Former First Lady of Nigeria, Patience Jonathan has called for legislative backing for the 35 per cent affirmative action for women in governance.

Mrs Jonathan stated this during the Pan Niger Delta Forum women conference in Yenagoa while reacting to the Governor of Bayelsa State, Douye Diri submission that women should not be given special treatment in politics.

Diri had advocated for the full inclusion of women in politics rather than the agitation for special seats.

He said, “I was told that the British High Commission is a major sponsor of this programme. I had the opportunity of meeting with the Deputy High Commissioner when she visited Bayelsa last week, and we discussed women participation in politics.

”She believes that the agitation for special seats for women in the National Assembly is good. While I agreed with her, in part, as a temporary solution, I however largely disagree with the idea.

“My point is, I do not want our women to be treated as second-class citizens.

“The women in Britain do not have special seats in parliament just as in America. The system flows and recognises them, and they participate fully in politics. Nobody talks about special seats or women being under-privileged there. We can do it in Nigeria.

“Our women are very intelligent and are active in politics. They are also very active in various professions. So, why are we asking for special considerations for them?

“Women across the world participate and become members of parliament, governors and presidents. Nigeria should not be an exception. Our structure is wrong. There is a structural deficiency in Nigeria.

“Here we have women that are professors, doctors, engineers, and lawyers even in the Niger Delta. I just celebrated my daughter of 26 years with a Ph.D in law. Women should ask for their freedom and I encourage you not to accept the second-class citizens treatment in this country.

“In Bayelsa, I have consciously tried to bring in more women into governance either in the state executive or the House of Assembly. In 2023, I thought we would have about five women in the assembly but when we went for the election, only two succeeded.

“So, I know what you are facing and I am happy that you are coming together. Sometime, the problem is even women versus women. My dear women of Niger Delta, I will always support you and encourage you as governor of this state.”

However, Mrs Jonathan insisted that there must be a law backing special seats for women.

She said, “We don’t want inclusion for women in governance, it will appear that government is doing the women favour; any government can come into power tomorrow and stop the inclusion, we want it as a law, the Special Seats Bill is currently before the National Assembly

“We are not practicing what develop countries are doing; the system they are advocating is working smoothly elsewhere, but in Nigerian it is not like that; you have to seat in a roundtable discussion before you will be given anything.

“If you go to Angola today, the 35 per cent ‎is a given; you go to some other countries 35 percent is given. What I have to say here is that women of Nigeria, irrespective of parties, must come together and put party aside and talk with one voice; that’s is the only way we can achieve this.

“In various positions in the political parties, there should 35 per cent positions for women, because the party is the gate keeper to power and they must implement mandatory power for women in their internal structures, if we are not part of the foundation, we can’t be party of the future.”