The Bishop of the Sokoto Catholic Diocese, Matthew Kukah, says that although he supports calls for a minimum of 30 percent representation of women in governance, such support should strictly be reserved for women who do not have husbands as politicians.
He stated this while delivering a keynote address at the Parents Summit of the 2023 Education Week in Edo state.
“Women are saying, ‘We want 30 percent’ – although my argument about 30 percent is slightly different from the argument of the women.
“I don’t want to go into those details. I am fully in support of women getting 30 percent power in Nigeria. But my argument is that it cannot be the same women whose husbands are already holding power in Abuja and across the country,” he said.
Kukah also cautioned against feeding the monster of nepotism already bedeviling governance in Nigeria.
According to him, there is no justice in allowing powerful men to extend control to their privileged spouses.
“And this is nothing personal; it is the reality that the Igbo, Yoruba, Fulani, and Hausa who are already holding power will bring their wives, mistresses, and daughters to become ministers, senators, and so on,” he said.
“If you’re going to do 40 percent – or 30 percent – that 30 percent must go to women who represent communities that are not represented at all.”
Noting that affirmative action is not about empowering just any woman, Kukah said “There must be discrimination in favour of injustice that has been institutionalised.”
