President Muhammadu Buhari and his Delegation to the United States of America pose with former President Barack Obama at the Oval Office. Image: Sahara Reporters. |
President
Muhammadu Buhari is back in the country from his four-day official trip to the
United States of America and in my view, just in time to be reminded of certain
campaign promises he made which ensured his victory.
The
President was in Washington, USA, on Sunday, July 19, 2015 with an entourage of
33 men. The delegation was literally made up of men; and if that doesn’t sink
in, it means that his delegation to the United States of America was entirely
devoid of a woman.
This
rubbed me some type of way. So many thoughts ran through my mind as I tried to
look at all possible angles for excluding women from a delegation of such
international importance. Many people who know me think that I am overly critical
of President Buhari so I tried to be as balanced as possible in my
analysis of his decision. I will admit here that in the end, my original
perception of the decision to exclude women did not change.
I decided
to make it a topic on my radio breakfast show. At the end of the show, I felt
it was a tie between my listeners. While many said there was no reason why he
should have taken any woman on the trip, an almost equal number believed that
at least one woman should have been a part that pivotal bilateral discussion
with the United States.
As a
result of that, I decided to write again to the President, with the hopes that,
unlike Senator Shehu Sani, he would care about my opinions; even if he did not
directly seek my vote and even though I did not vote for him.
Here is
why I think there should have been female representation in that 33-man
delegation to the United States:
1.
The
delegation seemed to represent most of the major demographics and
sectors of the nation with just one exception; women! Looking at the
list holistically, it seemed like the North East was represented by Governor
Kashim Shettima of Borno state and he doubled as a representative of the region
most affected by the insurgency of the Boko Haram sect. On the other hand,
Governor Adams Oshiomole of Edo state represented the South-South region.
Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo state represented the South-West, Governor Umaru
Tanko Almakura of Nassarawa (North-Central), Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo
(South-East) and Senator Hadi Siriki of Katsina (North-West) ensured that the
six geopolitical zones of the country were represented. That being said, the
economic sector was represented by the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria
(CBN), Godwin Emefiele. There were ambassadors in that delegation (Paul Bulus;
G. B. Igali; and Lawal N.B. Kazaure), a representation of media in the person
of Femi Adesina, the special adviser to the President on Media and Publicity
and of course the representation of the youth, which was by the son of the
president, Yusuf Buhari. Religion was also represented by Pastor Tunde Bakare
and the Malam Garba. The list also had top civil servants, representatives from
the National Security Adviser and representatives from economic policy and foreign
affairs think thanks, according to the PM News dated July 12, 2015. They
delegation seemed to be devoid of JUST one demographic; female representation. That should have been a reason to get
women on that delegation.
2. POPULATION STATISTICS
Index
Mundi put the entire population of Nigeria at 177,155,754 people. As at 2013,
the World Bank put the female population of Nigeria at 49.10%. If we factor in
49.10% of the figure given by Index Mundi, we have the total number of females
in Nigeria at 86,983,475. That is an almost equal number of females as there
are males.
In one meeting, former President Barack Obama had four women on his team. The Nigerian delegation didn't have one. Image: The Guardian. |
3. WOMEN
HAVE BEEN EASY VICTIMS OF THE INSURGENCY
Since the
insurgency, women and children have suffered as much – if not more – than men.
This has been documented by Wikipedia in the ‘Boko Haram Timeline’ article.
Some of the more tragic stories are seen below;
a)
In 2013, the
National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) was reported to have said ‘Borno
was hit, with about 1.3 million people – MOST OF THEM WOMEN, CHILDREN AND THE
ELDERLY (emphasis mine) – in need of aid’;
b)
In
February, 2013, an attack on polio vaccinators left 9 women dead;
c)
Four
months and a day after that attack, precisely June 9, 2013, 9 children were
killed in Maiduguri. On the same day, 13 students and teachers were killed in
Damaturu;
d)
Less than
a month after the preceding attack, more than 42 people were killed by Boko
Haram gunmen in a Yobe School. This happened on the 6th day of
July, 2013;
e)
The
attacks continued on September 29, 2013, in schools in Yobe, with one in Gujba
College, where more than 50 students died;
f)
In 2014,
the attacks of children came in early on February 25. The attacks happened at
the Federal Government College, Yobe State. 59 students were massacred;
g)
And the
story that really made Nigeria an epic failed state was what happened on April
15, 2014; the kidnap of 276 female students from Chibok, Borno State. 216 girls
are still in captivity 466 days (as at post) after they were kidnapped. Though
this was the most important story to the international community, there were
much more women kidnapped, raped, married off to members of the insurgent group
and killed. The rescue of about 256 girls from Sambisa Forest, the Boko Haram
stronghold, was a clear testament to that;
h)
Between
June 20 and 23, there were attacks in Borno State where at least 70 people were
killed and 91 women and children kidnapped;
i)
And
finally, on November 10, 2014, 46 students were killed in Yobe attacks.
