Gabriel Udeh, Kaduna
Female politicians and candidates from various political parties in the three senatorial zones in Kaduna State, northwest Nigeria, have been encouraged and reorientated on how to pursue and realized their ambitions without fear or favour.
The female politicians, in a Sensitization meeting organized by Connecting Gender, COGEN, for Development, in Kaduna, also solicited the support of the media Practitioners to help them in achieving their dreams of getting elected into political offices of their choice in the forthcoming general elections.
The 13 female politicians who emerged as candidates of their various political party platforms, including female governorship candidate running mate, promised a change in governance if elected into office.
Among the female candidates includes Patience Abbah Bako from Sabon Gari, Faith Seyi, from Angwan Sanusi, Hannatu Yusuf from Makera, Betty T. Kukwa from Chukun and Phoebe Thomas from Kauru Council, that all emerged under the Mega Party of Nigeria, MPN.
Others include Hon. Comfort Amwe from Sanga, Joy Joshua Madaki from Zango Kataf who emerged as the candidate of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP contesting for the state’s House of Assembly position and among others.
One of the Contestants, Hon Boko said she was inspired to contest in the upcoming general elections because she has gone through a lot of hardship as a woman and as such, more ready to encourage and support the voiceless women in her constituency and the country at large
“I will make a change in governance if elected, especially if people support me because I have that zeal and desire to do something great. I will make an impact that people will really know that I have touched lives,” Bako said.
Fielding questions from newsmen, the Executive Director of COGEN, Mrs. Mkwasi Surma said the body has been working to support women in politics since 1999, some of which includes, “Creating link with the media so that candidates who emerged can use that platform to campaign and make sure the community knows who is out there looking for their votes.”
She identified factors mitigating against women participating in politics, as a community and society being driven by patriarchal attitudes, which prevents women the space in the country’s political atmosphere.
