Source: Leadership
A Sokoto-based prominent woman politician, Hajiya Inno Attahiru, urged the First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan, to set up a special fund for women in politics as the 2015 general elections drew nearer.
" Other wealthy Nigerians and well-wishers of women across Nigeria, Africa and the world should also contribute bountifully to the proposed fund.
" The fund is to assist women in politics and ensure the massive participation of more women in politics, to vote and be voted for across Nigeria," she said.
She told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Sokoto on Thursday that the proposed fund should not be managed by any non-governmental organisation or individuals.
The former House of Representatives and state assembly seats aspirants also said that the fund should be entrusted to the federal and state ministries of women affairs.
" Mrs Jonathan had extended a form of financial assistance to women who contested for various positions in 2011 but there were some problems with its managers.
" Most women, including myself, had not benefitted from the gesture even as I had to go to the presidential villa in Abuja," she added.
Attahiru said that she would contest for the state House of Assembly in Wurno Constituency under the All Progressives Congress ( APC) in 2015, in spite of odds against women in politics.
She also called on Mrs Jonathan to set up steering committees across the six geo-political zones of Nigeria to bolster the participation of women in politics.
" Such committees will liaise with the various political parties and other stakeholders to boost the efforts of women, to vote and be voted for at all levels.
" Such committees should also be charged with the responsibility of garnering moral and financial support to women in politics," the APC chieftain added.
Attahiru lamented that there were so many factors impeding the full participation of women in politics in Nigeria.
She said they included lack of adequate resources, inferiority complex, a myriad of phobias, other socio-cultural and religious factors.
She kicked against the domination of the scheme of things by political parties in the state where they formed the majority.
" Nigeria is not practising the real democracy because how can a ruling party in a state win all the elections therein.
" Both the ruling and opposition parties should share elective positions," Attahiru said.
She advised women to participate fully in the forthcoming general elections.( NAN)