The host of the online podcast, Moye’s Corner, has warned Nigerian women to monitor the implementation of the law seeking to create reserved seats for women in Nigeria’s legislative houses so that male politicians don’t hijack the process and make their girlfriends the beneficiaries.
She made the remarks during an exclusive interview with Rudolf Okonkwo on 90MinutesAfrica.
While acknowledging that the bill, when passed, will enable more women to serve in legislatures, she also expressed skepticism about how it might be implemented.
“In the Nigerian system, the politicians may hijack the process and fill the seats with their girlfriends who don’t care about the people and know nothing about service,” Miss Omoye remarked. She advised Nigerians to pay attention to the process and monitor the type of women who will be presented to occupy the seats when the bill eventually becomes law.
She also added that although it is good to have more women lawmakers, it is also important to focus on the quality of representation that these women will bring.
She draws attention to the Nigerian Senate, where there are currently four female senators, but according to her, only one of them is actually performing up to expectations.
“We have four women in the Senate, but only one is making an impact. Imagine if the other three had been as effective,” she said.
“It’s good to have more women in the National Assembly, but the question is what type of women are going to be there representing us.”
The social commentator also decried the rot in the country, arguing that Nigeria needs a “hard reset” to begin to move on the desired path.
“Nigeria is rotten to the core,” she posited.
“The country needs people who will clean out all the garbage.” The podcast host explained that it is difficult to envision Nigeria beyond 2027 if things continue on the current trajectory of poor governance and corruption.
