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Thursday November 21, 2024
Photo by Annie Spratt on Unsplash
The history of political activism by women in Nigeria can never be told without the mention of certain women whose struggles in the early colonial era brought notable changes in social, political and economic policies.
From the Aba women’s riot in December 1929, where women from South East Nigeria, revolted against British colonial rule and protested the imposition of taxes and oppressive policies of the colonial administration. In the end, about 50 women reportedly died with many others assaulted.
According to an article titled ‘The history of Women’s Political Struggle in Nigeria,’ published by Nigerian Women-trust fund, another notable figure from the colonial period is Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti, who led the Abeokuta Women’s Union (AWU) in protests against unfair taxation and colonial rule in the 1940s. The AWU’s activism led to significant political changes, including the abdication of the Alake of Egbaland in 1949.
Through the 1920s, the 1950s, until the 1960s when Nigeria gained independence , women continued to play important roles in political movements.
The return to civil rule in 1999, and the adoption of the National Gender Policy in 2006, aimed at promoting gender equality and women’s empowerment in all sectors, provided a new democratic platform and more opportunities for women’s involvement in politics.
In recent times, the voice of Aisha Yesufu, a Nigerian political activist who is the co-founder of #BringBackOurGirls movement, brought attention to the abduction of over 200 girls from a secondary school in Chibok, North East Nigeria on the 14th of April, 2014, by the terrorist group Boko Haram. This and a few other protests have shown the efficacy of women and their struggles in the development of Nigeria
In a conversation with Sa’adatu Madaki, an Activist from Kano State, North West Nigeria, on some of the obstacles faced by female political activists in Africa especially in Nigeria, she empasised that:
“Female activists face many problems which include lack of support from the society to threats from those doing wrong, but that is expected. Activism is about putting others’ needs before yours. So we will not relent”
Her participation in the recent #Endbadgovernance protests in Abuja has enabled her understand the obstacles and challenges youth and women encounter in promoting good governance in Nigeria. She shared clips on her Instagram handle showing how peaceful protesters were harassed with tear gas by police in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. In one clip, she was seen asking, “What did we do to deserve this?” while recovering from the tear gas attack she experienced during the protest.
Photo Credit: Sa’adatu Madaki on Instagram
Nigeria’s THISDAY Newspaper disclosed that the End Bad Governance protest which originated as a social media movement, rapidly evolved into a nationwide phenomenon, with a 10-day demonstration from 1st August to 10th August 2024.
In a report by The Punch Newspaper on the 2nd of August 2024, it stated that “The root causes of the planned protest are multifaceted, including economic hardship, government corruption, and perceived inefficiencies in leadership. In addition to financial woes, systemic corruption within various levels of government has eroded public trust.”
The nationwide protest swept across major cities and towns, with women and men marching in large numbers to government houses to table their concerns before the governors and lawmakers in their respective states. Protesters showed their support through on-site demonstrations, while others made their voices heard online. Some participants took a hybrid approach, engaging in both on-site and online activism to share updates and experiences from the protests.
For instance in Abuja, THISDAY revealed that “two persons were shot in the Kubwa ana Nyanya area of Abuja on the first day of the protest with one protester killed subsequently. The solidarity walk later degenerated into violence when security agencies in a bid to disperse the crowd who were approaching the Eagles Square complex, shot tear gas at protesters who scampered for safety.”
Being at the forefront of the protests in Abuja, the social activist, Madaki narrated that: “The protest in Abuja was much more civil and peaceful than the one in Kano. Kano turned bloody, it is quite unfortunate that many people lost their lives. The protest in Nigeria is not close to what we see abroad in terms of organisation and leadership, but one day, we will get there.”
Similarly, THISDAY exposed that “Kano state recorded the highest number of fatalities since the beginning of the protest. Starting as a peaceful procession, but later became a riot.” More so, “The protesters invaded the court’s headquarters at the Audu Bako State Secretariat near the Nigerian Communication Commission (NCC), Digital Park and State High Court where they carted away valuables.”
Incidents were also reported in several other states, in the South East, as well as Kwara , Niger in the North Central and Edo in the South South South among others.
Defying Cultural and Religious Norms
In recent times, Nigeria witnessed the #EndBadGovernance protests, which caught global attention and brought a country of over 200 million people to a 10-day standstill. Notably, women shunned cultural and religious norms to participate in the protests nationwide. Television coverage showed women voicing their opinions on the necessary amendments needed for the country to flourish.
Photo Credit: Sa’adatu Madaki on Instagram
Madaki further explained that participation for her as a Northern woman meant liberation. “It meant the ability to stand for truth, liberty and justice irrespective of background.” Alongside their male counterparts, women were seen holding placards, banners and chanting slogans. While some wore veils, others did not, reflecting the diversity in cultural and religious norms. What united them all was the nationwide protest.
The protests highlighted the vulnerability of women, who were disproportionately affected by the crackdown. Protesters were targeted with tear gas and allegedly live ammunition. According to Madaki, “Women are generally more vulnerable than men. The walk was about 10 km which was difficult for me. The tear gas also made me vulnerable. Besides, women face more hardship with the dwindling economy because of their significant responsibility in home management.”
Social Media as an Alternative
Participating in online activities to voice out opinions especially about democracy and governance has proven to be an effective way to call the attention of public office holders. Although, women in particular form a large chunk of percentage of the survivors of online bullying and trolling, yet their participation in national and global discourses online is invaluable.
Madaki eplained that “Women do not understand the power they have. We are mothers, wives, sisters and daughters, we basically shape the society. Activism on social media is a great way to bring social change and justice from the comfort of your home. Being a Northern Muslim woman with a hijab, my presence was definitely noticeable because it was unusual.”
She also drew attention to the fact that women face certain constraints in the society. Specifically, she noted that cultural norms often discourage women from speaking out publicly on government affairs. “I know our culture does not support women being outspoken publicly in affairs of government, it is unfortunate but that is the society we find ourselves in. I urge women to participate in the little ways they can. Posting about contemporary issues and the plight of the people on social media can be a great start.”
She emphasised that social media can be a powerful tool for societal change, enabling women to contribute meaningfully despite societal limitations.
