EneEde is a well-known gender activist and veteran journalist who has beenpromoting enhanced women participation in politics all over the country. Shecontested as a deputy governorship candidate in Benue State under the AllianceAction, AA party in the March 6, 2019 governorship election.
Ina chat with National Point Newspaper’s managing editor, Constance Meju, Enereveals identified missing links in the political game for women: Excerpts:
Howdid it go at the election?
I have tendered apology but I need a bigger platform to render apology to the women I have supported over the years. When they told us we should not be inviting them to too many meetings all the time, that we were wasting their time, we thought they were arrogant. Truly, many of the things we did, we contributed to their failure. We needed to be meeting them at their base not calling them. There is this support group led by Ene Jonathan, they called me, “Mummy where are you we are in your community?” That kind of support was more useful. Of course, there have to be interface but they don’t need all those meetings. We call them for small monies that can’t help them; it’s like a distraction.
One other thing that I never heard anywhere, we did not tell women seeking election the kind of form they will have to fill and about the sensitivity of that form. I never heard it anywhere. That was why my own candidate was able to take my form away with the help of the INEC official and my party candidate. Nothing was said about the critical security of the document. That was why I filled the form and left it with my candidate and he went back to fill the form with another man.
You know, that form, you can scan it or colour photocopy it because nobody will take black and white photocopy, and have it in different places in case of anything. We did not tell them about all these.
Wasthat what happened to a lady from is it Kaduna State who was attacked at theparty secretariat in Abuja over the 2015 elections?
Halima Bintu, she isleading a big coalition now and contested in this last election. Did she findthe documents?You know she could have scanned those documents.
One other thing is theissue of money; issue of money for use in election. For women,it is importantthat you look for a way to know how much is given to your party. In my owncase, they gave money to Senator Gemade, my party governorship candidate andthe woman leader. Nothing was given to me as deputy governorship candidate andeven if we were contesting as one party, there are times we campaignedindividually; he has his constituencies and I have mine but I had to cater formine.
Thereare post-election issues
Another very disturbingissue is the trauma you go through. You need a team of people who will staywith you throughout the election. The trauma is too much. Many will leave before the election isover.We didn’t have money to cushion the effect of the election. Just before the election, I didn’t havemoney, I started lacking money, at a stage I didn’t have credit in my phone. Ifpeople contribute money , there must be money you keep.
Gbenga promised usN100million for our state rally where they will lift our hand, but 10kobo didnot come and you had already planned; Iwas even saying N100million would not be enough. Tell women to have modestcampaigns, I had a big campaign team. Some team members will abandon you. Youneed loyal people that will never let you down but will hold your hand if youcollapse.
No amount of financialsupport is too small for a candidate. With N100 data you can reach many.Somehow, all the money they sent to me came to meet dire need. Some people areshy to contribute small amounts. At my level, N100 came a long way with therecharge card I bought. You can raise millions with N100.
MovingForward
People asked why I didnot join APC, APC people are so aggressive. You also need to consciously begin to forgive people; enemiesin politics. Women need to know how to manage opposition , sudden resistanceand enemies; you meet so much in politics. If you don’t have people, you canland in poverty, depression.My family did not support me; some were angry I wascoming to divide the vote in the village.
Womenat the Election Tribunal
For women who want to go to the tribunal, we have never worked out how to support them. International organizations must also provide opportunities for their support. Let women organizations and women groups solidarize with them. Be in court to identify with them. It is symbolic; the judge will say,’Ha! I don’t know what the women are saying”.
Let there be follow upon women. People are abandoned. The 100 Group, The Feminist Group, I did notsee any. We shouldn’t abandon women after elections. Phone, reach out to themto avoid some falling into depression. I tell people, “The elections are over,the trauma is here”.
To be successful in ourelectoral process as in other climes, there must be electoral reforms and achange of habits and attitudes towards elections. In the coming administrationNigeria will have only 27 women in the House of Representatives. We need activegender desks.
Women should build friends and acquaintances that have money, engage in long-term political goals while doing things in your communities in preparation for future elections.
