THE NEED FOR WOMEN TO PARTICIPATE MORE ACTIVELY IN POLITICS HAVE AGAIN BEEN BROUGHT TO FORE.

THIS WAS DISCLOSED BY THE CHIEF WHIP OF THE OGUN STATE HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY, ATINUKE BELLO, HONORABLE MODUPE MOJATA OF THE ABEOKUTA NORTH CONSTITUENCY, THE PRESIDENT,NIGERIA ASSOCIATION OF WOMEN JOURNALISTS (NAWOJ), OGUN STATE CHAPTER, MODUPE SOBUNKOLA, AMONGST OTHERS, WHEN THEY FEATURED ON SPLASH FM’S CURRENT AFFAIRS PROGRAM, PANORAMA TODAY.

SPEAKING AGAINST THE BACKDROP OF THE 2021 INTERNATIONAL WOMENS’ DAY CELEBRATION, THE PANELISTS BEMOANED THE SOCIETAL VIEW OF WOMEN IN POLITICS, NOTING THAT CULTURE AND RELIGION ARE NOT FAVORABLE TO WOMEN BREAKING GROUNDS IN POLITICS.

THE PANELISTS ADVOCATED THAT WOMEN’S PARTICIPATION IN POLITICS SHOULD NOT BE A QUESTION OF THEIR GENDER, BUT WHAT THEY HAVE TO OFFER, AS THEY HAVE PROVED BEYOND DOUBT THAT THEY CAN LEAD EXCEPTIONALLY.

THEY URGED WOMEN TO BE AGGRESSIVE IN THEIR AGITATION OF A STRONG POLITICAL QUOTA SYSTEM, STATING THAT THE CONSTITUTION ALLOWS FOR 35 PERCENT ACTIVE PARTICIPATION OF WOMEN IN POLITICS.

THE PANELISTS APPEALED TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC TO ACCOMMODATE MORE WOMEN IN POLITICS WITHOUT BEING MARGINALISED BY CULTURE AND TRADITION.