Date: 2014-10-30

Amidst agitation for 35% affirmation action for women in all elective and appointive positions in Nigeria, the womenfolk who constitute larger percentage of the voting population in the country have upped their game with some rising to the speakership positions in their various states. But have the six female lawmakers in the Kwara State House of Assembly justified their representation enough to either seek for higher offices or return to the House Mumini AbdulKareem wonders.

The recent rise of women lawmakers to the speakership positions of their respective houses of Assembly has once again rekindled the debate of the 35% affirmation action for women in both elective and appointive positions in the polity.

Since the emergence of Senator Franca Afegbua, representing Bendel North Senatorial district in the then Bendel State (now Edo and Delta states) in the second republic (1979-1983), the stock for women active participation in Politics has never been higher, thanks to exploits of personalities like Monsurat Jumoke Sumonu and Princess Chinwe Clare Nwaebili, speakers of Oyo and Anambra states respectively.

In the Kwara State House of Assembly, the issue has come under the front burner following the emergence of 6 women in the 7th legislature, the highest proportion so far in the history of the house.

Apart from late Banke Badmus from Offa, who served as deputy speaker of the Kwara State house of Assembly in 2003-2007, none of the present crop of female lawmakers has risen to that position despite holding other relevant positions.

However, following the peak of political activities in the polity as 2015 election approaches, the female lawmakers like some of their male counterparts in the house, have signified interest to vie for various positions with some of them seeking for higher offices.

At the last count, Hon Nimota Ibrahim and Hon Ebun Owolabi have both picked intent forms for Federal House of Representatives in Ilorin East and Ekiti Federal constituencies respectively. The same story also goes for Hon Rahmat Aremu Adifa, who has indicated interest to represent Moro/Edu/Patigi at the Federal House of Representatives.

For Hon Sikirat Anako (Oyun), Felicia Ojeleye (Isin) and Hon Segilola Abdulkadir (Ilorin Central/Babako), they have indicated interest to return to the state Assembly by picking the intent forms to represent their constituencies.

But have their performances justified the decision? Have they done enough to seek for re-election? What are the indices upon which they can be measured to give more room for women in the house in their 35 per cent agitation quest and how qualitative has been their representations?

It was gathered that though they have not totally fared badly, their political clout, relevance and quality of representations can be judged from how they have responded to their collection of forms.

Except for Hon Adifa, the likes of Ibrahim and Owolabi are seen as one of the two among the lot that have the clout and wherewithal for higher representation. Ojeleye is also seen in this cadre too but for reservations expressed about her age having clocked 75 last April.

According to one of their colleagues in the house, who craved anonymity, the 6 female lawmakers have really done well to justify their presence in the hallowed chambers but raise issues about their punctuality.

"If they should continue like this, we will really have no problem because of how they have carried on legislative business.

"They have really justified the call for increase in their number to justify the 35% affirmative action. But what I have to tell them is to gear up on their presence and punctuality. Their sitting and absenteeism needs to be improved upon because it is very rare to see the 6 of them in the house at one sitting", the source added.

According to another colleague, who maintained his resolve not to speak on the matter because they are colleagues, "being females is irrelevant here but the need for synergies to improve on the level of the total output of the decisions and legislation that the house have so far turned out which they have fulfilled".

But in their various responses to the issue, some of the female lawmakers dismissed the reservations about their representations, adding that their representations so far has not only added bite to the lawmaking process, it has also justified the call of the increased women lawmakers in the house in order to justify the affirmativ

According to Hon Nimota Ibrahim, herself and her other women colleagues in the house have really done much and if given increased participation, the women are ready to impact the legislative process like never before, going by how they have performed in the 7th legislature.

For instance, among over 40 executive bills, the house has so far passed, she alone has moved 4 motions and co-sponsored 12 while she had raised 8 matters concerning her constituency and other areas.

"You can see from how we have fared and the quality of all six of us in the House. If we have 12 representations each between the male and female in the 24 members of the house, I think it is better for us and I believe we have a lot of capable women that can fill these positions.

"We have moved several motions and co-sponsored of many. When bills come, we discuss positively on every aspect and you can see a number of us are chairmen of powerful committees. I am the chairman, House Committee on Education and Human Capital Development, Ojeleye is Land and Housing, Owolabi is Chairman, House Services, Segilola heads Commerce, Co-operative and Women Affairs and others that are not are powerful members of other powerful committees and that itself speaks volume", she added.

For the records, Hon Owolabi had also moved four motions, which comprised of a motion on reduction of house committees from 16 to 10, another one on environmental sanitation, thirdly on roadside market relocation and lastly on repositioning of the Kwara State Television.

In her response, while describing the state as a pacesetter, she said "It is very difficult when you look at other states to see anyone that can beat us on the issue of women empowerment politically because there are states without a single woman both in the state and National Assembly.

"The crop of the female lawmakers in the Kwara State House of Assembly have passed through various stages before coming to the house. Some have served in the local government, as special assistants, commissioners and special advisers.

So with the experience coming to the state assembly, it is believed that we should be expected to meet up with our male counterparts and this present crop has done beautifully well. Personally, I think I am the first female legislator that would be the chairman of House Services and also member of House Committee on Local Government. This is also coupled with our contributions to the various bills and resolutions the house has passed and the quality of our debate at the floor", she added.

In the words of Hon Ojeleye, the 6 female lawmakers have done more than enough to justify their membership of the house and advocated for an increase from the 35% to at best 60-40.

"They have been talking about the 35% long time ago. I think that ratio is due for increase. There is no place a woman will be that she will not perform creditably. And when you talk of finance, women are not corrupt. I am not saying that the men are corrupt but the women don't have the gut of embezzling money like some of our men. So it will be better off for the states and generality of the country", adding that there is no reason why a woman can't be speaker of the house if their performance is anything to go by.

While Hon Segilola also believes that the representation is also low compared to their participation in politics, she said she has been consistent in lamenting the low budget to the Ministry of Women Affairs.

"If you check the assembly bulletin, there is no year we have budget presentation that I don't stand to debate against the low votes to the ministry of Women Affairs. We are six out of the 24 members of the House and if we are more, we will be able to push some of these things to realistic level.

"My committee has passed two bills and on my own I have raised two motions", she added.

To Anako, who is the House Deputy Chief Whip, the government should increase the slot for women for that gender to continue to dictate the pace in legislative business in the country. "So, you can see that we are not just there in the house to exist beside the men but have justified our representation", she submitted.