Hon. Rita Ayim, who represented the Ogoja State Constituency, and Mrs. Cynthia Nkasi who fought to be APC candidate for Yala 2 State Constituency for the 2023 polls lend their voices to the cry of Hon. Mercy Akpama.
By Archibong Jeremiah
The member representing Yakurr 2 state constituency in the Cross River State House of Assembly, Hon. Mercy Akpama has cried out for help, alleging that the men are choking her as the only woman.
Not minding that she is in the ruling APC which is the majority in the current Assembly, Hon. Mercy asserted that their gender bias needs to be checked.
Hon. Mercy poured her heart out when speaking at a joint monitoring visit by a delegation from the Canadian Government and UN Women on “Advance Women’s Political Participation in Nigeria”.
She said “You can imagine 25 men and finding yourself alone when we were two, at least I and Rita will rob our minds. She was of the PDP and I APC, we are not talking about parties, we are talking about being the only women.
“And Cynthia was there, they were training me only to come and find myself inside the ocean, at the center of the ocean swimming alone being a first-timer when I should have those that would tell me how it has been”.
Courageously she maintained “But the road is rough, we will surmount all those hurdles”.
Calling for more engagement of men, she suggested “If it is possible to get to the men, to talk to them. I tell them if you were god you wouldn’t have created women. God created males and females and gave them charge to take dominion and be fruitful and multiply”.
Recalling an incident she revealed that “One day, one of the men stood up and said they would have given us a woman who will be a woman, but they are giving us this one that will be stronger than 24 men. They are not ready, training should be made for them.
“They should be made to understand that God in his wisdom created male and female and gave them the mandate to go to the world and multiply, you cannot multiply alone. You need the other gender.
The member representing Yakurr 2 state constituency in the Cross River State House of Assembly, Hon. Mercy Akpama speaking.
“It is like a cry, I am alone. Some States have female deputy governors, senators, house of reps, and some 5,6,7, females in the House of Assembly but I now find myself alone, and when you are passing they call you a powerful woman and you are happy, I should not be happy”.
Hon. Rita Ayim, who represented the Ogoja State Constituency, and Mrs. Cynthia Nkasi who fought to be the APC candidate for Yala 2 State Constituency for the 2023 polls lend their voices to the cry of Hon. Mercy Akpama.
Hon. Rita Ayim (left) and Mrs. Cynthia Nkasi (right).
Hon. Rita said women are not where they should be in politics due to a lack of support from men, not fear. “It is not fear that is responsible for women not to be in politics, it is the absence of the support of the men. In the field, we know what we went through, before and during the time of the primaries from the hands of the men”.
Recalling the electioneering period she said “I was like a parallel state when I contested the House of Assembly, 8 men contested against me, and when we go for a meeting the 8 men will sit on one side as a woman I would sit on one side. If I sit here they will sit the other way.
“I was in the Assembly, elected into this 10th Assembly, and I tell you I was removed from the Assembly by the men. They compromised the judiciary to remove me and so you have only one woman in the Assembly today”.
Hon. Rita concluded by also calling for a strategic approach to solving the gender issues in Cross River politics. She “It is beyond sitting at the table and talking”.
On her part, Mrs. Cynthia Nkasi who was kicked out by the court as the APC candidate for Yala 2 State Constituency in the State Assembly said she is not deterred.
She also advocated for men to be engaged in the issues. “We need to talk to the men, I am a victim of that. My case was that because I was not married from my constituency, how could an outsider represent them in the House of Assembly, that is the basis of the fight.
“They need to know that wherever you are from, your mother’s place, father’s place or where you are married from, you can run for elections and do politics there”.
Mrs. Cynthia used the opportunity to reveal that in the next election in 2027, she will be running for the Senate.
She said, “I have been there, I know what my sister faced. Women need confidence. I will be contesting for the Senate in the next election”.
Responding briefly, Ms. Djifa Ahado, Head of Corporation, Global Affairs Canada reiterated their commitment to supporting women to achieve political goals.
She thanked all the partners for their collaboration. In her words: “Your collaborations are highly appreciated”.
Ms. Djifa Ahado, Head of Corporation, Global Affairs Canada speaking.
Ms. Djifa went on to state that “Gender equality is not only about empowering women but by encouraging them to add value to the society”. Urging that “Men are not enemies but allies, it is important to have men on the table”.
On his part, Mr. Zephania Aura, Program Coordination Specialist, UN Women set more targets for their implementing partners.
“We should have a woman in each ward,” he also called for all hands to be on deck if the set goals must be achieved.
In his vote of thanks, Mr. Mark Ayeni, Director of Administration in the Ministry of Women Affairs thanked the Canadian Government, UN Women, and other stakeholders that made the project implementation possible.
He maintained that the Ministry is open to more projects aimed at improving the lives and general well-being of women.
The implementing partners are the Women Advancement Research and Documentation Centre, Maryam Babangida National Centre for Women Development, Nigerian Girls Guide Association, Kimpact Development Initiative, Women Radio, Women Political Participation Working Group, and Young Women in Politics.