Where Are The Women?

As the political tempo picks up, we are seeing less women shaking our elections forest! Never mind Patience Jonathan's change movement, and the tough-talking gender campaigners! Real work is yet to set.

Let's not discount what Nigerian Women can do, but let each aspirant beware: you must personally measure up, and rise up to the challenge. Nothing replaces quality and hardwork. We must worry about the declining political fortunes of our women these days - just when real variety is such an urgent imperative for national development.

Is this fair? No. Can we make amends? Absolutely, yes. How? Credible candidates!

May the recruitment and headhunt begin. But first, honest self-assessment. Then, the Beijing '95 spirit must come alive, again.

For Madam Speaker: Where Are The Women???

Nigerian politics is at once exciting and exacting. It is treasury and treachery. When da trouble begins, it is from grumble to rumble to trample. If you don't reach for ya sledge-hammer in good time, you get slammed - for d fly turns bee, then da matter becomes a beehive. Oh, you will be so badly bruised and battered.....and buried, politically.

If you are clean, don't waste ya clearance ace. Get everyone and everything on ya side. Fast!

So, na wetin be all dis grammar, abeg? Okay, it's about The Right Honourable Mrs Patience Olubunmi Etteh, by the grace of God, Speaker of Nigeria's Federal House of Representatives. She is under siege! She seems to be game for all manner of slam and slamming. Yes!

And, yes also, if you can't stand da heat get out of da kitchen, right? Yes! Public office has its glue and glamour - it could be sleek or sticky, striking or stinking, alas! So, the whole gamut comes with da territory, willy-nilly. I gree.

My humble question is: Unlike the usual practice - almost template - all the traditional forces are not out in full for her defence, solicited or unsolicited! Strange. If na before, haba, there would have been all sorts of solidarity committees, holier-than-thou groups, ethnic jingoists, women activists, etc. firing on all cylinders...in her favour! Wetin dey happen? Answers, please.

Is the EFCC or ICPC a stumbling block? Or, is Madam not "shelling out"?

The PDP South-West seems to be either asleep or enjoying da bashing-show. If she were a man, will she be so abandoned? Or wasn't she their real choice?!

I thought as a "cross-breed and matrimony-bridge-builder" the people of Osun and Akwa Ibom plus Cross River would have come together for Madam Speaker. Shouldn't they?

Okay, where are Nigerian Women? Se una no go tie wrapa and warrior-gele come protect una sister, ba?

Well, we watch.