The Type of Women Nigeria Needs

Sarah Jibril has beyond every other achievements at the recent Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential primary election in Abuja defeated the widely held stereotypical ploy that women are "the weaker sex."

With only one vote to her credit, Jibril's political tenacity marks an epoch in the history of women political equality and emancipation. It is not the number of votes that she got that matters at this very point in time, but the courage, strength and focus that brought her this far. This is not the first time she lost in PDP primaries, but her determination not to give up is a demostration of the strength Nigerian women need in order to compete favourably with their male colleagues.

In the face of political fermenting forces where most women normally give up, she remained resolute. The intimidating personalities of her male counterparts never scared her. The personality of Goodluck Jonathan as the incumbent President could have terrorized her into succumbing. Nothing daunted, the vast wealth of Atiku Abubakar never stood between her and her political passion.

Meanwhile, a gallant defeat could translate into a feeling of self-satisfaction when you stare at life with eyes of a daunting prospect. That is exactly what Jibril has achieved- pointing at the way for other women to follow. It starts with a step- one vote today, two votes tomorrow, three votes another day and someday a woman will rule Nigeria. A journey of a thousand miles starts with a step! It started like a dream in Liberia until it materialised. Contrary to negative speculations, President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has not failed Liberia as a leader. Within a short period of time, she has rebuilt a country devastated by several years of war.

Women cannot afford to fold their hands and watch men deny them of their rights. If they do not struggle for their rights, who will? No one can be more catholic than the Pope. When they stand up and speak with one thundering voice and say enough is enough, things will become a lot better.

In the meantime, Jibril has every cause to swim in an ocean of the euphoria of a job well done. In Galatians 6:4 of the Christian Holy Book, we are advised, "let everyone be sure that he is doing his very best, for then he will have the personal satisfaction of work well done, and won't need to compare himself with someone else." No doubt, Jibril has done her very best and women all over the world know that she has done a good job and deserves a salute of well done.

Jibril is an epitome of the type of women Nigeria needs in a country where women are treated like second-class citizens with little or no rights compared to thier male counterparts. The era when women were regarded as 'kitchen madams" is over.

An international speaker John Mason in his book An Enemy Called Average stressed this point: "God made you a certain way. You are unique. You are one of a kind." This is true about women. Their rights should not be denied of them simply because they are women. Women are unique and they possess unique innate qualities of a good leader. Few examples will suffice.

First, When Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala took over as the Minister of Finance during the Obasanjo regime, Nigeria was heavily in debt. Her unwavering efforts, won Nigeria a Paris Club approval for a debt-relief in November 2005, which by March 2006 should eliminate $ 30 billion worth of the country's total $37 billion external debts. Is Okonjo-Iweala not a woman?! Yet, she could achieve what her male predecessors could not achieve.

It is on record that a woman fought the fiercest illicit and adulterated drug battle in the history of Nigeria. According to J. G. Yacubu, "Nigeria has 770 kilometres of shared land border with the Republic of Benin, around 1,500 kilometres with the Republic of the Niger, 1,700 kilometres with Cameroon and 90 kilometres with Chad. Nigeria also has 850 kilometres of maritime border in the Atlantic Ocean." These porous borders served as unchecked entry points for fake drugs into Nigeria until Dora Akunyilli came into the scene and salvaged the situation.

As the Director-General of NAFDAC, Dora Akunyilli did not fail as a leader, yet she was and still is a woman. As the Minister of Information and Communication during the Late Umaru Yar'Adua's regime, her Memo to the National Executive Council demanding the elevation of the then vice president (that is, Goodluck Jonathan) as the acting President pending the recovery of the president who was on a medical trip abroad raised dust, but the polemical fire that followed did not consume her. Her quest for gender meanstreaming in government led to her resigning her position as the Minister of Information and Communication for a senatorial race in Anambra state.

There are other women in this country whose leadership qualities are exemplary. A woman was once the governor of Anambra state and many states have produced female deputy governors who preformed their duties diligently. The historical Queen Amina of northern Nigeria serves as an example of what women can do if given the opportunity to rule.

Unfortunately, Etteh saga is the only yardstick Nigerian men use in measuring the capacity of a woman to deliver in leadership position. Nigerian men should note that Patricia Etteh is not the only parliamentarian in this country alleged to have indulged in corrupt practices. She is not even the only one who resigned in office on allegations of corruption. Even at the upper chamber of the National Assembly, some men have resigned their positions due to alleged gross misconduct.

In a nutshell, women are not saints, but if given the opportunity, they can perform very well like their male counterparts in leadership positions. Well done, Sarah Jibril!