Prof Remi Sonaiya: Why I ran for office of the President of Nigeria
Professor Remi Sonaiya, the only female presidential candidate for KOWA Party during the 2015 presidential election, is an educationist and an International Ambassador Scientist of the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation. She has a career that exemplifies passion, consistency, and selflessness. SLA contributor, Añuli Ola-Olaniyi, in her interview with Professor Remi, learned key principles that have made Professor Remi have a fulfilled career path and shares this learning with everyone. [bctt tweet=”Don’t be afraid to be different. Don’t get sucked into the prevailing corrupt system which needs to be changed- Prof Remi Sonaiya” username=”SheLeadsAfrica”] How did you begin your career? My first job ever was… As a teacher of French and English at the Nigeria Military School, Zaria. That was during my youth service year. What would you advise your younger self? I would tell my 20-year-old self… To read much more widely. Being a student of the Arts meant that I read a fairly decent amount of literature, but I could have ventured more into other areas – philosophy, biographies of great people, etc. Of course, I’ve done a bit of catching up, but there’s no doubt that some ground was lost. What prompted you to run for the office of the president in 2015? I decided to run for office because the people who were running our affairs over several decades were not doing a good job of it. We were living through a shameful and incongruous situation where we were known to be a country with huge resources, but where the overwhelming majority of the people lived in abject poverty. Specifically, I was lecturing in the same institution where I had been a student, and before my eyes, things got worse year after year. It weighed on my heart that the students I was teaching could not enjoy the same standard of education I had. What’s been your boldest move so far Deciding to abandon my job at the university and moving into politics was a bold move. And then, taking the decision to run for the presidency. I am aware that I could do so only because I had the opportunities – which were not a result of any particular effort on my part. [bctt tweet=”taking the decision to run for the presidency has been my boldest move – Prof. Remi Sonaiya” username=”SheLeadsAfrica”] What’s your best advice to people starting a career in politics For people starting any career, I would say, ensure that you really like and enjoy the job you’re going into. I know that might be somewhat of a luxury these days when there is a lot of unemployment, which means people are happy to get any job at all. But I personally wouldn’t be happy being at a job I don’t enjoy. Once you have accepted a job offer, give it your best shot. Work hard. Be diligent and conscientious – you’ll be a better person for it. [bctt tweet=”Slothful people end up wasting their own lives – Prof. Remi Sonaiya” username=”SheLeadsAfrica”] For those starting a political career, my advice is, don’t be afraid to be different. Don’t allow yourself to get sucked into the prevailing corrupt system which needs to be changed. Be a change agent. Do something worthwhile and significant with your life as a politician. Ever had any setbacks in life? Honestly, I don’t see any. Losing my father at the age of ten could have been a setback, but God stepped in to help us. I often say that I don’t know what else my father could have done for me – I had scholarships to attend the best schools both in Nigeria and abroad, and I have had wonderful opportunities come my way I overcame it by trusting in God. Early on, in childlike faith, I told God that He was now the only Father I had. He didn’t disappoint. [bctt tweet=”I believe that things will change for the better if we Nigerians begin to take seriously the job of choosing good leaders for ourselves – Prof. Remi Sonaiya” username=”SheLeadsAfrica”] As a politician, how do you stay inspired? Do you have any hobbies? That I’m a pretty good singer who loved to organize concerts, mostly at Christmas. I haven’t been doing that for some years now, but I dream of going back to doing it. On the other hand, I stay inspired by reading my Bible and praying, reading books by or about people who have stood for something worthwhile in life (Obafemi Awolowo, Martin Luther King Jr, Nelson Mandela, Gandhi, etc.) What’s next for you? I’ll only know that after the elections have been conducted. Of course, the outcome would determine what options would be available to me. But in all sincerity, I would love to be able to take a one-month holiday at least. If you’d like to get featured on our Facebook page, click here to share your story with us.
