WOMEN PARTICIPATION IN POLITICS (A CASE STUDY OF NKIM CLAN OF OGOJA L.G.A OF CROSS RIVER STATE, NIGERIA)

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1. 1. BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

Globally women political participation is one of the contemporary issues of discussion in the political arena. Looking at the world population women constitute almost half, but generally their participation in decision making and political processes is relatively low when compared to their male counterpart. Sbaity[1] observed that, low levels of women's representation in elected public offices and gender inequality are a pervasive global phenomenon in politics. Asma’u[2] observed that “the ancient civilization of women which sprang from Europe, Asia, Africa and the world over were of no value and merely regarded as chattels the trend has a very long history. A critical evaluation of Nigeria’s political history shows a great marginalization of women in politics and appointments. Right from the period after independence up to the present political dispensation in Nigeria, the domain of politics seem unfeminine because of the fact that women substantially do not participate in politics. Janova and Sineau[3] assert that, in numerous western democracies, suffrage became universal but excluded women. Janova and Sineau further argued that in the late 1950s all west European women, despite their countries generally were in the same boat: a tiny minority of women participates in the decision-making bodies as allowed by the narrow door of politics. The African and indeed in Nigerian political process follows the same trend. Women participation in politics in Nigeria is an issue of concern to many because of the continuous low record of women representation after elections. Udodinma[4] described that; women are constantly left behind despite their significant contribution in the electoral process while men occupy a large number of political positions. Over the years as observed by Agbalajobi[5], there has been a series of debates over the representation or desire for women to participate in Nigerian politics. He further argued that, norms and some cultures regard women as weak in terms of social struggle which gives a reason for them to assume a subordinate position to men in politics and other aspects of life. Low level of women's participation in Nigeria’s politics is disturbing and at an alarming rate. This scenario affects the politics greatly from attaining a high level of recognition at international level which makes the government to face a lot of critics from its citizens. With politics engaging the consciousness of the nation’s leadership, women found themselves in arms against a political system that sought to promote the interest of only the male on the false assumption that the women’s role was in the kitchen, and in the tending of family[6]. Despite being a patriarchal society, Nigeria has a rich history of women breaking out of the mould to participate in politics notwithstanding the above postulation. The legacies of these women are at risk of extinction. Even when an increasing number of women are finding their way into boardrooms and providing leadership for blue chip companies, the majority of women in Nigeria only minimally participate in economic development or politics. Participation of women equally in politics and government is essential to building and sustaining democracy. Women continue to be under-represented as voters, political leaders and elected officials even when they comprise over 50% of the world’s population. Nigeria government has not deemed it necessary to implement this despite the effort being made by our sister countries in Africa to bridge the gap between men and women in politics. The international community has encouraged countries to keep at least 30% reserved seats in their national parliament for women. The roles of men are more highly valued than those of women when it comes to politics in Nigeria[7]. Women are still seen as poor political/social problem solvers and therefore ineffective leaders even as at today even with the huge contribution they have made in developing the country, women are still side-lined in both elections and appointment into public offices. The Nigeria women have continued to receive a short shift in social, political, economic and reproductive matters. Available statistical data from 1999 general elections to date shows that politically, women are disempowered. An insignificant percentage compared to their population is involved in the decision-making process of the country. It is this traumatic experience of women in the society that informed this study and also the need to x-ray the emerging women factors in Nigeria’s politics and participation over the years.

1. 1. STATEMENT OF PROBLEM

 Over the years, there has been raging debates over the participation or desire of women in Nigerian politics. Some argue that: Women are regarded as weaker sexes are social constructs owing to social value, norms and beliefs, which have neglected their meaningful contributions and have placed them in a subordinate position to men in the nation’s political system. This ‘sexual division of labor’ in the political system is often traced to the onset of colonialism in Nigeria. The political enfranchisement of women in Nigeria politics seems to have maintained on the surface a level of gender equity politically, because it is assumed that constitutionally there are not barriers to women’s participation. But what exactly is/are the problems and prospects women encounter in their quest to participate in politics? Women movements can be said to have been largely responsible for increase in political participation of women. Women’s participation actually substantive – for the pursuit of the interest of women; is women’s participation actually descriptive – for the pursuit of the interest of their constituency; or is women increase in political participation a movement in itself? This study is aimed at evaluating women’s participation in politics

1.3 AIMS OF THE STUDY

The major aim of the study is to examine women participation in politics in Nigeria.  Other specific objectives of the study include;

1. To examine the extent of women participation in politics in Nigeria.
2.  To examine the factors that affect perception of Nigerian women on political participation
3. To examine the impact of women participation in politics in Nigeria
4. To determine the effect of education on Nigerian women political empowerment
5. To examine the relationship between politics and women political participation in Nigeria
6. To examine intervening variables that affects women’s increase in political participation

1.4 RESEARCH QUESTIONS

1. What is the extent of women participation in politics in Nigeria?
2. What are the factors that affect perception of Nigerian women on political participation?
3. What is the impact of women participation in politics in Nigeria?
4. What are the effects of education on Nigerian women political empowerment?
5.  What is the relationship between politics and women political participation in Nigeria?
6. What are the intervening variables that affect women’s increase in political participation in Nigeria?
   1. RESEARCH HYPOTHESES

Hypothesis 1

H0: There is no significant impact of women participation in politics in Nigeria.

H1: There is a significant impact of women participation in politics in Nigeria.

Hypothesis 2

H0: There is no significant relationship between politics and women political participation in Nigeria.

H1: There is a significant relationship between politics and women political participation in Nigeria.

1.6 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

In Nigeria, politics is presumed to be a man’s turf, where No Woman Need Apply (NWNA) – an unspoken slogan reminiscent of the discrimination against Irish nationals in 19th century Britain. This unwritten rule is one that only a small percentage of the female population has defied successfully. It is against this backdrop that it has become important to interrogate the currency of the phenomenon, factors accentuating it and measures to reduce phenomenon or engender a gender balance in the political arena in Nigeria. Politics can be said to be the act of making public choice and making decision on behalf of people through the medium of the State and its apparatus. It is accepted that for development of any kind to be successful, women, who make up a larger proportion of the population, should not be left out, because there is no doubt that both men and women have some potentials and rights to contribute meaningfully to the development of their countries throughout the world, Africa and Nigeria inclusive.

1.7 SCOPE AND LIMITATION OF THE STUDY

The study is restricted to women participation in politics in Nkim clan of Ogoja L.G.A. of Cross River State, Nigeria.

LIMITATION OF THE STUDY

Financial constraint: Insufficient fund tends to impede the efficiency of the researcher in sourcing for the relevant materials, literature or information and in the process of data collection (internet, questionnaire and interview)

Time constraint: The researcher will simultaneously engage in this study with other academic work. This consequently will cut down on the time devoted for the research work.

1.8 OPERATIONAL DEFINITION OF TERMS

Politics: Politic refers to the activities of the government members of lawmaking organization or people who try to influence the way a country like Nigeria is governed.

Women:  Generally, the word ‘women’ means any adult female person as contrasted with girl. Women, from the Nigerian political arena, are adult female persons who have attained the age of franchise (18 years of minimum age).

Active Participation: Active participation here refers to active political participation which is seen as those voluntary activities by which members of the society share in the selection of leaders and directly or indirectly in the formation of policy and is a civic right of all citizens. Political participation involves essential political activities such as attending political meetings, rallies, campaigns, nominations, elections, etc; holding political party offices and public offices; contesting for elective positions; voting in elections; holding elective and appointive positions; attaining political power in legislative bodies; and other electoral activities.