A member of the House of Representatives, Hon Nkiruka Onyejiocha has blamed the low number of female member in both chambers of the National Assembly to the strenuous nature of the nation’s political space.
Hon Onyejiocha, who represents Isuikwato/Umunneochi federal constituency in Abia State, while fielding questions from Nigerian Pilot, explained that the low turn out of female politicians to such sensitive positions both in the legislature and executive arm hinged on certain cultural inhibitions and the strenuous nature of the political space.
“Well, the low turnout is based on a number of issues and first among them is our customs and traditions; and number two is the political space which is too strenuous and tight for the woman. A woman’s place so to say is behind or inside. A husband’s place in the family is to go out and fetch food for the family while the woman manages the home,” she noted.
According to the lawmaker, “Nigerian family did not envisage that a woman would take a position of responsibility in governance and so that particular mindset is very critical to the whole womenfolk and until the men believe even from the creation of the world that God knew that the man cannot do it alone and that was why he created a help mate.
“Until we begin to think that way, women would get enough number in the parliament and elsewhere. You know for you to get a seat in the parliament you have to go for election and most women do not have the money and even some women who have the money don’t have the support of their husbands because their husbands would want them to stay at home and take care of the children rather than go into governance,” she remarked.
Adding, “So, all these things are factors inhibiting the number of women participation in politics and those of us who have dared the hiccups to be in active partisan politics have to work extra miles to meet up with our domestic obligations and at the same time fulfill our electoral commitments to our electorates, because I believe that women are better in representing their constituencies well than their male counterparts.”
Onyejiocha called for some level of percentage representation for women in elective positions in the country, adding that the 35 percent affirmative action arising from Bergin conference and the former President Olusegun Obasanjo approved 30 percent should be given serious consideration.
Also, contrary to the perception that Reps are often in disagreements with the executive arm, the lawmaker debunked such assertion saying, “We are happy with the emergency proclamation by President Goodluck Jonathan in the interest of the entire citizenry, and that is why the House endorses the request. We didn’t go the way of the opposition because we know the import of the emergency rule in the face of the present security challenges in the country; and that is why we defied the contrary views by the opposition parties to endorse the proclamation.”