Ali Baba: Why women avoid politics

Atunyota Akpobome, the ace comedian fondly called Ali Baba, says he believes women don’t participate in Nigerian politics because “it’s a flawed system”. 

The comedian took to his Instagram handle to argue that women “do not lie to be in a position of service”.

Ali Baba said the few women who join politics are “frustrated out.”

“See why women run away from politics? Women don’t want to be part of a flawed system. Or lie to be in a position of service… and the few women who brave it are frustrated out,” he wrote.

He captioned the post with: “The structure in politics is made in away to demotivate the women from participating in politics.”

However, there are some women — including celebrities — bracing the odds and running for political offices in the 2023 election.

Funke Akindele is the running mate of Abdul Azeez Olajide Adediran, the gubernatorial candidate of the PDP in Lagos, for the March 11 election.

Also, Tonto Dikeh was nominated as the running mate to Tonte Ibraye, the governorship candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in Rivers state.

Caroline Danjuma was also unveiled as the running mate of Iboro Otu, the 2023 gubernatorial candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC) in Akwa Ibom state.

A few days ago, Oby Ezekwesili, former minister of education, urged women to take party politics seriously.

She said women must be strategic and collaborate with the youthful population of the nation to form and run their own political parties if the status quo refuses them access to the established parties.

“If women don’t gain political currency, they cannot inform the debate on the other issues, and that is why we must acknowledge those women who are running for one political office or the other in the 2023 elections,” she said.

Last Saturday, millions of Nigerians went to their polling units to vote for a new president, senators, and members of the house of representatives.