Does Igbo tradition forbids women from occupying leadership positions?

Nkiru Chigozie writes from Imo state

The headline above tells a story of multi-dimensional challenges women face in their bid to occupy leadership positions and the need for equity and inclusion at all spheres of life.

The upcoming NUJ FCT election opened a lot of questions to the allusion that women are not expected to hold elective positions in Ibo land by One Mr Emeka Nze, Johnchuks Onuanyim and his close allies who are of the opinion that Ibo women are relegated to the background to bare children alone and cook for their family.

This did not come as a surprise to most none Ibo journalists who described Mr Emeka as a tribalistic figure who detest mingling with people other than his tribe.

According to Emeka Nze of blueprint Newspapers “ God forbid for a female gender to aspire in a male dominated environment particularly the NUJ”

Nze, who hails from Imo State, also termed his men who hold different opinions from his as “ Women Wrapper”

One will begin to wonder if todays 21st century reckons with the calibre of men like Emeka Nze of blueprint Newspapers.

Unfortunately, the immediate past Chairman of the FCT NUJ council holds the same view with an oath saying “ Over his dead body will a woman serve in the council”

The bone of contention in this write-up is not whether a woman should lead or not, but if such a person ( woman) has the capacity to deliver .

EMEKA, who did not end there, described any woman running to elective position as a “prostitute”

He is said to be the campaign director of Mr John Chuks, who also holds the strong belief that in Ibo land, no woman is allowed to lead

The game of politics they say is all about interest and can be dirty little wonder Emeka Nze who is said to be the Director General of his Ibo brother and Colleague was quick to align with the Immediate past Chairman of Council to take up the chairmanship position of the electoral committee to enable him dealt with the Ibo female gender in the race and disqualify her with ease.

Many will Imagine that Mr Emeka with his exposure as a senior editor with blue print will beeing himself too low and be quick to champion marginalization of women during the electioneering period but rather he was accompanied with a Reporter with Daily Independent Newspaper who hails from his locality Mbaise, Imo State (Mr Kingsley) joining the propaganda of a campaign of calumny “#SayNo to female candidates.

In a bid to ensure Nze is bought over to the other divide to join hands to fight against the emergence of a female candidate, both parties merged their camp and conspired to attack the National Secretariat alleging one sided support.

In history, the Igbo land engaged in traditional and cultural activities that were strictly reserved for men. Women dare not aspire to get involved in such traditional activities.

One of such is women being members of the cabinet of traditional rulers.

However, the times are changing, and a lot is changing with time.

With growing demands for inclusiveness and agitation for rights of women, some communities have begun to change some of these native rules and regulations, which prohibit women from doing certain things, including holding certain traditional positions.

There is an urgent need to ensure these typical Igbo men do not stop their female children and wives in elective positions in the future, hence the need for proper awareness and sensitization even amongst journalists