OPINION-Anambra 2021: Are We Ready For Another Female Governor?

Gender, according to the British great philosopher, Mark Twain, is an issue of mind over matter. If you don’t mind, it doesn’t matter.

As the race for the 2021 gubernatorial election begins and the debate over zoning in the state continues, it is uncertain what the consensus will be zoning or no zoning. 

Many candidates from the three different zones have shown their interest in contesting for the highest seat in Anambra state, one of them is the Senator representing Anambra Central Senatorial District at the 9th Assembly, Senator Uche Ekwunife, whom I will refer to as Okwulu-Oka in this piece. Okwulu-Oka not by her size but because of the magnificent things she has done and achieved despite the many obstacles. 

Why the Uche Ekwunife’s Candidacy is Important to Nigeria Women

Let us walk through memory lane. When the former governor, Peter Obi was impeached in 2006, Dame Virgy Etiaba was sworn in as the governor of Anambra state, making her the first female governor in Nigeria to date.

It has been a whopping fourteen years since any woman occupied and clinched the governorship position. Her decision to replace her boss then was greeted with criticism from some quarters, as one of such statements reads in part;

“We are shocked at the alleged Summersault of the Deputy Governor of Anambra State, Dame Virgy Etiaba, who we had commended for keeping faith with the people when she rejected the offer to replace her boss and sincerely hope that she was not coerced into accepting to be sworn in as the Governor of Anambra state against her people’s wish”. 

Many people who were close to her knew otherwise, that her loyalty for her boss and commitment to the people of Anambra led her to make this decision. A decision that placed Anambra State on the map and changed the game for women in politics. 

Etiaba’s tenure was a short one (three months), yet very impactful. She signed the Anambra State’s Child Rights Bill into Law. She initiated the “Suba Kwa Igbo” mantra to preserve the Igbo culture and heritage. She also invested in the state’s Orient Petroleum company and carried on most of the projects of her boss, Peter Obi. 

Etiaba’s emergence as deputy governor and the governor has given many women the political wings to fly both in the state, the region, and the nation. Yet still, the number of women in politics has continued to decline in Nigeria especially with the present dispensation.

Women only make up six percent (6%) of the nation’s parliament, which Okwulu-Oka (Sen. Uche Ekwunife) is one of them. Women who aspire to become politicians often face opposition from our conservative and patriarchal society, sometimes gender-based election harassment and violence. 

It is worthy to note that no woman in Nigeria has been elected as a governor. If Sen. Uche Ekwunife should emerge victoriously, she will be the first elected female governor. Her emergence will be a victory for all women in the state and country. 

Why She?

Sen. Uche did not stumble into politics and unlike many, she had a clear path of what her political sojourn should entail. Ókwúlu ọkà’s career did not start in politics, she was a successful banker and rose to become the area manager before proceeding to pursue her political ambition.

In 2007, she contested her first election to represent the Federal constituency Anaocha/Njikoka/Dunukofia at the Federal House of Representative and she emerged victoriously.

In 2011, she vied for the same position and won again. In 2015, she contested for the Anambra Central Senatorial seat, her victory was shrouded with many controversies. She eventually lost the seat to a court judgment in 2017.

In 2019, she made an exceptional come-back by winning at all the Seven (7) Local Government Areas in Anambra Central to emerge as a Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. 

Many are of the opinion that her grassroots proximity is worthy of study. Her victories surely were accompanied by its ample share of work as the people’s representative.

Her constituents at the Central district have continuously lauded her attitude to work and the numerous projects she has attracted. She has made available many job opportunities for her teeming constituents and employed some with her capacity.

She has continued to propagate the Nri culture and custom and encourage all and sundry to embrace the Igbo culture. She encourages female political participation and has raised her voice against abuse and Gender-Based Violence (GBV) in the country. 

More recently, she supported the motion on more stringent punishment for rapists to deter other people from committing these acts. She also supports victims of GBV financially to help them find their way and start up something.

During the lock-down necessitated by the spread of COVID-19, she shared relief materials especially food items to the indigents in her Senatorial district and the list surely goes on.

Ekwunife’s amazonian fighting spirit is what has endeared her to many from the state and beyond. She knows how to compete, how to win, how to lose, and how to lead. She has enmeshed this wealth of experience in her time in the banking sector and then in politics. 

There are many questions on whether the great Anambra, full of its patriarchial tendency will ever let a woman lead the state? The answer is, are we going to let our ego and sentiment deny us the opportunity of a good and vibrant leader.

On the issue of Zoning and the turn of Anambra South to govern; Sen. Uche Ekwunife qualifies to contest when it is zoned to the south because of her paternal background from Igbo-Ukwu. Many women have ridden on this premise, the case of Ehanire Danjuma in Edo state, and our very own Stella Oduah.

Succinctly put in Professor Oluremi Sonaiya’s words: “We cannot have a situation where women will continue to remain as mere spectators in the business of politics.” 

Word On The Marble: An elected female governor is achievable with the right support from the necessary quarters and stakeholders.