After 4 years away – Former President of Malawi Joyce Banda returns home
Dr. Joyce Banda was the only President in the history of her country to address issues of corruption — now she’s paying the price. She was the first female President of Malawi, and the second female head of state from the continent of Africa, She was a victim of smear campaigns, media attacks, false accusations, arrest warrants, and even assassination attempts by the current administration. They tried to keep her away from her beloved people of Malawi and block the work she’s doing to advocate for the rights of women and girls across Africa. On April 28, 2018, however, she said enough is enough and decided to take the risk and return home. Liz Grossman narrates to us all about Joyce Banda’s historic return to Malawi, and how she continues with her humanitarian work for the people of Malawi through her foundation. [bctt tweet=” Hundreds of people broke down airport gates so they could see their beloved leader returning home for the first time since 2014.” username=”SheLeadsAfrica”] I was fortunate enough to accompany her on this historic trip home. Her Excellency Dr. Joyce Banda is one of my major clients, a mentor, and personal hero. She and I very quickly bonded when I began working with her a year and a half ago during her fellowship at the Wilson Center in Washington DC. I, on the other hand, continue to work with her and the Joyce Banda Foundation on communications and business development strategy. To be a true groundbreaker, a person who shakes the earth to its core, one must fall in love with the people one serves, and the people must reciprocate this love, as leaders must truly be a love affair. On April 28, 2018, in the country of Malawi, I witnessed this firsthand alongside Dr. Joyce Banda, the nation’s first female President, as she returned home for the first time in four years. I have only been working with Dr. Banda for a year, but in this period I have borne witness to the many facets of her character. The scholar working on high-level research about girls education and women’s leadership, the orator, the mentor, the entrepreneur, the policymaker, and the wife, mother, and grandmother. I have listened to her inspire crowds of thousands at conferences and lectures all across Africa and the United States, telling her story of being a rural woman from Malawi and how her experiences shaped her passions and ability to lead with love, always putting her people at the forefront. This love for her people has driven Dr. Banda on her leadership journey, starting from the National Association of Business Women she founded, to build a foundation over twenty years old serving over 1.3 million Malawians. But above all else, she has always been a mother to her family, community, and country, doing everything in her power to protect and nurture her people. [bctt tweet=”To be an effective leader, one must have the knowledge, savvy, and resources to influence the society” username=”SheLeadsAfrica”] Dr. Banda cannot stand to see leaders pilfering state resources and leaving the population in ruins. I have had trouble understanding why this woman, who prefers to spend her personal resources to provide education and health service to the ultra poor, is under such scrutiny at home. But what I began to see is that not all leaders embrace her philosophy of leading with love, and politics can be used to intimidate those who wish to level the playing field for the underrepresented. Dr. Banda has never let fear guide her, so after spending 4 years working abroad after her Presidency and allowing the current President to govern as he wishes, returned home. She was ready to sit in her own living room, visit her family, friends, church, and community, and get back to working with her people. [bctt tweet=”To be a true groundbreaker, one must fall in love with the people one serves, and the people must reciprocate this love, ” username=”SheLeadsAfrica”] Despite warnings from world leaders that she should protect herself and remain outside Malawi, her love and commitment to Malawi pushed her to take the risk and returned home to her village of Domasi. It was upon her return that I fully understood the privilege and honor I have to be working with such an icon. The second we got off the plane, hundreds of people literally broke down airport gates so they could see their beloved leader returning home for the first time since 2014. Women, decked out head to toe in her party color of orange, were crying and dancing in the streets, welcoming