by Kolapo Olapoju
In the 2015 presidential election, ten candidates will be contesting for the presidency… including a woman.
Prof. Comfort Oluremi Sonaiya, a former lecturer at the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State, is the sole representative of the female gender among the male-dominated candidates.
Sonaiya will be contesting under the umbrella of KOWA party, alongside running mate, Saidu Bobboi.
In 2008, she was named an International Ambassador Scientist of the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation, and until recently, Sonaiya was the National Public Relations Officer of KOWA Party.
KOWA was registered as a political party on July 16, 2009, by a group of Nigerian Civil Society activists, professionals and technocrats.
The KOWA party claims to be different from other political parties. Its website says: “We are mostly political activists, professionals and politicians who did not find a level playing ground in the God-father-dominated Political Parties. This means that we are not your typical, conventional, rotten politicians. We are different.”
Some said it is impossible for a woman to rule a country of at least 200 million people but I strongly believe that with God, all things can be possible. I don’t believe in any political party but I believe in God. Let’s give a woman a chance to rule Nigeria and I am quite optimistic that this country shall progress rapidly and positively. What a man can do, a woman can do it more better in a more sensible way. She is the only female aspiring for the presidential post. It’s not easy. May the good Lord see you through, mummy.
Segun Agogoija
Staff, Tai Solarin University of Education