This is
just a brief overview of the women and children affected by the insurgency. Why
have I added the children killed on this point? It is because of something
called mother-child connection. Every woman who lost a child, a husband and
other family members died (figuratively) too. There were stories of women
leaving children behind because they could not save all their children. The
trauma many women had to face as a result of the insurgency cannot be
overemphasized. It is then not far-fetched to expect that women
are represented on a delegation that talked on issues of security, internally
displaced people and resettlement of affected towns.
4.
WOMEN ARE
USED BY THE INSURGENTS
Another
reason why women should have been on the delegation is that the members of the
insurgent sect have switched their tactics, using female suicide bombers to
wreak havoc on unarmed civilians in common places like religious centers,
markets, car parks, restaurants and military/police check points. Below is a
timeline of the insurgent’s use of female suicide bombers in the country, as
written on Wikipedia’s article title ‘Boko Haram Timeline’:
a)
December
1, 2014: 5 people were killed by two female suicide bombers who detonated bombs
at a crowded place in Maiduguri.
b)
December
10, 2014: At least 4 people were killed and 7 injured by female suicide bombers
near a market in Kano.
c)
January
10, 2015: Exactly one month after the last attack, a female suicide bomber
believed to be around 10 years old, killed herself and 19 others in Maiduguri.
d)
The next
day, more female suicide bombers, also believed to be around 10 years old,
killed themselves and 3 others at a market in Potiskum.
e)
February
2, 2015: A female suicide bomber attacked minutes after former President
Goodluck Jonathan left an election rally in the city of Gombe, resulting in at
least one death and 18 people injured.
f)
26 days
later, two female suicide bombers killed up to 4 civilians near Damaturu.
g)
July 5,
2015: Six persons were killed in an explosion at Redeem Christian Church of GOD
parish in Potiskum by a female suicide bomber.
h)
On the
same day, but in Jos, 52 persons were killed in a twin explosion in Jos. The
police said the attacks were carried out by two female suicide bombers.
i)
The most
recent of the attacks by female suicide bombers happened on July 17, 2015, when
two female bombers, including one thought to be a 10 year old girl, blew
themselves up in Damaturu at an Eid ground during the Sallah celebrations.
This
history is not to depress you but if it does, then you might see why a
representation of women was important in a meeting that was geared at ending
this menace. This insurgency affects us all and as such, we must all be a part of its solution. One of my
listeners asked what a woman would have been doing in that meeting. My response
on the show is the same response I give here. ‘What were the men doing
in the meeting?’ Buhari could easily have gone to the flurry of
meetings alone and still achieved all he did. He definitely didn’t need 33 men
to be a part his team to have been respected and honored as he was. Just as he
excluded women from the delegation, he could easily have included them too.
That brings me to the next point.
5. AFFIRMATIVE
ACTION
The
African Charter Protocol says that women must
have 35% representation at all levels
of decision making. If for nothing else, the president should have included
women for the sake of affirmative action. If the 35% affirmation action had
been considered, President Buhari should have had at least 11 women on that
delegation. There wasn’t even one!
6. APC
MANIFESTO ON WOMEN
I
followed the APC manifesto closely because I wanted to see what ‘change’ would
be brought about by the President if he was ever elected. I was more interested
in the economy, job creation, national development and issues affecting women
and children. When I read the APC manifesto on women empowerment, I felt like I
could work with that. The manifesto says the party would;
a)
Ensure
the rights of women are protected as enshrined in our constitution;
b)
Guarantee
that women are adequately represented in government appointments and provide
greater opportunities in education, job creation, and economic empowerment;
c)
Recognize
and protect women empowerment and gender equality with special emphasis on
economic activities in development and in rural areas;
d)
Promote
the concept of reserving a minimum number of seats in the national assembly for
women
This
manifesto was clearly defined and can be found in the APC Manifesto website or
page. Now, I know many will say that the manifesto talked about ‘appointments’
and not ‘members of delegations’ but I am bold to say that the members of the delegation
were appointed to accompany the
president on his visit to the United States. The APC Manifesto does not tell of
long/short term appointments and as such, I am permitted to assume that the President
did not follow through on one his party’s cardinal principles. With that said,
I come to the last – and most important – point of why the President should
have had women in that delegation.
7. HE
PROMISED!
In an
event held at Harbour Point, Victoria Island, Lagos on Thursday, March 19,
2015, President Buhari met with women groups and promised gender equality and
equity in all areas of the economy if voted into power. I took a quote from the
PM NEWS piece; ‘he said that women were visible and competent in nation
building as well as played key and prominent roles in the country’s
independence but unfortunately their efforts are not fully appreciated’. Fast
forward to his trip to the United States and it seems like he is the one not
appreciating the role of women in nation building. Some of the quotes the
president made are seen below;
“My mission is for my daughters and their daughters to see
their dreams come true. I therefore make a solemn promise that they won’t be
taken for granted. It’s impossible to clap with one hand.
“APC under my administration is committed to gender equality
in all areas of the economy and national development. I will ensure the
implementation of gender policies especially women empowerment, promotion of
women equality and equity.