her with songs at every junction on the road from Blantyre to Domasi. I could see the people missed their “Amayi,” the word for mother in the local language, and were overjoyed to see her back home. Simply, her presence inspired hope in the nation, which has been suffering from a lack of electricity, health services and education, just a few of the major grievances by the population of one of the world’s poorest countries. As a private citizen, Joyce Banda, through her foundation, operates 35 orphan care centers, which feed over 15,000 vulnerable children a day. She runs one of two free secondary schools in Malawi. She has adopted a social enterprise model for the foundation for the past thirteen years, using the profits from the world-class Joyce Banda Foundation private school in Blantyre to run these services while also inculcating values of tolerance and service to the international student body. No matter what arguments her adversaries may use against her, she has changed the lives of millions of people, accomplishments are not to be undervalued. After seeing her at home, my conviction is solidified that she is a truly one-of-a-kind woman, an icon who must be celebrated, protected and honored. It is my wish that the rest of the world will be able to see the importance of leading with love, and supporting those who do. If
WEBINAR WITH ABOSEDE GEORGE-OGAN: THE RISE OF WOMEN IN POLITICS (MAY 30)
For as long as we’ve known, politics has been viewed as ‘a big boys thing’ and not for women. Well, guess what world? It’s time to take a step back because ladies wanna play too! From leading political organisations to being at the centre of political movements across the continent, women are increasingly taking charge of the political platform. Admirable examples of #MotherlandMoguls in politics include Bostwana’s 29- year old, Bogolo Joy Kenewendo, who was recently appointed as Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry and Nigeria’s Ms. Rinsola Abiola, President of the APC Young Women Forum (amongst other titles) – the list goes on! But let’s be honest! Even though there has been a rise in the number of women in legislatures across the continent, more work still needs to be done to integrate women into ‘political governance’. That being said, ladies get in formation…let’s talk about building a fulfilling political career!! To learn more, join us on Wednesday, May 30th for a webinar with Abosede George – Ogan, who is the Chief Facilitator of Women In Politics NG, as well as the Director, Strategy, Partnerships and Stakeholder Management at the Lagos State Employment Trust Fund. Abosede will be sharing useful nuggets on what it takes to build a successful career in politics. [bctt tweet=”Kick start your career in politics with @abosedea on May 30th at 11 AM WAT! Click here for more: http://bit.ly/BoseOgan #WomenInPolitics” username=”SheLeadsAfrica”] Some of the topics we’ll cover: Why you should be interested in politics The building blocks to pursuing a career in politics Types of jobs available in the field of politics Advice on how to build a successful political career Webinar Details: Date: Wednesday, May 30th, 2018 Time: 11AM Lagos // 12PM Johannesburg // 1PM Nairobi Location: Register below to get access to this opportunity Watch here: About Adebose Abosede George-Ogan is a tri-sector leader with over 14 years’ experience working across the non-profit, private and public sector as a development professional. She is the Chief Facilitator at Women In Politics NG, an online platform that seeks to engage, encourage, equip and empower women especially young women to get involved and participate in politics in Nigeria. In addition to this, Abosede is currently the Director, Strategy, Partnerships and Stakeholder Management at the Lagos State Employment Trust Fund. Abosede began her career in development over a decade ago with ActionAid International Nigeria. From here, she moved on to lead Corporate Social Responsibility and Corporate Citizenship for Keystone Bank, FirstBank and Samsung Electronics West Africa respectively. Likewise, Ms. George-Ogan has a degree in Political Science/Public Administration from Igbinedion University and an MSc in Communication for Innovation and Development from the University of Reading. She is also the author of the recently launched book, “Building a Conscious Career: How to build a fulfilling and financially rewarding career”. For more information about the book, you can visit www.consciouscareer.com.ng.
OP-ED: DO AFRICAN WOMEN EVEN DO POLITICS?
