BALANCING GENDER INEQUALITY: WHY PRINCESS OMOWUNMI OHWOVORIOLE IS THE BEST FOR REPS

By Collins Dupson, 26 January, 2022

* COMPETENCE *CHARACTER *EXPERIENCE * CAPABILITY * GOOD REPRESENTATION *PHILANTHROPIST

Gender inequality in politics is still very much rampant in Nigeria. Nigerian women are grossly underrepresented in government at all levels, even though; they make up 50 per cent of Nigeria’s population. It is quite alarming that the situation seems to be retrogressing which is not limited to the Federal level alone but also persist in the state. The executive arm of the government is not only involving in this act but both the legislative and judiciary arms are not left out as women hardly given the opportunity to lead.

For several years, the Gender Equality Bill which is designed to eradicate gender inequality in politics, education and employment has been left unattended to by the Nigerian senators. In terms House of Representatives, 7 women were elected out of the 360 seats in 1999 and 27 in 2007. Instead of rise in the number of women at the Green Chamber, the number of women began to decline in 2011(25) and recalled its lowest in 2015 (20), whereas women participation in parliament in country like Rwanda is in increase of 55 percent.

At the state level, the State House of Assembly is another wing where women participation has been reduced to the lowest ebb. There is no difference, our women were neglected. The PATH is x-raying women participation in politics at the legislative level since the beginning of the Fourth Republic in 1999 in Ondo State. While some states are making frantic effort to increase the number of women in the state assembly, the reverse is the case in Ondo State. The 8th Assembly for the first time produced two female lawmakers, Rt. Hon Jumoke Akindele who later became Speaker of the House and Hon Kemi Adesanya but rather than to improve on this, the current 9th Assembly only managed to have one female lawmaker out of the 26 seats, Hon Favour Tomomowe from Ilaje.

In all sincerity, the governor of the state, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu SAN has tried his best to change the narrative of rendering women to mere political spectators who are good in voting and not to be voted for. Within the last five years of his government, women were given adequate representation and appointed into sensitive positions; for the first time in the history of the state, Governor Akeredolu appointed a woman, Princess Oladunni Odu as the Secretary to the State Government among others.

The federal legislative arm is another place that has become a no go area for women. In the last 21 years, no single woman has been elected into either the Senate or House of Representatives in Ondo State. The three slots of the Senate and nine of the House of Representatives seats have been dominated by men since 1999. Ordinarily, women ought to have used their numerical strength to take position of authority, yet they are not represented in government. A lot of factors might be responsible for this, but it is high time our men start supporting any women who have shown interest in politics and give them platforms to strive.

AKURE SOUTH & NORTH BYE-ELECTION
The demise of the Late Adedayo Omolafe, a member representing Akure South and Akure North Federal Constituency at the House of Representatives has thrown his seat vacant. The House has notified INEC of the vacant seat, though a specific date has not been fixed for the bye election, the political gladiators from both the ruling party and opposition party have shown interest in becoming the next Member of the lower chamber in completion of late “Expensive” tenure. As usual, it is a race crowded by men. In All Progressive Congress (APC) alone, more than ten male aspirants have shown interest with one female, Princess Omowunmi Olatunji- Ohwovoriole. It is not a different story in the people’s Democratic Party as Princess Kemisola Adesanya is the only serious female contestants among the over seven aspirants.

There is no other time to correct these anomalies of neglect than now; the death of the federal lawmaker has created an opportunity to give the few interested women in the race a chance to proof their mettle. As it stands today, the only female aspirant whose influence cut across every political divide is Princess Omowunmi Ohwovoriole. Looking at the pedigree of the aspirants in the contest, Princess Omowunmi has become a household name in every nook and cranny of the federal constituency.

THE TIME IS NOW

There is no proper time than now to right the wrongs of gender inequality in our state politics. Aside the timing and the need to give a woman a chance, Princess Omowunmi has what it takes to provide good leadership and representation at the lower chamber. While digging into the personality of Princess Omowunmi political antecedent, she stands tall among equal and possesses intimidating credentials that are enough to qualify her for any position.

