Women should serve under men in politics because they'll mess up, says lawmaker

Gudaji Kazaure, a Jigawa State lawmaker in the federal House of Representatives has warned men in politics to not give women a chance to overthrow them in politics because they will make a mess of everything.

The lawmaker made his remarks while speaking during plenary on Thursday, March 8, 2018, a day used to celebrate International Women's Day.

Kazaure noted that even though the government should help women to advance in the society, they should not be allowed to have enough opportunities to gain control over men like they already do in the home.

The representative of Kazaure/Roni/Gwiwa/Yankwashi constituency further said women pose a threat to men's continued dominance in politics as they make up the majority of voters.

According to him, this could make it easy for female candidates to win elections and take over in politics with no men to control them as God intended.

He said, "In my whole life I love women because when I go back to my home, my wife is taking care of my children, my everything at home; but what I observed is women need us to give them opportunities which is good, but not too much.

"It is good for us to give the woman chance in terms of politics, opportunities, entrepreneurship, and others because they play a good role in our lives. They take care of our life, our children, cook for us and do everything for us, but I fear they control us (men) at home.

"When we give them too much opportunity outside the home, they will capture everything. Most of the women are very intelligent. You can see a big man controlled by his wife.

"If you give them more chance, one day, they will overthrow us. I came here (was elected) with almost 60% to 70% of my vote from women. So if women understand this thing well, they will vote us out.

"We give them opportunity and assist them in any way they need, but we should not give them too much opportunities.

"If you go to your constituency, majority of the voters are women. If one woman contests in your constituency, they'll say 'Let's go out to support our sister', they'll vote for her and they'll come here.

"One day you will come here and find women everywhere in this chamber and they will mess up.

"We are the one controlling them that is why God said they should come under us. We would marry them, they will serve under us. We do good to them, we do justice to them and then we, at last, should not give them too much opportunity."

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Atiku tells Nigerian men to improve the lives of women

Contrary to Kazaure's position, former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar used the occasion of International Women's Day to urge Nigerian men to join hands and advance the cause of women in the country to achieve a more progressive society.

He praised the contribution of Nigerian women in the household as well as many important sectors like business, government, arts, sports and science.

He said women should be allowed free rein to exercise their abilities as men have "had over half a century of advantage".

"On this women's day, I ask all men, fathers, religious and political leaders to join together and act as humans to improve the lives of women," he said.