44 African leaders made history in Kigali, Rwanda on 21 March 2018, when they signed up for the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA). The agreement will create one of the world’s largest free trade areas – a single market for goods and services for a population of over 1.2 million people – if all AU members eventually sign and ratify it. The AfCTA is in line with the broader goals of the AU reforms initiative, which intends to move away from the current situation of multiple, almost competing for economic blocs to a single pan-African unit that facilitates the free movement of goods and services across the continent. The AfCTA is a milestone achievement that could change the economic trajectory of the continent. A celebratory photograph of the various leaders who gathered in Kigali was rapidly shared across various media platforms to commemorate the singularity of events. Yet, anyone paying attention quickly noticed one thing about the photograph – there were no women. Can the AU reforms process create room for women in the highest levels of political leadership on the continent? The final round of negotiations for the AfCFTA, unfortunately, coincided with the resignation of Ameenah Gurib-Fakim, the first female president of Mauritius. [bctt tweet=”Outside of South Africa and Malawi, no woman has run for president in the Southern Africa region- @tanaforum @nanjala1″ username=”SheLeadsAfrica”] There are now no female heads of state on the continent. Before Gurib-Fakim, we had Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf in Liberia, Joyce Banda in Malawi and Catherine Samba-Panza in the Central African Republic. Of the four, only Johnson-Sirleaf completed a full term with both Gurib-Fakim and Banda leaving office under tenuous allegations of fraud and Samba-Panza electing not to run for office after serving as a caretaker president. If there are any unifying lessons to be learned from these experiences it is that African women political leaders are often held to higher standards than their male counterparts and that much more work can be done to incorporate women into political governance on the continent. The subject of equality of women in politics in Africa is complex. In the pre-independence era, there are a number of examples of women rising to the top of their societies, particularly in fraught political moments. Today, South Africa is the most un-equal country in the world according to the World Bank, with entrenched poverty directly linked to the “enduring legacy of apartheid”. [bctt tweet=”Madikezela-Mandela was punished for doing exactly the same things that her male counterparts did- @tanaforum @nanjala1 ” username=”SheLeadsAfrica”] Madikezela-Mandela’s experience echoes the experience of women on the continent who form a slight numerical majority of the population but are systematically shut out from high-level politics. She was punished for doing exactly the same things that her male counterparts have done throughout the ages. Women were at the center of liberation movements across the continent; not just in supporting roles but also leading political and military organizations. Madikezela-Mandela was branded a murderer and denied a seat at the table of power in post-apartheid South Africa. [bctt tweet=”Rwanda has the highest number of women in parliament at 63.8%.- @tanaforum @nanjala1″ username=”SheLeadsAfrica”] Today, the situation facing African women in politics is mixed. Between 2005 and 2015, the proportion of women in legislatures in North Africa more than doubled from 7% to 18%, while in sub-Saharan Africa it increased from 15% to 22%. Globally, Rwanda has the highest number of women in parliament at 63.8% and, because of the increasing use of quotas, women make up more than 30% of the legislature in most countries in East and Southern Africa. And as mentioned, four countries have put women in the top seat, more than Europe or North America combined. Nonetheless, there have also been significant losses, particularly where women aim for the presidency. Read the concluding part of this article here… Sponsored post. This article was originally written by Nanjala Nyabola, a writer and political analyst based in Nairobi, Kenya for the Tana-High Level Forum on Security in Africa 2018.
Dear Nigeria, we really need to do better for the girl child
Sometimes I disconnect from current issues because I feel powerless at all the debauchery going on, especially in Nigeria. It was the International day of the girl child only a few days ago but the truth is that we have such a long way to go in according the right value to girls and women. Going through my Twitter feed, I came across the link to a Bella Naija story currently making the rounds. Apparently, the Emir of Katsina state is alleged to have abducted a fourteen year old girl and forced her into marriage. The Emir is at least fifty years her senior. Please let’s process that for a second. It doesn’t matter if he was eighteen or twenty because it would still be wrong. But, for someone who is old enough to be her grandfather, it makes it even more appalling. And yet, he is supposed to be a leader who should set precedence helping his people to do better. Just like in Ese Oruru‘s case, it is alleged that the girl Habiba Isiyaku was abducted and forced to convert to another religion, Islam. Apparently, the Katsina Emirate Council considers the marriage irreversible. It was reported that the Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has tried to intervene in this case after the girl’s parents cried foul. He condemned the action and appealed to the Emir also stating that in his own religion, a girl could not be given out in marriage without her parents’ consent. But can we not make this about religion? Because that would be problematic. This is not a Christian or Muslim polity. We are governed by constitutional laws, no? The legal framework I believe comes from a humanitarian perspective. At fourteen years, she is considered a minor and CANNOT consent to marriage. Child marriages must be abolished and the Nigerian senate needs to take a stronger stance towards this. What’s more, the judiciary must begin to enforce the law in this regard. This should be an imprisonable offence. No one should be above the law either. We need to send a strong message throughout our great nation that we as the Nigerian state, do not condone child marriages. In many constitutions, this is regarded to as statutory rape. Let’s also recognise the fact that several crimes have allegedly been committed here. Abduction, domestic violence (because emotional abuse), statutory rape (assuming the ‘marriage’ has been consummated). Let’s outlaw this societal scourge and demand the highest penalty for the offender. If we continue to shout tradition or religion, we will go nowhere. Nigeria please, we really need to do better for the girl child. Every one of us is Ese Oruru, and Habiba Isiyaku, and the Chibok girls. We want unfettered access to education, right to adulthood, right to healthcare, right to economic opportunities.