“I will provide level playing ground for our women at all
levels of governance and strong political will to promote gender equity. I will
also make concerted effort to empower women in the rural areas, provide legal
protection for women against violence, rape and abuse.
“I will ensure that women have better access to credit
facilities to support their businesses. I will also ensure that women interests
are protected and safe guarded,” he said.
The President
went beyond the 35% affirmative action and dropped ‘GENDER EQUALITY’ time and
time again. In my view, gender equality is 50% participation. We didn’t even
have 3.03% representation in the delegation to the United States.
At every point of the meeting, there was a woman on the United States of America's Delegation receiving President Muhammadu Buhari and his team. There should have been women on the Nigerian Delegation. Image: News24 Extra. |
When I
played the speech by the President for my listeners, one man in particular got angry
and told me to allow the President work and when he has settled, he can attend
to ‘our’ issues. I got pissed at that point. Was I less of a Nigerian because
of my gender?! Did I suffer less hardship as a woman?! Did the president
promise to handle men’s issues first before coming to mine?! Or did he promise
to handle ALL Nigerian issues?!
Why am I
harping on this last point? Quite simple! President Buhari is said to be a man
of integrity and it is a word defined as ‘the quality of being honest and
having strong moral principles’. He came into power based almost entirely on
his reputation of integrity. It is then too early to prove the critics right by
displaying anything but.
Many of
my listeners said that he was probably weary of women since women in the past
administration had not done well. They mentioned Ngozi Okonjo Iweala, former Minister
of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the economy and Diezani Alison Madueke,
former Minister of Petroleum Resources, as examples of women who were corrupt.
I asked if they could vouch for the character of most of the men who are around
the President now and the response was something I expected; silence. So, why
should women be vilified for alleged
corruption and men made to go scot free? One listener even said women were more
‘vulnerable to corruption’. I laughed at that point. If the list of corrupt
people in Nigeria is drawn up, I am sure that there will be a 90:10 women to
men ratio of corruption. And yes, I am being sarcastic!
This is a
list of women I felt could have made the list and contributed immensely to the
team;
a. Obiageli
‘Oby’ Ezekwesili: I may
not be a fan of hers but I know that she has been as worried about the Chibok
girls as their mothers could have been; even more than the President himself.
She has kept the Bring Back Our Girls Campaign alive,
hounding the army to be accountable for the number of Nigerians dying from this
insurgency and generally reminding us all to have empathy and a conscience;
b. Professor
Oluremi Sonaiya: Presidential
candidate of Kowa Party in the last elections. She is sound, mature and very
intelligent;
c. Senator
Binta Marsi Garba: She
represents Adamawa North senatorial district; is the only female senator from
the 19 northern states and is from one of the areas most affected by the
insurgency;
d. Honorable
Abike Dabiri-Erewa: She
combines her media know-how with an intelligent brain and could have been a
good addition to that delegation list. Plus, she really rallied for the APC
before the elections. To my knowledge, she is corruption free.
e. Hadiza
Bala-Usman: She is
the initiator of Bring Back Our Girls Group and at this point, the Chief of Staff,
Kaduna State government. Need I say more?
f. Josephine
Okei-Odumakin: a
Nigerian women’s rights activist and also President of the right’s group, WOMEN
ARISE FOR CHANGE INITIATIVE and CAMPAIGN FOR DEMOCRACY. She even had the
‘change’ slogan of the APC in one of her NGO’s. She has also been presented
with an International Women Courage Award in the US.
g. Ndidi
Nwuneli: founder and managing
partner of Leadership, Effectiveness, Accountability and Professionalism (LEAP) Africa, a leadership training and coaching organization
which is committed to empowering, inspiring and equipping a new cadre of
leaders in Africa.
Why have
I written this piece? I want the President to work! I may criticize him but
that is because I really need the President to deliver on his promises. I want
to have a Nigeria that is a physical representation of the campaign promises
delivered. I want my issues adequately represented at all levels of government
so that Nigeria – MY HOME – is good enough for my dreams, my plans, my goals
and my vision. I have no other home; nor do I want one.
I want to
hold the President accountable for his words, which means that I want to see at
least 35% of women in all spheres of
the change we want to see. I do believe in merit based appointments and I can
say that there are millions of women in Nigeria who are as good as the men. Our
efforts and capabilities should not be swept under the rug or under-utilized;
or only needed when it is time for elections.
As the President
prepares to appoint members of his cabinet, I hope a repeat of this slight
against women will not be done. I hope to see the President stay true to his
words and promises. And best of all, I hope to see a Nigeria that utilizes the
vast difference of her human capital in improving the state of our nation.
President
Muhammadu Buhari, you are reputed to be a man of integrity. That is a breath of
fresh air in our political scene, but it comes with a daily responsibility of maintaining
it. I urge you to do all you can to keep your words. Like you said to the women
groups in Lagos, ‘one hand cannot clap alone’. We need you as
much as you need us.
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