By Frederick Peters, KADUNA
NEWSDAILYNIGERIA: The founder of the Basileia Vulnerable Peoples Rights Initiatives (BVPRI), Barrister Jennifer Agbaji, has declared her intention to run for the Senate to advance the rights of women, the vulnerable, and all citizens.
The rights activist, who is the candidate of the Young Progressives Party (YPP), is representing Zone One in Kaduna State, Nigeria.
She disclosed this during a media roundtable in Kaduna on Tuesday, reflecting on her passion to serve humanity. “I started aspiring to be in leadership at a very young age. However, for me, it was not really about being in government; it was just to lead, to influence people, and to bring about impact.
”Recently, I began to see that I can also be part of that success story by trying to shrink the gender governance gap. So, I decided that I was going to run for the Senate.
”Why? Because we have only 5% of women in the parliament, and that story needs to change. So, I went and picked up a form, and I am running for a senatorial seat in Kaduna State.”
Speaking on any challenges faced so far, she said, “So far, so good. It has been amazing, and I wouldn’t say there are any challenges yet. It is a learning curve for me. I learn every day, shifting people from money politics to issue-based politics.
”I have something else to offer. It can be difficult, but I am learning every day, and I know that with the support of those who have gone ahead, and the society if they really want to see positive change, this vision can be a success.
”One of the things that I hope for dearly is that Nigeria will move from just seeing women as being there, to seeing them as key stakeholders and an integral part of our democracy’s story.
”Having more women in the political space is one of my visions, and I am sure that when I get there, a lot of women will also step up. I am hoping that the impact of women in leadership will be felt across the nation.
”I want to call on women to support me as a woman. I understand them better; as a woman, I know their needs more. So, I am calling on them to support me.
”I am not running for myself. I am running for everyone—the sisters, the mothers, the market women, and all of us. My hope and call is for them to support me and give me the opportunity to represent them well.
”I am running for the senatorial seat of Zone One in Kaduna State under the Young Progressives Party (YPP),” she declared.
Commending her aspiration and the need for greater female participation in politics, the Chairman of the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) in Kaduna State and YPP State Chairman, Mikyal Abubakar, encouraged women to participate in politics and become leaders in political parties at all levels, stating that this will help them when vying for elective offices.
He lamented that only one woman currently serves in the Kaduna State House of Assembly, but expressed optimism for upcoming electoral cycles: “Looking at the upcoming election, I believe some women have already gotten tickets as candidates to participate. Particularly in my own party, we have a female senatorial candidate (Mrs. Jennifer Agbaji) from Zone One, a female gubernatorial candidate, and three State House of Assembly candidates,” he said.