Women in politics seem to be on the rise but the story is different in the northern region and the recently held district assembly elections are proof of that. The numbers are dwindling. We have moved from 18% to 7% of women representation at the district assemblies. There are a lot of factors that seem to hinder the participation of women in politics in this part of the country that we find ourselves.
Speaking on Sanatu Zambang Talking Politics and Policies, Hajia Hafsat Sey Sumani of Norsaac believes that men fear for women to hold positions of power because of the perception of losing certain powers.
‘’ Sometimes we need to look at the environment. It is not just about putting the woman there. You want to help a woman. But you put her in a position where the executive committee members are all men and the woman is in the center. If there are five men in the executive committee and none of them believe women can do. What do you think will happen, either she will be overshadowed or tagged? - Hajia Hafsat Sey Sumani
''Culture and diluted religion have come to put us at the back If you are marrying a man who doesn’t share your philosophy try to communicate, try to get him conscientize, to understand how the politics operate. With the little I know, most women do not really communicate with their spouses and what worked very well for some of us is that I always try as much as possible to tell him what the outcome might look like”. - Hajia Rabiat Suglo
“Because they are men and have that stick between their legs they are superior. That chauvinism must come to an end but you know why chauvinism plays so well, it is because we ourselves, we do not believe in ourselves. Before someone will bring you down it is your own colleagues that bring you down. She will not perform we know her, she is a prostitute and there are men who sleep with more than four women in a day and they are in positions of power. It is us who must support one another to break the myth” - Madam Hamidatu
