THE MOBILIZATION OF WOMEN IN ILORIN POLITICS 1979-2003
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THE MOBILIZATION OF WOMEN IN ILORIN POLITICS 1979-2003
CHAPITRE ONE
1.1 INTRODUCTION
Gender incongruity in politics is a global problem, with research abounding demonstrating that the level of women’s participation at the highest level of political action accounts for their invisibility in top positions of power. Such low representation cuts across countries with varied political systems and stages of economic development both locally and internationally 1.
Women in Nigeria appear to have never really tested their authority in the domain of Nigerian politics. However, there is a wealth of material demonstrating women’s political participation2. The role of women in politics during the pre-modern period is well known.
Legendary women such as QUEEN Aminat of Zauzau, Iyalode Efunsetan Aniwura of Ibadan, and princes Inikpi of Igala and Emotan of Benin spring to mind. Women exerted and represented themselves politically throughout this time period.
Mrs Margret Ekpo of the famous Abba women riot of 1929, Madam Abibat Tinubu of Lagos and Egbaland, Mrs Funmilayo Ransome Kuti of the Abeokuta women union of 1948,
and Hajia Sawaba Ganbo of Northern Element Union (NEPU) were among the women who made their mark on the political scene in Nigeria during the colonial period. Though women held positions of political power in Southern Nigeria,
this was not a widespread phenomenon; males had long dominated the political structure, with women supplementing them. Women’s activities were subordinated to and complemented the existing structure3.
According to surveys, women’s participation in democratic politics in Nigeria has been mostly low 4. Political parties, parliamentary assemblies, and executive councils, among other power centres, play critical roles in free democracies.
Political parties, in particular, allow citizens to participate in the management of a country’s affairs and serve as a primary platform for selecting and promoting candidates for elections.
They also give a platform for public mobilisation and political leadership for the nation. Political parties organise and share power in parliament, as well as influence government and other executive bodies’ decisions. Women in Nigeria have been virtually invisible in the party structure since the advent of indigenous political leadership in 1960.
Women were woefully under-represented in both party membership and decision-making bodies. Women were underrepresented in political parties, making it impossible for a visible women’s party constituency to originate or develop5.
1.2 PURPOSE AND OBJECTIVE
Women have made enormous contributions to the social and economic development of numerous communities around the world throughout history. Their political activity may not have been as prominent,
but women’s participation in politics around the world is increasing by leaps and bounds. This is the outcome of the United Nations and other international organisations from 1975 to 1985.
Only a small fraction of women participate actively in high-level politics and decision-making processes in Africa and other developing nations. In reality, women’s political participation in the developing world is centred mostly in the lower echelons of governmental administrations, political parties, and labour unions. Only a few women hold positions of power in decision-making.
This study seeks to assess women’s political participation in Ilorin from 1979 to 2003, their role in politics during the pre-colonial and colonial eras, and their mobilisation groups. Coupled with their achievements in Ilorin between academic sessions.
When studying Ilorin politics, it is essential to have a wide awareness of the location, geographical description, and development that occurred there.
However, several research projects on related topics have been undertaken, which have either dealt with general politics in Kwara State and the engagement of men. This, in and of itself, has encouraged this research.
This research work is an evaluation and objective examination of the activities, accomplishments, and achievements of the mobilisation group and the women who enter politics in Ilorin.
In reality, this paper focused on the mobilisation efforts of women, their influence, and their participation in the political sphere in the growth of politics in Ilorin and Kwara State in general. This project would also look into the triumphs and challenges of women in Ilorin politics.
The desire to participate to the society’s election motivated the justification on the subject. As a result, it should be thoroughly discussed and documented. By and large, the goal of this research is to conduct a thorough investigation into the history of women’s political mobilisation in Ilorin.
1.3 SCOPE OF WORK
This article focuses on the engagement of women in political processes in Ilorin between 1979 and 2003. This period, however, is remembered fondly in Nigeria and throughout Kwara.
1979 happened to be the start of the second republic. After many years of military involvement that brought Nigeria’s first republic to an end. In 1979, the military head of state, Major General Olusegun Obasanjo, decided to return the country’s government to civil control. In 2003, Nigeria saw its first successful transition from civil rule to civil rule.
This research work is based on the mobilisation of women in political terrain in relation to their achievement in pre-colonial and post-colonial Nigeria, such political achievement having the origin of the office of the ‘Iyalode’,
a chieftaincy title exclusively of women in Yoruba land, and various other traditional offices in other parts of Nigeria7. The role of women in pre-colonial governance would be investigated and critically scrutinised, as would other aspects of women’s activities.
Finally, the impact of colonial rule on political growth in various parts of Ilorin, using the city as a case study, as well as the eventual progression of female active participation in politics in Ilorin.
This work is divided into four chapters: Chapter 1 is an introduction, Chapter 2 is the Antecedent of Mobilising Women for Politics, Chapter 3 is the mobilising of women in politics in Ilorin from 1979 to 2003, and Chapter 4 discusses the impact of women’s participation in Ilorin and their overall evaluation.
1.4 PROBLEM AND METHODOLOGY
In conducting this research, historical methodologies such as primary and secondary sources were used. Many steps were taken in the course of acquiring information about women’s political mobilisation in Ilorin.
