Unveiling Governor Abdulrahman’s Kwara where Women, Youths, PLWDs Hold Sway

By Nafisat Bello

“Women’s rights are human rights. And human rights are women’s rights”

– Hilary Clinton

That was vintage former American First Lady and Senator from New York, Hillary Diane Rodham Clinton, when she dazzled the audience during a feminine movement that took place on September 5, 1995. The event took place on the margins of the United Nations Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing and it was all centred on gender equality.

Clinton, who co-founded the Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families, put up a forceful, yet, convincing argument that women’s rights are supposed to be equal to human rights, meaning the male folk should not leave the issue of gender equality to women alone. This is similar to the argument our own award-winning author, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, later came up with when she said everybody should be a feminist, that men are also supposed to be feminists.

Clinton, who served as the 67th United States Secretary of State under President Barack Obama from 2009 to 2013, was able to convince the world that gender equality and lack of discrimination of any type are essential conditions to upholding human rights, sustainable development, peace, stability and security.

Achieving inclusive growth and development is, however, still a challenge for many developing countries, including the countries in sub-Saharan Africa. And despite the significant progress over the years, equality is still far off, and progress on women’s participation in decision-making is still too slow.

Women leaders of today are persistent and strong but still a lot of people believe men make natural and better leaders than women. There are too many institutions set up to favour and propel men’s leadership, and funding for women’s campaigns and initiatives remain pitifully low. The speculation that it will take up to 130 years to reach gender equality in the highest positions of power may therefore not be completely wrong.

So, to be able to make tremendous progress and beat the previous attempts, power must be shared equally, made visible and accountable, at all levels, and that is at the core of feminist leadership.

Meanwhile, In the quest to achieve the desired goal, the United Nation (UN) had already made effort by initiating the UN Women’s “He for She” drive which is in full swing at the moment. It is an action taken to push leaders around the world to bring their countries to full gender equality. And on this fact, nine world leaders took the initiative and announced some major steps they will be taking towards ensuring equal opportunities for women.

It’s an undeniable fact that the government of Nigeria, both at the state and federal levels, has been putting forth actions to address the issue. Some steps have been taken recently to address the needs of persons with disabilities and gender inclusion. Nine states in the federation have enacted disability laws to safeguard the rights of persons with disabilities and allocate some percentage to women as part of the inclusion policy.

Among these states, Kwara state under the very fair-minded Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazak is leading with a wide margin. In a manner that is unprecedented, Governor Abdulrazaq has demonstrated great love and interest in accelerating Nigeria’s compliance to gender action and giving voice to the voiceless especially youths and PLWDs.

According to 2019 records, the state won its first trophy as the most gender-diverse government in Nigeria. The governor also assented to an Executive Bill mandating the state to have at least 35 percent of women appointees in the state executive council and other classes of political appointments.

The law, titled “Political Offices (Gender Composition) Bill 2021,” was also arguably the first legislation of its kind in the country. The law places a ceiling below which the government cannot go in the appointment of either gender for public offices.

The governor said the recognition and the step to mainstream women in public service were the least the administration could do for the hard-working women as a way of inspiring the girl-child.

“Women are so critical to human civilisation. They are just as brilliant, innovative and smart as men. They are the largest voting demographic in Nigeria. Yet, they are often absent or unfairly represented when policies and programmes that shape everything concerning them and their families are designed,” he asserted.

The governor, after winning reelection, led by example and followed up the law he signed by appointing nine women out of the 18 commissioners representing 50% of the cabinet members. He also recently gave voice to the PLWD community by appointing two physically challenged individuals as Permanent Secretaries, first in the history of the state.

Basking in the euphoria of the accolades he has been receiving from all and sundry, the governor appointed more women as commissioners and Special Advisers and increased the female representation in the cabinet to 56 percent. Many see this as a step in the right direction and a testament to Governor Abdulrazak’s belief in the capacity of women, as builders of the nation.

Governor Abdulrazak is a rare gem when it comes to promoting gender equality and all forms of inclusion. And the way he doubles down on what he believes in has come as a surprise to observers. After signing a law that gives 35 percent of appointments to women, he upgraded it, in action, to 50 percent and now he is doing 56 percent. Kwara state has never had it this good.

Commending the governor for his magnanimity, the Chief Executive Officer of Women Radio 91.7 fm, Toun Okewale-Sonaiya, said that Governor Abdulrazaq has made history by appointing more women than men into his cabinet.

“We are still basking in the euphoria of the pronouncement of Ogun state Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, that he would give up to 50 percent slot to women in his cabinet and now the news of more than 50 percent women in the Kwara state government sits well with us.

“It is now common knowledge that women have a lot to offer to the growth and development of the country and any serious-minded state will avail itself of such and harness the unique potential of Nigerian women.

“As a broadcast station at the forefront of pushing the women’s agenda, we believe that Governor Abdulrazak is a model politician who understands how to deepen women empowerment through inclusion in governance and developmental agenda. We applaud his boldness.

“We urge others to jump on the train of women inclusion, emulate Kwara by bringing more women to the decision making table” she said.

Observers are also impressed by the fact that the women the governor is appointing are quite young and resourceful and he has trusted them with the most sensitive beats. Among the commissioners is a 26-year-old Miss Joana Nnazua Kolo who has become Nigeria’s youngest commissioner, beating the record of a 27-year-old Oluwaseun Fakorede in Oyo State.

It will also interest Nigerians to know that the new Chairperson of the Kwara State Internal Revenue Service (KSIRS) is a woman and her name is Mrs. Folashade Omoniyi.

Another significant breakthrough of the governor is that the state happens to be one of the three states in Nigeria to institute the policy of allowing female civil servants to have optional six-month maternity leave, designed to encourage exclusive breastfeeding which is a major incentive for raising healthy children, improved mother-child bonding and better prospects for a stronger economy and happier society.

In a nutshell, efforts to implement Nigeria’s Disability Law and state-level disability ones must be increased. Part of this should include efforts to improve accountability to ensure that the intentions of government policy and programmes are realised at the local levels too. Also, the outstanding Gender and Equal Opportunity Bill must also be passed. Women with disabilities should play a key role in accountability mechanisms and consultation with women with disabilities should be required.

Governor Abdulrazak deserves his flowers. He deserves a special national honour for what he is doing to encourage women, youths and people living with disability. He is doing all these even in the pursuit of good governance which he has obviously given to the people. He has made Kwara state a model of what Nigeria should be like. Kwara state deserves to be emulated by all and sundry.