Experience:
In the game of politics, experience speaks volume. Princess Omowunmi started politics by contesting for the least position; Councilor in Lagos State, thereafter secured her first political appointment as a Board Member of Lagos State Sports Council by Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu during his second term in office.

She was later elected to represent the people of Oshodi/Osolo Constituency II in Lagos State House of Assembly; a position he held for eight years. She chaired the Committee on Science and Technology during her first term and later was appointed Chairman Committee on Establishment, and was a member to several committees during her second term in the legislature.

She was also appointed Commissioner for Women Affairs in Ondo State between 2017-2018 by Arakunrin Oluwatotimi Akeredolu SAN into the State Cabinet. Considering his political strength, she was appointed as a member, Ekiti State APC Registration and Revalidation Committee by the APC National Caretaker/Convention Planning Committee. Currently, she is the Chairman Governing Council, Federal Polytechnic Kaura Namoda, Zamfara State.

Competence:
Being a woman is not enough but competency play a major role in politics. In every elected and appointed positions Princess Omowunmi has found herself, she always proves her worth. While serving as a lawmaker in the Lagos House of Assembly, her contributions stands her out among her contemporaries. She was not only active but sponsored bills that had direct impact on her constituent. She spearheaded Resident Registration Bill powered by the Committee on Science and Technology in which she was the chairman, Special People’s Bill, Lagos State Public Staff Development Centre Bill among other bills were sponsored by her.

While serving as Commissioner in the state, the fortune of the Ministry of Women Affairs were turned round with innovative initiative that changed the old narratives of the ministry. Governor Akeredolu appointed her to oversee the ministry having seen her rich credentials.

Character:
Character is not something that you buy; it is not a commodity that can be bartered for; it is not a quality suited for only the rich and famous; rather, character is built upon the foundational commitment of love, honesty, and compassion for others. If you are talking of one politician that is well mannered and well cultured, that person is Princess Omowunmi. She respects and adores everybody that comes her ways without discriminating or looking down on people.

Another part of her life that distinct her from other politicians is her kind and large heart. She believes in helping others attain full potentials. Her philanthropist gestures cut across all tribes, genders, political affiliations and religions. She empowers the aged, widows, artisans and several small business owners by giving soft loans to market men and women. Students also benefitted from her scholarship programmes. Thousands of people have benefited through her lives touching initiatives.

Philanthropist:
Princess Omowunmi is not an emergency philanthropist that gives and expects something in return. She inherited the act of giving from her late mother, Monisola Adeniyan. To keep her mother dreams and memory alive, she established Monisola Adeniyan Eddo Foundation, a foundation that has for the past 17 years impacted meaningfully the life of many aged women, market women, widows, orphans and indigents in the society with series of employment and skill acquisition programmes that will help the less privileged to earn a living.

Capability:
God does not begin by asking our ability, only our availability and if we prove our dependability, He will increase our capability. When we talk about knowledge or tactical plans, if a woman has the capability, then, she should be given the platform to prove herself. Princess Omowunmi is capable in all ramifications. To equip herself for the task ahead, she attended many Leadership Training Programme Institution such as Harvard Kennedy School, USA, Thames Valley University, Slough, UK, Nigeria Institute for Management, Cambridge, University, and Cambridge.

She is also a member of the prestigious international organisation, Olave Baden Powell Society, UK, former Ag. President, National Council for Women Societies (NCWS), Ondo State, Board Member National Youth Congress (NYC). A member of FOWOSO and State Treasurer for the Association of Female Politicians in Ondo State.

What the founder of MyChoice Group needs at this point is total support from the women groups in the state. This is the right time for all the women groups in Ondo State to strategize and use their numerical strength to take up the responsibility of negotiating votes from both the party and citizens of the state most especially voters in Akure South and North in the forthcoming bye-election.

As it stands today, Princess Omowunmi stands a better chance of becoming the next member of the House of Representatives, representing Akure South and North Federal Constituency if selected or elected by her party. Neutrality in who becomes the candidate of APC is very paramount, either on the part of the party’s leadership or the governor. If preferential treatment should be given to any aspirant at all, the only female aspirant among them should be considered for equity.