By; JACOB ONJEWU DICKSON
In an effort to ginger women into vying for elective positions using political party’s platforms, a Bauchi based NGO, Attah Sisters Helping Hand Foundation (ASHH Foundation) in collaboration with Nigeria Women Trust Fund (NWTF) with funding from Ford Foundation has carried out an extensive advocacy and mobilization campaign to trigger women into participating in politics to seek elective positions in Bauchi State.
In one of such advocacy campaigns to some party officials recently in Ganjuwa and Bauchi Local Government Areas of the State, the team leader of the delegation Mrs. Maryanne Emmanuel said that the objective of the advocacy and mobilization campaign was to call on political party officials to create enabling environment for women participation in politics along sides their male counterparts.
Mrs. Emmanuel said that the goal could be achieved if party hierarchy could reserve specific positions for women to vie for in elections at both Local, State and Federal levels.
She said that ASHH Foundation and it’s partners have been implementing community mobilization and strengthening the capacity of young women leadership skills and ways on ending violence against women and girls.
“At several fora, women were hailed as good administrators and prudent managers of resources, both human and capital. If enabling environment could be created for women to participate in elective positions, there would positive changes in how governance is conducted. It could also mitigate conflicts resulting from gender violence in communities.
“We hope party hierarchy will reserve certain positions for women. This will certainly ginger them into coming out to be part of the political process in their respective communities”, said Maryanne Emmanuel.
Responding, a representative of PDP in Bauchi Local Government party secretariat, Mallam Uba Muhammad, commended the effort of ASHH Foundation and it’s funders for the timely advocacy and mobilization initiative, describing it as good development.
He also said that the initiative could not have come at a better time especially now that there is no any female member in the Bauchi State House of Assembly and other key Government institution.
Mallam Muhammad reiterated the resolve of their party to bringing in more women on board and give them strategic positions in the affairs of the party.
Also speaking during the team visit to the APC secretariat in Ganjuwa Local Government Area, representative of the party at the LGA, Mallam Ribado Muhammad informed the team that their party always ensures that women are encouraged to come out and participate in political activities.
He however lamented the negative attitude some people ascribed to women who foray into politics, describing such attitudes as unfortunate.
Ribado thanked ASHH Foundation team, led by Mrs. Maryanne Emmanuel and their partners for spearheading the advocacy and mobilization campaign in championing the course of women in the areas of women leadership and participation in decision making processes, conflict management and mitigation of gender violence against women.
“Our party is particularly delighted with your advocacy because it is inline with our party goal of an all-inclusive approach to politics.
“We will support your advocacy, but the women too should be seen to be interested in joining politics. We can’t force them to join politics if they don’t want to”, said Ribado.
Our correspondent reports that other parties visited by the advocacy team from ASHH Foundation and it’s partners include PRP, NNPP and PDM, and in places visited, their representatives pledge their support for the advocacy, with some of them even promising to buy forms for any intending women nursing any elective positions in their communities.
