigeria of a particular community, ethnic group, place of
origin, sex, religion or political opinion shall not, by reason only that he is such a
person be subject to any form of discrimination.
This further confirms that you can go to court to seek redress, if as a woman your
franchise is violated and that the constitution as a whole prohibits discrimination
on the basis of sex. The constitution also state:
Section 773 provided in inter alia:
(1) Subject to the provisions of this constitution, every senatorial district of
Federal constituency established in accordance with the provision of this
part of this chapter shall return a member who shall be directly elected to
1 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999.
2 ibid
3 ibid
4
the senate or the House of Representatives on such may be prescribed by
an Act of National Assembly.
(2) Every citizen of Nigeria who has attained the age of eighteen years
residing in Nigeria at the time of the registration of voters for purpose of
election to a legislature house shall be entitled to be registered as a voter
for that election.
From the foregoing, it appears that there is nothing in the constitution, which
excludes the participation of woman in politics in Nigeria, yet when it comes to
actual practice, there is extensive discrimination.
On the other hand, The Noble Quran allows women the right to vote, to
participate in politics and express her opinion in public discourse. It is on record
that in the days of the Prophet Muhammad (SAW) women were consulted before
Islamic communities choose their leaders, women ask Him questions of different
topics and expressed their opinions as well participated in public life, with the
early Muslims especially in times of emergencies including accompanying
Muslim armies to battle to take care of the wounded and prepare supplies.
Also, the equality of women and men is Shariah is not doubt. Nowhere in The
Noble Quran from where the Shariah was derived, is the women made inferior to
the man. The Quran only recognizes differences in their roles as it true of other
religions. Such differences in their roles make the man the leader or head of the
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family. The man provides, protect etc. these do not make the man necessarily
superior. This is not peculiar to Islam alone, which states the responsibilities of
man and woman.
Finally, this long essay shall proffer effective and plausible solutions and
recommendations to these constraints in a bid to ensuring equality as guaranteed
by natural and inalienable rights bestowed on all and sundry.
1.1.0: BACKGROUND
The general believe is that, there is tendency for people to frown at the idea that
women should participate in politics. Politics is said to be the science of
governance, it involves the distribution of resources and those who decide how
wealth and other resources should be distributed among the masses usually enjoy
prestige, authority and power. The process of acquiring this type of power often
entails some intrigues bargaining and negotiation for some strange reason, people
assume that men have a monopoly of those skills, thus women are often excluded
from politics and public life in general. They are expected to operate solely within
the family and home arena as wives mothers and home makers. Politics is said to
be too rough a game for women.
6
The impact of women in Nigeria does not reflect in their population in the
political sphere. Women represent about 60%4 of the Nigeria total population but
there is only minimal number of women participation in the Federal and State
legislature. There has never been a women is the Supreme Military Council
(SMC) or the Armed Forces Ruling Council (AFRC) as the case may be. This
may however be due to the fact that there are few women in that profession.
Major policy decisions are taken without female representative. Even where the
decision and policies that emerged from the affect women directly. Although, it
has been stated that women have found their ways in the Federal Cabinet during
civilian regime, there participation in decision making bodies are minimal. Major
decisions are taken without female representative even where the decision and
policies that emerge from them are evolved for the benefit of women.
This therefore, goes to say that the impact of women does not reflect in their
population in the political sphere. In the pre-independence days, Mrs.
Olufunmilayo Ransome Kuti was a political figure in the 1950’s and she was the
only female member of the delegation sent to Britain to deliberate on the
4 Madinagu B.E and Okoye F, ‘Women Law and Transition to Democracy’ (1993 printed El-Rafiu
print, Kano edited by Kola Ahmed).
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independence in Nigeria. In this period, not many were appointed. Those that
were appointed were either junior ministers or commissioners in charge of youth,
sport and culture in the second republic. In the third republic, out of 109 members
of state, only 3 were females and out of 360 members of House of Representative
only 8 were females. Furthermore, during this present dispensation, out of 109
member of the Senate only 4 are females and out of 360 members of the House of
Representative only 235 are females. This is an improvement over the previous
years but more can still be done.
Also, Nigeria women stand on the same footing with their male counterpart,
whenever they were given the opportunity to perform. It is however, glaring that
the political game of this country has been preserved exclusively for men. This
has led them to the conclusion that Nigeria women are not politically active than
their male counter part.
The ranking ascribed to women is Islam in very noble and lofty one and her effect
is very great in the life of every Muslim. Right from the time of her birth, a baby
ought to be very special to her parent for Islam chastised those fathers who feel
said their wives give birth to a female child in preference to male child.
According to the traditions of the Prophet Muhammad (SAW) there is blessing in
5 ibid
8
the raising of female children. He is reported to have said that in respect of a
person who has two daughters and did not bury them alive or insult them and
brought them up properly. He and (the person) will be in paradise together.6
Islam had emancipated women and had given the world the basic prescription for
the respect and values of human beings irrespective of class, color, sex or creed.
The Muslim women have the privilege to vote and voted for, right to her own
opinion making decision and there is equality in Islam.
