29/10/2025
The Regressive Narrative: Why Women Must Lead in Nation-Building
The recent statement attributed to Godfrey Adah, suggesting that women should “take back seat” in Enone leadership, presents a profoundly flawed and regressive narrative that runs counter to the fundamental principles of a progressive society This perspective, which implicitly or explicitly looks down on the capabilities of women in nation-building, is not merely an opinion; it is a structural barrier that stifles development and ignores centuries of proven female leadership, both historical and contemporary.
The argument that women should be relegated to the "engine room" of elections serving as dedicated workers and mobilizers, yet unfit for the driver’s seat of actual leadership is a contradictory fallacy This view, reportedly clarified by Joe Orih in the context of Ado Local Government, essentially states that women possess the organizational capacity, resilience, and strategic skill required to create leaders, but lack the ability to be leaders themselves. This distinction is nonsensical. The very qualities that make women effective campaign "engine rooms" meticulous planning, resource management, community mobilization, and unwavering dedication are the core competencies of successful political and economic leadership. If a woman can successfully orchestrate a victory, she possesses the capacity to govern the resulting administration. Capacity demonstrated in one area is capacity available for all.
To maintain that women are somehow unqualified to lead is to ignore the historical figures who have shaped civilisations, challenged boundaries, and governed in times of prosperity and crisis.
The world, from biblical antiquity to the modern age, is rich with examples of women who achieved extraordinary feats in every sector, demonstrating that capacity is inherently gender-neutral.
Seven Examples of Women Who Pushed Beyond Boundaries in History
Deborah (Biblical Era): Serving as a Prophetess, Judge, and military leader simultaneously in ancient Israel, she pushed the boundaries of societal roles by ruling with judicial and spiritual authority, guiding the nation in faith and military strategy (Judges 4-5).
Hatshepsut (Ancient Egypt, c. 1500 BC): One of the most successful Pharaohs, she assumed full kingly titles, defying convention. Her reign was marked by extraordinary architectural feats and prosperous trade expeditions, not warfare, proving the power of economic leadership.
Queen Amina (Zaria, 16th Century): The legendary Hausa warrior queen expanded the territory of Zazzau (now Zaria) through military campaigns, demonstrating immense strategic and martial prowess in a deeply traditional, male-dominated context.
Queen Elizabeth I (England, 16th Century): Navigated a period of intense religious and political strife, oversaw the defeat of the Spanish Armada, and ushered in the "Golden Age" of England, defining her era through strength and political acumen.
Marie Curie (Modern Science, late 19th/early 20th Century): She remains the first person ever to win Nobel Prizes in two different sciences (Physics and Chemistry), pushing the absolute frontiers of human knowledge and scientific possibility.
Rosa Parks (US Civil Rights, 20th Century): By refusing to give up her seat on a bus, she became a pivotal figure who catalyzed the Montgomery Bus Boycott, demonstrating how quiet courage can fundamentally alter societal and legal boundaries.
Wangari Maathai (Kenya/Global Activism, 20th Century): Founder of the Green Belt Movement and Nobel Peace Laureate, she proved that environmental stewardship is inseparable from political and economic stability, transforming local action into a global movement.
A second major rebuttal to the "take a back seat" philosophy revolves around the claim that Enone, facing insecurity, requires a "warrior" for leadership in 2027. This argument attempts to equate physical combat with effective governance. History, however, shows that the most formidable warriors are often women whose strength lies in strategy, courage, and inspired leadership, not just brute force.
The biblical example of Deborah specifically chosen by God to lead Israel during a time of existential threat was not only a judge but led the general Barak into battle, proving that God himself, when a warrior was needed, elevated a woman to the highest position of martial authority. To suggest that a modern political environment can dismiss female leadership on the grounds of needing a "warrior" is to question the divine wisdom evident in the past.
Three More Examples of Women Who Led and Won Battles
Joan of Arc (France, 15th Century): A peasant girl who, claiming divine guidance, persuaded the future King Charles VII to let her lead the French army. She famously lifted the siege of Orléans and secured subsequent victories, fundamentally shifting the balance of the Hundred Years’ War.
Boudica (Ancient Britain, 1st Century AD): The Queen of the Iceni, she led a massive tribal rebellion against the occupying Roman forces, destroying several major Roman settlements, demonstrating ferocious resolve and success on the battlefield before her eventual defeat.
Nzinga Mbande (Ndongo and Matamba, 17th Century): Known for her political and military acumen, Queen Nzinga spent decades strategically resisting the Portuguese slave trade and colonization in modern day Angola, deploying sophisticated military tactics and diplomacy to secure her kingdoms.
Ultimately, the desire to restrict women’s roles in Enone and Idoma national politics directly correlates with the lamented underdevelopment of the region. Global institutions, notably the United Nations, recognize gender equality (SDG 5) as fundamental to achieving all other development goals from economic growth to peace and security. To intentionally exclude half the capable, educated, and dedicated population from primary leadership roles is to deny the nation the full spectrum of talent and perspective it desperately needs to solve complex problems.
The progressive path forward for Enone and Nigeria as a whole, is not found in pushing women to the back seat, but in celebrating and promoting the girl child and women who are already pushing beyond boundaries in institutions and communities. The history of the world and the present reality of global progress affirm one truth: when women lead, nations thrive.
Written by;
The women voice of Enone.