Pretoria Girls High School: 5 lessons I learned from African girls fighting for their Afros
If you have not been living under a rock, you must have heard about the news that ruled the headlines last month. A group of girls in South Africa —who we would all like to adopt into our #SquadGoals— protested against their school for the subliminal and direct ways that they were being racist towards them. The subject in question was their natural hair. As an African living in the US, this trending topic about how unprofessional and untamed natural hair is, is not new to me. Growing up in Ghana, I had heard all the “hair is distracting” arguments. This is why most African girls rocked bald cuts for most of our childhood. What was news to me however, was someone telling African children that their natural hair was unnatural. There is a difference between distracting and unnatural. It’s like going to a school in London and telling the school children that their natural British accents were unnatural. From rocking a bald cut, to having permed strands to now growing kinky curls, I have experienced all the angles on the subject of ‘African Hair’. These are the 5 thoughts I had as I marvelled at the girls from Pretoria Girls High School. Stop telling us what to do with OUR hair Whether permed or kinky, whether braided or dreaded…African women know what they want to do to their hair. And we don’t need your two cents. If African women have to defend their hair everywhere else, should Africa be one of those places? When I heard this story in the news, the first question I had was “Where can we stand?” African features have been under attack since long before we can all remember. From our broader nose to our bigger lips. And now our hair. The fact that African features was being attacked in Africa of all places was unbelievable to me. I felt insulted, that this fight had found its way into our backyard. Are Africans not supposed to find a safe haven in their home? Representation matters I immediately thought of Sarafina when I saw Zulaikha Patel fighting with her fist up for what she believed in. African Americans and other minorities in America, fight every day to be represented respectfully in film, culture and the arts….so should African children not be represented in Africa where they belong home? We should not be denied the freedom of seeing people who look just like us and with hair just like ours. It warms my heart to know that almost thirty years after the movie Sarafina came out, these girls in Pretoria where able to draw the same kind of strength to stand up for what they believed in. Don’t tell us how to fight the issues that only affect us Don’t you love it when the people who are least affected by an issue tell the people most affected by the issue how to cope. (Looking at you, #AllLivesMatter). The problem with telling young girls to ignore the racial issues going on in their schools is that we neglect the fact that they will have to still deal with these same issue when their future employers are telling them their Afro is unprofessional. Problem #2 with the statement in the image above: How do you expect black girls to excel academically if they have to deal with the mental chains of society telling them that their blackness is unnatural? We are strong but we are tired of defending ourselves We are tired of defending our darker skin. Tired of explaining why saying “You are pretty for a dark skin girl” is not a compliment. Tired of hearing the snide comments about how our hair would be more manageable if it was straighter. Tired of hearing how the traits that are most natural to us are somehow unnatural. Teach girls to fight The future of Africa lies in the people who dare to fight for it….and the girls in Pretoria Girls High School fighting for their Afros are all kinds of #goals. These girls came together to raise their voices and change the dialogue in the culture. These girls stood up and peacefully protested. They got made the world listen. They captured the attention of world leaders, all because they decided to be girls who fight. Girls need to be taught that they too have the power to fight for a good cause. Fighting to change the world is not just an exclusive club for Nelson Mandela and other men. African girls can change the world if they will only fight.
