Ex Minister Of Women Affairs, Josephine Anenih Reveals What Women Must Do To Defeat Men In Politics
Mrs Josephine Anenih is a respected woman leader both in the political and cultural settings nuanced by mundane considerations.
A former Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Mrs Anenih, is characteristically personable; but then beneath that veneer is a streak of mental toughness that exemplifies the magnitude of her spartan disposition, the unremitting authority of an educationist cum lawyer; and the bravura deployment of wits and grits in the contact between law and politics.
While addressing female members of the party recently, the women leader of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), urged female politicians wishing to contest elections against their male counterpart to adopt militant disposition.
Mrs Anenih said time had passed when women presented themselves as the weaker sex, hoping to ride on the wings of sentiment to power. She said men are equally in need of political positions and would not surrender to female on a platter. Anenih said:
“You already have an example in our senator here, Senator Uche Ekwunife. You have no reason to cry about marginalization while contesting for elective position.
We are moving towards governorship election in Anambra State, and we call on women who have interest to begin early to show so. Don’t just contest for the sake of contesting, but contest with all your might.
You can see Ekwunife and how militant she was with her election, and it was the men that were running away from her, and today she is a senator. That is what we expect from all women in Anambra who wish to stand for election.”
Anenih also charged the leaders of the party to always consider women while choosing people into committees, especially as the Anambra election draws close.
She said 35 per cent was not enough for women any longer as they constitute the bulk of the party and also the voting public. Anenih insisted:
“We will accept only 40 per cent membership of every committee constituted in this party, and only that can underscore the importance of women in the party.”