Tinubu’s Aide Blows Whistle: ‘Women Shut Out of Power When the Money Is Shared’

A senior aide to President Bola Tinubu has decried the systemic exclusion of women from Nigeria’s political processes, citing entrenched patriarchal structures and economic barriers as key challenges.

Speaking at a recent policy forum in Abuja themed “A New Chapter for Nigeria: Advancing Women Political Representation”, the President’s Senior Special Assistant on Community Engagement, Abiodun Essiet, said the high cost of politics in Nigeria has made meaningful participation unattainable for many women. She asserted that the deliberate control of party financing and structures by political elites has left women on the margins of power.

“Politics in Nigeria is expensive, and women are often left out when the money is shared,” Essiet remarked, highlighting the disproportionate disadvantage faced by female aspirants.

She added that beyond financial exclusion, cultural stereotypes continue to question the competence of women in leadership, further deepening the gender imbalance.

According to reports, the Abuja event also served as a platform to reintroduce the Gender Reserved Seats Bill, a legislative proposal aimed at ensuring a minimum number of elective positions are set aside exclusively for women at both federal and state levels.

Essiet emphasized that the initiative is not a token of sympathy, but a move toward justice, equality, and inclusive development. “This bill is not about charity. It’s about justice, inclusion, and enabling half of Nigeria’s population to fully participate in national development,” she stated.

She clarified that the reserved seats are not intended to limit ambition but to offer a foundation for growth. “These extra seats are not ceilings, they’re springboards. Women can still contest every open seat available,” she said.

Reflecting on the failure of past gender equality bills in the National Assembly, Essiet revealed that the current strategy involves a multi-tiered approach—engaging not only federal lawmakers but also State Houses of Assembly and local governments.

“We’re not leaving this to Abuja alone. We are engaging State Houses of Assembly and Local Government Councils as well,” she said.

She further drew attention to the alarming underrepresentation of women in grassroots governance and urged citizens to consider the gender composition of their local councils and legislatures. “How many women are councillors in your LGA? How many are in state assemblies? Very few. That’s the problem. And that must change,” she concluded.