Leave or Remain? Lessons to take away from BREXIT
This year has been a huge year, politically. From the UK voting to leave the European Union to the US elections, we are in for a year on continued market volatility as a result. Through all the apparent doom and gloom, there are always lessons to learn! In this case, an interesting dynamic is emerging and all women must take note! Women are increasingly taking on dynamic political positions. As a politics student and resident of the UK, the Brexit week had me really in my feelings. The only positive thing I could take away from it was a better understanding of female leadership and the role we can play. What better way to look into this than to call out the top 4 women in the Saga? Let’s take a look at them closely, shall we! Ladies, a round of applause for Angela Merkel, Andrea Leadsom, Nicola Sturgeon and Theresa May. These women all have preference for short hair in common. (Sidebar- why do most women in politics have short hair??) Angela Merkel – She ain’t sorry ‘Madame-Non’ as she is known in France for her steely resolve and firm approach to politics, Angela Merkel is a woman who embodies the small but mighty leadership style. She is the Chancellor of Germany and the leader of the European Union in terms of GDP. Madame Merkel has been under a lot of scrutiny for her approach to Syrian migrants and her pro-EU stance and policies. Ladies, we can learn a lot from her. Through the Brexit debacle, Madame Merkel has said the same thing consistently: no entry into the single market if you will not uphold free movement of people. Her no is no and her yes, yes and she ain’t sorry! In other words, she is a principled woman who upholds the values she believes in without deviating from them. She is said to defend the four freedoms of the EU fiercely. She is also willing to allow the UK time to find its feet before making any drastic decisions. As a leader, Merkel shows us that you need to know what you stand for and defend it. Andrea Leadsom – Know when to fold Ms. Leadsom’s rise to the post-Brexit stage was incredibly unassuming. She emerged as the other top Brexiteers seemed to collapse. Gaining fame in her pro-Brexit role and making convincing speeches during the campaign, she seemed a natural choice for Prime Minister. Especially when both Boris Johnson and Michael Gove were engaged in a modern Shakespeare tragedy. It was almost as if she was the last (wo)man standing. She stood well for a couple of days but as time passed, she found herself putting her foot in her mouth a couple of times. Ms. Leadsom finally decided to graciously bow out of the race. Allowing someone with more experience take the role even when they were on opposite sides of the vote. In life and leadership, it is just as important to know when you cannot perform a role as it is to know when you absolutely can. Leadsom was smart, she understood very quickly that she was not equipped to shepherd the UK through a very difficult reality. And that if she could get overwhelmed by a simple scandal, there was no way she could live peacefully at No. 10, so she stepped down. Are you fighting for a position you are not certain you can handle? Perhaps you need to re-think this. You need to understand that leadership is just as much about stepping down as it is about stepping up. Nicola Sturgeon – Don’t just roll over Nicola Sturgeon became a headliner through the Brexit saga. She proactively denounced the results of the referendum and quickly went about the business of securing Scotland’s interests. Some of you may remember that there was a Scottish referendum in 2014, where Scotland voted to remain in the UK. The main reason they did so was to remain in the EU. UK politicians had threatened that Scotland could not hack the big EU outside of the safe UK. Well friends, two years later, Scotland has been dragged out and Nicola Sturgeon is doing everything in her power to ensure her people still have a voice. She proactively met with EU leaders post the vote. She gave an incredible speech encouraging her people that she would indeed lead in their interests. Ms. Sturgeon emerged a total bombass: proactive, clear and firmly defending her people. Sometimes leadership is about proactively having the difficult conversations. It’s about taking advantage of the moment to voice your concerns for your people! Theresa May – The patient dog indeed gets the biggest bone Of all the ladies discussed above, Madame Prime Minister Theresa May won BIG through the Brexit Saga. She emerged as the only stable choice for Prime Minister as it became clear that all other options were like ticking time bombs. Mrs. May remained very low-key throughout the Brexit campaign. A solid remainer, she was wise enough to hedge her bets and go underground. She remained largely silent until the cards started to crumble and she emerged as a dark horse. Mrs. May is very direct and straight talking and has established herself as an outsider to the rich boys club in the conservative party. Of all the politicians who were so vocal in the campaign, she remains sturdy and silent and this approach paid off heavily. She ended up being viewed as a steady pair of hands who could rationally lead the UK out of the EU. She definitely practiced waiting her turn and when the time was right, stepped up loud and clear. Leadership is sometimes about timing and Theresa May understands this very well. So there you have it Motherland Moguls, four examples to learn from. A time of crisis will show you who you really are. So much more than a time of calm ever will. How would you handle it?