This research’s preliminary survey was the usage of library and the age of archive materials are regarded as secondary sources of history. Exclusive interviews were also conducted, as well as relevant materials such as published books relevant to this research work,
books that were indirectly comparable issues of the subject matter, and unpublished materials such as internets, pamphlets, newspapers, and journals.
Several difficulties were faced when doing this investigation. First, there were little or no published materials or works dealing directly with the research effort, as well as the ability of informants to provide exact dates of events and identities of people, and in some cases, contradicting claims and counterclaims.
To make matters worse, there was considerable hesitancy on the part of those interviewed, which hampered free response to questions. Because of the political situation in Ilorin at the time this research was conducted,
individuals were hesitant to reveal information available to them because they felt unsafe. In turn, some demanded monetary compensation before information could be provided.
There was also the issue of low female political participation in Ilorin, which was a contentious topic until recently due to the mobilisation of women’s empowerment, which is still insufficient.
It should be mentioned that women’s engagement in political activities was exceedingly low because most Africans in undeveloped nations considered politics as a male-dominated activity. This caused a dilemma for this research project because few women are actively participating in political processes.
1.5 ILORIN’S GEOGRAPHICAL DESCRIPTION.
The city of Ilorin is located 300 kilometres north of Ilorin on latitudes North 80 30 and longitude East 4035, on the southern edge of the savannah and forest Zone 8. In the past, the city was surrounded by a wall that was around 10 miles in circumference and up to 20 feet high in certain areas.
Later developments saw it become an emirate and, under colonial authority, a province. Ilorin province was thus an expansion of a strip of territory stretching from Jebba to a point near Idah on the right bank of the River Niger, covering approximately 14,430 square miles.
Ilorin province thus included individuals of many origins, tribes, languages, cultures, and beliefs. It includes Ibolos, Ekiti, Igbomina, and kabba. People who speak the language include the Kaiama, Bussa, and Patigi.
Ilorin is surrounded to the north by the Niger River and to the west and south by Kabba Province. It shares borders with the southern Nigerian provinces of Oyo and Ondo.
Weaving (a primary activity in which both men and women worked), bead making, dyeing ceramics, moulding, and farming were the cornerstones of the people’s income.
In the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, these were to be the aegis of numerous industries and trading activities. This gave it the moniker “one of Central Africa’s most entrepots.”
A significant portion of the province is located on grass plains with undiluting landscapes that are well hydrated and very agricultural. By the Southern Nigeria province borders, at an elevation of 15,00 feet, there is a watershed with a river that runs from west to east and flows into the Niger River.
People’s decisions on whether or not to settle in a specific area are heavily influenced by the region’s ecology. It has a’mean’ annual rainfall of 1,318mm (51.9m), allowing its residents to engage in rabble farming. The mild climate had also drawn Northern pastoralists to the area.
1.6 LITERATURE REVIEW
This work’s outcome is attained through the usage of both published and unpublished material. This work relies heavily on archival sources and oral traditions.
Despite the fact that there are few or no published works directly on the subject, several publications address Issues that provide broad knowledge for this task.
However, Ninu Emma Mba’s 1982 book “Nigeria Women Mobilized”9 was extremely helpful in tracing the origins of female traditional titles such as Iyalode in Yoruba land and town in Nigeria.
She goes on to link it to the emergence of political parties and the establishment of female wings inside the NCNC party. Though it does not directly address the mobilisation of Ilorin women, it does provide background information about the actions of Nigerian women mobilised for politics, which is pertinent to this study.
The book “The Evolution of Nigerian Women in Politics” by S.O Arifalo10 explores the history of Nigerian women in the colonial era who desired universal adult suffrage and female representation, as well as the power sharing arrangement that favoured men. Up to the so-called second republic, the colonial period was also studied.
K uchendu’s book. Past and present roles of Nigerian women in politics. Enugu: fourth dimension, 1993, this book also provided light on the role played in Nigeria politics in the past and present, in which women’s mobilisation and political mobilisation tactics were examined. Regarding “Nigeria the Role of Women in National Development” 11.
Nigerian people and culture (Ed. Eno Blankson Ikpe). Akinjide Osantokun and Ayodeyi Olukoju13 contributed to the research effort by highlighting the role of women in national and development issues. It also examined various female politicians in Nigeria, including Gambo Sawaba, Ayoka Lawani, Olufumilayo Ransome Kuti, Magret-Ekpo, and others.
Their political motive and prowess, as well as their influence on other women, were investigated. This work is related to the subject matter in the sense that some of these ladies influenced and inspired other women in our field of study.
Bolanle Awe (Ed)12 addressed the actions and roles of women in the past and how they were significant to Nigerian society in all aspects of life in her book “Nigeria women Historical perspective” Ibadan Sankore/book craft. This material was useful in understanding the activities of women in Nigeria’s social, economic, and political sectors.
Several unpublished studies on the emirate focused on Ilorin politics as well. Danmole’s “Frontier Emirate” focuses on the foundation of the emirate, emphasising its governance and Islamization of the territory.
R. A. Olaoye concentrated on the role of women in the dissemination of finished weaving work. His other work sparked lively debate over the form of British administration in Ilorin during the time period covered by his studies13.
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