News Investigators/ Labour Party National Chairman, Nenadi Usman, says the party, under her leadership, will continue to pursue greater women participation in Nigeria’s political process.
Mrs Usman stated this on Friday in Abuja while hosting the leadership of Nigeria League of Women Voters, Kaduna State Chapter, which paid her a courtesy visit.
A statement issued on Friday by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Ken Asogwa, quoted Mrs Usman as commending the group for its unwavering commitment to the advancement of women’s political rights in the country.
She urged the group not to relent in the face of intimidation and difficult operating environment, stressing that much still needed to be done in the struggle for gender inclusion.
Mrs Usman reminded the delegation that before most Labour Party lawmakers elected in 2023 defected to other political parties, the party had directed them to support the relevant bills before the 10th National Assembly.
She said that the party had remained true to its ideals by not only preaching inclusion but also practising it.
The national chairman stated that aside producing the first female national chairman of a major political party in Nigeria, Labour Party currently has women occupying various leadership positions.
She listed the positions to include the National Organising Secretary, and National Legal Adviser, describing it as unprecedented in the country’s political history.
Mrs Usman assured the delegation that the party would not waver in its commitment to greater women inclusion in politics.
She, however, urged women not to always wait for special quota before venturing into politics and taking bold political decisions.
Drawing from her personal political journey and accomplishments, she reminded them that she did not wait for any special concession before joining politics.
“If I could do it, you too can do it,” she stated.
Mrs Usman lamented what she described as the shrinking opportunities for women in governance and politics in spite of years of advocacy for inclusion.
She recalled that during her time in the Seventh National Assembly, there were eight female senators, whereas the current 10th Senate has only three, a decline she described as a major setback to the struggle for gender representation.
Mrs Usman called on women to take responsibility for changing the narrative, expressing concern over the tendency of women voters to favour male candidates over female ones during elections.
“Even when statistics shows that women voters outnumber men during elections, women candidates are often sidelined by their fellow women at the polls.
“This trend must stop if we are to make any appreciable progress in our quest for greater women inclusion,” she stated.
Mrs Usman solicited for the prayers and support of the group in her new role as Labour Party chairman, noting that her success would inspire more women to break barriers and aspire to leadership positions.
She also encouraged the group to intensify sensitisation efforts aimed at making women understand that a vote for a woman is a vote for all women.
“Whatever a man can do, a woman can do even better,” she said.
She commended Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, describing him as a firm believer in the capacity, dependability and integrity of women.
Mrs Usman recalled how Mr Otti had stood firmly behind her prior to her emergence in a substantive capacity as chairman of the party.
“When I was going to Umuahia for our last convention, I thought I would hand over to a man. I shed tears when Otti insisted that I should remain.
“He is indeed a true advocate for women inclusion, especially as reflected in the appointments he has made in Abia,” she said.
Using Mr Otti’s inclusive governance style as a measure of the party’s commitment to women inclusion, Mrs Usman urged the women to mobilise support for the party in the forthcoming elections.
According to her, only greater electoral victories for the party would help advance their aspirations after the elections, adding that his performance remains visible evidence of what the party represents.
Speaking earlier, the group’s Spokesperson, Rekiya Shonekan, extolled Usman’s virtues and accomplishments in both politics and governance.
Mrs Shonekan appealed to her to use her new platform to lend stronger support to the group’s advocacy for the bill seeking special seats for women in parliament.
She also sought Usman’s continued support for women empowerment initiatives and the broader advocacy to make Nigeria’s political space more inclusive for women.
NAN