Will Nigeria’s president ever be a woman?
There is this palpable level of excitement all around the world as we all watch in to see if the USA will have its first woman president. This got me thinking about my country, Nigeria. What will it take for Nigeria to get to that stage? When will our president be a woman? Hold off on the evil stares will ya. Let’s take a look at four groups of people and what they say about the chances of a lady Nigerian president happening. In-laws In Africa, especially my beloved Nigeria, in-laws are not to be joked with. They can make or break your marriage so you don’t want to be too close to them but at the same time, you can’t do without them. PRO: Bragging rights. As everyone wants to be associated with success, of course they’ll support and even hound people to vote so they can do yanga. They’ll want to tell anyone and everyone that their daughter-in-law is the Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces. CON: Just because she is president doesn’t mean she should forget her culture. If she doesn’t kneel properly to greet, WAR. If the protocol officers so much as ask if the president’s husband’s cousin’s son’s wife has an appointment before seeing her, WAHALA. If they find out she no longer cooks personally for her husband, they’ll go to the village and bring their son another wife (Blame my Nollywood childhood for this imagery). Feminist Twitter If you are always on Twitter then you’ll know that this group is no joke. Women can form a strong line of defence, they’ll go to war over anything and win. PRO: There will be an astounding level of support and love towards a woman president by this group. And we all know, in the words of QueenBey, women run the the world. Stop rolling your eyes, we really run this. CON: Well, this is where it gets tricky. Chances are they’ll let the president get away with ANYTHING, even outright murder! We get that we girls need to stick together but that shouldn’t mean we don’t call out bad behaviour. Meninist Twitter The camaraderie in the above group on Twitter had men coming together to fight “battles” of their own. Yes, this group even went as far as creating a hashtag, (#Meninist), for themselves. Anyways, these MEN complain about the littlest things in women. PRO: Because they’ll want to prove to that they are not chauvinistic in the least, they may also support and welcome the idea of a lady president. This support would be crucial as they are a large part of the population. CON: They’ll complain and blame the president’s gender for every little thing that happens in the country. They’ll create hashtags like #thepresidentdoesntcook #thepresidentdoesntdolaundry. Sigh! The First Gentleman As we have the First Lady, so we have the First Gentleman. This is the official title given to the husband of the president. PRO: Being the husband of the president, he’ll enjoy benefits and opportunities like the First Lady (if not more). CON: Let’s admit it. Men love to be at the center of everything and the minute they feel like they aren’t, all hell will break loose. It’ll even be worse if his friends make it a point to make jest of his title. “So instead of you to be President, you’re First Gentleman”, “I’m sure that your wife doesn’t respect you as a man anymore”. All this will lead to another wahala when he gets home to Aso Rock. There are a number of things we need to deal with as a nation to finally arrive at a place where we can happily vote in a woman as the president of Nigeria. What I’ve listed above goes to show that we are still stuck in the “a woman’s place is in the kitchen” era. I mean look at this; @TheRoyalButler please, should a woman know how to cook good food or not before considering such for marriage? — Temilade (@Temilade) August 3, 2016 Until we evolve past this ideology, our Nigerian woman president will live only in our imaginations.