‘The Man I Defeated 32 Years Ago Has Not Forgiven Me

A former lawmaker who represented Cross-River South Senatorial District, Senator Florence Ita-Giwa, has expressed dissatisfaction over the challenging political landscape for women contesting political office in Nigeria. Naija News reports that Ita-Giwa, in an interview with ARISE Television, stated that the election process has become terribly expensive. She cited several obstacles, including violent political climates, the overbearing influence of money, and entrenched patriarchy, as reasons why most women are unable to gain meaningful traction during party primaries or general elections. Recounting her difficult journey to office, Ita-Giwa further stated that the political culture in Nigeria is so intensely male-dominated and unforgiving, stressing that the man she defeated in the House of Representatives election in the 1990s has not forgiven her. She said, “The women would have to contest the election, because if they don’t contest the election, they will not have a voice. And if it is just to select, I would not even talk about it, because somebody would just pick, put his hand in his pocket, and pick whoever he likes, which woman he likes to go and represent. But the good thing about this is that they’re going to contest the election. And also, it will be subject to review after, like, 16 years, that’s two election cycles, you understand? So, but because I’m being realistic, it is extremely, extremely difficult today for women to win election. Election process has become so terribly expensive. “Those in the Senate today, they are pioneers. Because somehow, in the course of my doing politics, I discovered that when men get very, very, very successful, and still want to go into Senate, maybe to protect their empire. So, you’ll be going for election against one billionaire. A poor woman, you understand, if you have your $100,000, the man has $1 billion to put in the election, because there are 40 electorates with too much money. So, the contest is too tough. “The men prepare more when they are going to face women for election, because what will they go home to go and tell their wives that a woman beat me for an election? So, you know, they can’t fight it. Even when you win, they don’t forgive you. The man that I defeated 32 years ago, he has not forgiven me for beating him.”