Wife Of Former Borno Deputy Governor, Hansatu Zannah Makes Case for Increased Women Participation In Politics

Wife of former deputy Governor of Borno State and advocate of gender politics and democratic governance, Hajia Hansatu Goldben Zannah, has disclosed that Nigeria’s democracy remains incomplete without fair representation of women in decision-making positions.

She made the assertion in a statement she made available to newsmen on Friday, February 27.

According to Hansatu, for Nigeria to take democratic development seriously, women’s political participation must not be viewed as an add-on, but as a foundational element of good governance and inclusivity.

“For clarity, I am a patriotic Nigerian and for no reason will I engage in any unhealthy competition or rivalry with the men, however it will be fair enough to canvass for fair and considerable representation for the women in the political and socio-economic affairs of our nation.

“I have also observed that since Nigeria’s return to democracy in 1999, one of the greatest paradoxes of our political progress has been the persistent underrepresentation of women in legislative bodies, particularly at the State and Federal levels. The gap is not simply a matter of numbers, but a matter of democratic quality and national development,” she said.

Hajia Hansatu who was recently inducted as a member into the Governing Council of AU Agenda 2063 and the Governing Council and Ambassador plenipotentiary, in her critical view observed that although women made up less than 9 per cent of state legislators from 1999 to 2015, those few elected had a measurable impact on legislation.

“My deep research further revealed that female lawmakers sponsored more bills on average than their male counterparts. Their policies often directly address community welfare, health, and women’s rights,” she noted.

Continuing, she said, “Many countries are implementing measures to increase women’s participation in politics, particularly in parliament. These measures include reserving seats for women, establishing quotas within political parties, creating women’s political networks, and enacting electoral reforms, therefore Nigeria cannot be an exception.

“Records equally show that women and gender-diverse people have long struggled for a greater voice in politics. In 2024, only five women were elected in direct presidential elections, despite over 30 countries having presidential elections. While more than 45 per cent of public servants are women, they tend to be concentrated in a few fields like education and health care, and even then, they tend to hold lower-level positions, this is not fair at all.

“And yet, when women do lead, the impact is always positive; not just for women, but for the whole of society. Global data by the UNDP reveal that higher levels of women’s political participation is associated with lower risk of civil wars, state-led violence, and violation of political rights. There is also increasing evidence that women’s participation contributes positively towards the conclusion of peace talks and the implementation and durability of peace agreements.

“One can recall vividly that during the COVID-19 pandemic, governments that were led by women took action more swiftly, communicated clearly, and were risk averse. Women’s participation in political and public spheres is thus integral to the achievement of social justice and has been a key demand and commitment in multiple international conventions. It is my belief that stakeholders across board will heed this genuine and patriotic call,” Hansatu stated.