Why Are Women Not Contesting 2015 Elections In Cross River State? (2)

 

The current delegate election and Consultation process has employed the money dolling spree style instead of using the cerebral capacity, tract record and experience as a yard stick. For instance, when a candidate is given the go ahead to vie for positions, the common language is “Land properly” and that means give money. And we know that women are not given to such things due to the fact that so many are not economically empowered.

Women don’t like to pay to serve unlike men who are given to the game of power and money. Women rather see politics as an avenue to service.

They are naturally not oppressive, power mongers or usurpers. A woman may use her position to attract gains, but is not naturally the thug attracting personality which is what we have now.

Male domination, Resources, Rough nature of the political terrain, Female liberty to make their own decisions once they are married, since many husbands are not disposed to letting their wives get involved in politics, are environmental factors which are currently playing out in the hindrance of  female participation in politics.

I also sought to know why a Cross Riverian woman like Senator Florence Ita Giwa has made a huge success of the game. Speaking with a top niche civil servant who declined mention; he has this to say about the woman that many have described as an enigma.

“Florence Ita Giwa’s success in politics is a case study. She has never seen herself as a woman, she believes that she can slug it out with men whatever it takes. If you look at her background from her marriage, she is an independent person. She acted independently. She is from Cross River State but choose to marry someone from a distant state. The man was a Muslim but she didn’t care. And even when the marriage didn’t turn out as she expected, she didn’t care. She is also a nurse but she didn’t take to the normal nursing practice, instead she owned a big pharmacy in Calabar. All her Endeavours have been to create a niche for herself even within the men folk. She is a good timer, who used the time to her favour, and when she recognized that the pressure was too much, she stepped back.

Largely Senator Florence Ita Giwa succeeded and has remain relevant even afterwards. Her kind of politics is unique”.

To be continued…….