What Nigerian politics has done to women – Akpoti-Uduaghan

 

Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan 

Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, (PDP, Kogi Central), has said politics in Nigeria has robbed women of their femininity.

She spoke during the ECOWAS Female Parliament Association spotlight initiative titled: “Rethinking Women’s Proportional Representation in Governance: Case Study of Nigeria”, in Abuja, yesterday.

Sen Akpoti-Uduaghan used the opportunity to highlight the high cost of politics in Africa’s most populous nation which she said puts women at a disadvantage because most men are more financially stable than women in Nigeria.

She said, “Politics is extremely dangerous in Nigeria. In Nigeria, you can’t be gentle as a woman.

“ I honestly wish politics in Nigeria would not be so tough because when a woman who is born to nurture becomes too tough, it’s not good.

“I am so tough now that I rarely cry except maybe something totally touches my heart that I pushed myself.

“That is what violence teaches you, so I have to constantly tell myself, do not let your experiences change you because I don’t want to be like those who attacked me.”

The federal lawmaker emphasised the financial strain playing politics in Nigeria places on politicians noting that running for office in Nigeria is a very expensive venture.

She, however noted that as a public spirited individual who cares about the welfare of the greater number of people in soceity, she has not allowed these challenges dissuade her from running for office.

While going down memory lane, the Senator narrated her intentional move to join politics in 2018, the challenges she faced during elections, and her determination to serve her community.

Sen Akpoti-Uduaghan stressed the need for a less financially burdensome electoral process and expressed her interest in studying the independent candidature system in Liberia as a potential solution.

She also recalled the personal sacrifices she made for her political career, including surviving accidents and enduring physical hardships while running for office.

In her address at the event, she addressed the challenges women face in Nigerian politics, including the loss of dignity and the cultural barriers they encounter.

She urged male leaders to be mindful of their words when addressing women in politics, adding that they should rather support and encourage women in their political endeavors.

Akpoti-Uduaghan further advised women to carefully craft their political agendas and be mindful of overpromising during their campaigns, sharing her own experiences and the toll it took on her health.

She also mentioned her collaboration with Senator Ireti Kingibe to present a bill for gender equity, focusing on 45 percent women inclusion.