Politics Isn't For Men Only - Gov. Alia

Governor Hyacinth Alia of Benue State seeks liberal democratic participation of the women folk in partisan politics.

To make the objective realizable, the Governor urged men to soften conditions that seem to exclude women from participation in politics!

To the women, Governor Alia urged them to intensify active participating efforts desirable for consideration in the affairs of the party politics. 

The Governor represented by his Deputy, Barrister Sam Ode, appealed to the women during the unveiling and launching of the "Urban Women in Politics" group in Makurdi recently.

The event was attended by top ranking women politicians in North Central who included the All Progressives Congress (APC) Woman Leader, North Central, Dr. Esther Samuel Alu, the Benue State APC Woman Leader, Hon Helen Agaigbe with Nasarawa and Federal Capital Territory female leaders of the party as well as Special Advisers on Women Affairs in Nasarawa and Benue States with APC female aspirants in the 2027 general elections.

Alia declared that inclusion of women in politics must not be seen as favour but regarded a not negotiable right to trample upon it! 

He described the group as "coalition of politically conscious and actively courageous women of Benue" whose decision to be part of history for future of the state would never be forgotten.

According to Governor Alia, any society which sidelined half of its population would not be taken seriously as being committed to building a new place, his government poised to break away from the tradition.

The Governor reaffirmed his administration's resolve to encourage the participation of women in politics to increase productivity at the state and federal levels.

He said "for too long, we have treated women participation in governance as a favour, not as right!" He clarified that the women who build homes that men live in and enjoy life have been pushed aside the affairs his government would ensure storage of the negative trend. 

He expressed concern about the negative development that notwithstanding the enormity of women contribution to the progress of society, the men usually sought to exclude women from politics as if it was the game for only men?

On this point, he stated that since the urban women chose not to wait but organize with their focus around the gender mainstreaming, the grounds must start softening for them.

He reiterated government's determination to promote women inclusion and said "the government understands that you need to position yourselves so, get ready to be supported now." The Governor continued that in line with the seven point agenda of his administration appointment of the woman, Barrister Deborah Aber as Secretary to the State Government (SSG) testified the commitment.

Alia disclosed further that his government's resolve for 35% representation of women in governance would not be compromised as reflected in the high number of women appointed to serve the state as Executive Secretaries, Director Generals and other top female bureaucrats who add value to the system.

He disclosed that the administration has put other empowerment schemes in place for women including the recently launched Benue Women Economic program to assist females carryout their business and Agricultural activities as desired.

Amidst the support, Governor Alia said, government would not leave women materially and spiritually stranded since the "Urban Women in Politics" showed capacity to be part of his government.

He advised the group to be more than a mere female forum seeking inclusion but take the responsibility of mentoring young girls with establishing schools that would inculcate leadership traits in them.

According to the Governor, the Forum should form the shield for women facing intimidation in the course of contestations for various political offices. He said the women should be the think tank for a positive solution to the insecurity, and try to bridge up the education and agricultural gaps from their perspectives of being "our mothers, teachers and farmers among others."

Alia urged women to expand the network of coordination by sensitizing other women in all local councils of the state and charged them not to stop the use of gender sentiments that usually exposes weakness in place of competence or good performance when elected into public office.

The North Central Woman Leader counseled women on the need for submissiveness aimed at enjoying incredible support from their husbands. She urged the men to exhibit genuine love towards their woman aimed at benefiting what God has given through the daughters of Eve.

Chairman of Benue Internal Revenue Service (BIRS) Mr. Joseph Kwaghgba served the even as Chairman. He profiled the role of women in society as developers and sought greater empowerment for the females to the benefit of this generation and the others yet to come.

The Benue State APC Woman Leader, Hon Helen Agaigbe questioned the rationale for leaving women behind and said, almost nothing came from their investments in politics controlled by the men. She urged women not to relent on their push for more allocations of the political power. 

The Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Deborah Aber Esq tasked the National Assembly to make laws that provided specifically for the number of seats to women. She asked the State Houses of Assembly to do same for promotion of participation in politics by women.

Governor Alia's Special Adviser on Women Affairs, Hon Scholastica Ben-Sor expressed satisfaction with the administration's priority for inclusion of women in governance of the state, but sued for more to engender huge followerships.

Ambassador Jennifer Gbishe - Igoh, the group's convener thanked the government for bringing women inclusion to the front burner and stated that as stakeholders, they be factored into key strategic governance positions and structures for value addition.

The event climaxed with the presentation of awards to the deserving personalities who included, Governor Hyacinth Alia, Deputy Governor Sam Ode, North Central Woman Leader, Dr. Esther Samuel Alu and the group's co-founder, Mrs. Esther Tule.