“O mankind, we created you from male and female and made you into races and
tribes that you may know one another surely, the noblest among you in the sight
of God is the most God caring of you”7
According to this verse of The Noble Quran, it is quite apparent that all human
beings are equal that no one should be deemed to above in righteousness. The
women and men are equal but not same. Any suggestion of superiority of the man
to the woman is strange to the Quran. In fact, the Quran frowns at discrimination
against woman. Any perceive discrimination cannot be sufficiently justified on
“Quranic” grounds.
6 Transmitted by Al-Bukhari and Muslim on the authority of Anas
7 Q 49:13
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1.2.0: OBJECTIVE OF THE STUDY
My objective of study is to enlighten women on their roles in politics as to
whether they can participate in politics, this project serves as enlightenment for
females because the constitution, The Noble Quran, also the Hadith ,including the
jurist are also in supports that women should be given chances to participate in
politics no matter how small the post might be. They should not be looked down
upon; they deserve the right to participate in politics.
This project will encourage women and also know their civil rights, that they can
participate in election that is they cant vote and be voted for. Eg in Kwara State8,
among their gubernatorial candidate was a female who was Sen. Gbemisola
Rukayat Saraki, thou, she was condemned, but still stood on her feet that what a
man can do a woman can do better. Also during the presidential primaries9 in
PDP which was held in Abuja. A lady stood up that she wants to become a
president (Mrs. Sarah Jubril), but she was denied her civic right because it was
only her vote that counts, nobody voted for her.
8 Kwara State election (gubernatorial election) , 16th April.2011
9 January 15th, 2011
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Also this long essay is to enlightened members of the public that a woman can
participate in politics, they should not be looked down upon, they should be
encourage, there is an adage which says, if you train a woman you have trained
the whole nation, the if you train a man you have trained a single person.
1.3.0 SCOPE OF THE STUDY
The scope of study of this long essay is based on women and their capabilities in
participating in politics. It would examine the rights in participation of politics in
the Islamic and common laws. Also, this long essay will be concerned about the
historical background, pro-colonial, colonial and post colonial eras. Also, it will
analyze the Act of textual authorities, the non-textual, the Common law review,
Statutes and also the similarities and dissimilarities between the two (Islamic and
Common laws). That dealt with women’s participation in politics, also their roles
they have performed and how they have been able to cope.
1.4.0: METHODOLOGY
The method to be employed here in carrying out this research for the purpose of
this paper would be based the textual and non-textual authorities and also the Act.
Information would be sourced from the Internet, Public lectures delivered by
various lecturers, newspaper; the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of
Nigeria, websites would be consulted in order to have a provision of legal
information about women’s participation in politics.
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1.5.0: LITERATURE REVIEW
As it is there is no single textbook on this topic of this research there are however
related articles which though there are no relevant book which are directly based
on this topic. This research is basically going to be my personal research using the
limited resources at my disposal to undertake a comprehensive study of the
women in politics and how they can be recognized and participate in politics.
Nimah Modupe Abdulkareem, in the annual publication of ‘The Jurist’ a
publication of law student society, university of Ilorin.10 She was of the opinion
that, a comparative religious study shows that, it is allowed that a woman can
participate in politics if it will not affect her primary role as a woman. Also that
there should be a constitutional guarantee for women to hold important positions
in the society based on the proportion of their population. This is because societal
prejudice will prevent them from contesting with men and wining.
Jemila M. Nasir,11 who doubles as the Dean of law University of Jos¸ Jos
Nigeria, was also of the positive opinion that the rights of all the Nigerian are
dealth with in the Chapter iv section 33, 46 of the Constitution of Federal republic
10 Dr. Niman Modupe Abdulkareem: Essay in honour of Hon. Justice Modibbo Alfa Belgore (CJN) (CON) (2005/2006)
pg.115-112.
11 Prof. Jemila M. Nasir Women rights and Islam in the Contemporary World (2006).
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of Nigeria (1999). These sections guarantee every Nigeria citizens on their basic
fundamental human rights, which includes in right to participate in politics, also
that by improving their rights in politics which is already in the constitution
makes no distinction between men and women.
Muyiwa Taiwo,12 in his journal was of the opinion that in spite of the significant
roles of women before and after independence, the development of corresponding
economic, social and political power women are found still wanting.
A.A. Jekanyinfa, who is a lecturer of university of Ilorin, was of the opinion that
women should participate in politics also Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, who is the CBN
Governor on his comment on Abubakar Ahmad Gada’s write up “POLITICAL
IRRELEVANCE OF WOMEN IN ISLAM”13 Abubakar was of the opinion that
the leadership of women is prohibited in Islam on the basis of the assertion of the
Prophet in His Hadith Sanusi Lamido Sanusi reflectors the traditional
interpretation which validate women participation in politics. Also the Quran,
Hadith will be looked into.
12 Law student of Ahmdu Bello university, Zaira (the Nigeria law students’ Journal @ the
Quintessence 2010 (May) pg 111.
13 Weekly Trust of October, 2001.
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1.6.0: CONCLUSION
Women should have confidence in themselves and also they believe in themselves
its better we should join hands together to let the world know that we have known
our rights and we cannot be intimidated again by the men. We now have equal
rights also not to accept choice less in line as to politics is the game of both male
and female.
A comparative religions study shows that it is allowed when done in such a way
that it will not affect her primary roles as women. Full involvement of women in
politics and decision making will be encouraged by way of organizing seminars
and workshops to enlightening women.