“We Need Men To Shift A Little So Women Can Sit At The Table” – Dr. Esther Sam Alu Advocates For Greater Female Participation In Governance

In a nation where women’s representation in politics remains disproportionately low, Dr. Esther Sam Alu, the North Central Zonal Women Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), is leading a bold charge to bridge the gap. In this exclusive interview with Eggonnews, she outlines her strategic vision to mobilize women from grassroots communities—marketplaces, farms, and rural areas—into active political participation.

A staunch advocate for gender inclusion, Dr. Alu emphasizes the need for awareness and sensitization, arguing that many women remain unaware of their potential influence beyond just voting. She also addresses the role of men in fostering inclusivity, appealing for collaboration rather than competition: “We are not fighting for men’s seats; we are simply asking them to shift a little so more women can sit.”

Additionally, Dr. Alu assesses President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration, highlighting strides in security, economic stability, and agriculture while urging North Central citizens to support continuity in 2027. Her message is clear: “When women participate fully in governance, the nation benefits—and the time for that change is now.”

Below is a transcript of our interaction with the women leader:

As APC Women Leader North Central, what plan do you have for women leaders?

Well, as the APC Zonal Women Leader North Central, if you look at women participation in politics, it’s very low. So one of my responsibilities to ensure that these women are involved, are aware. Because you need to be aware before you get yourself involved. So we are thinking of a lot of sensitization, activities, mobilizing the women from the grassroots, marketplaces, from the farms, wherever you could see women. Because those women that are already in position, you know, they are aware. But we are looking at those women that are not aware and are not participating. So we really want them to participate. It is when you participate, that is where you can be patronized. And if you look at the woman, she only knows how to go to cast vote. And once she casts her vote, she leaves.

She doesn’t know that governance and party is beyond that, and I think we need to do a lot of that.

Kindly assess the two years of the President Tinubu administration?

Yes, the President has done so much. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is an achiever.

Why do I say he’s an achiever? In governance, you cannot just assess government within two years. You might not really see it. But even for the insecurity that we were suffering, if you notice there is a lot of stabilization now in the country. Insecurity has really reduced.

And if you look at even the hike in the dollar rate that was going up and all that as a result of the floating of the Naira, by the grace of God, everything is being stabilized.

When we come to even agriculture, food, I think foodstuffs are very cheap now. They are affordable. So he is doing a lot.

He is doing a lot and he will continue to do a lot. Because if you look at his reforms, they are very positive. And it is something that he is looking at the future. He is looking at continuity. He is looking at reforms that does not just concern the immediate Nigeria. So, he is doing a lot and I know he is going to do more.

When you were answering the first question, you did not mention the role of men in the whole thing. I think men are usually accused of taking up all the positions and not leaving. Do you have anything to tell the men, concerning the women of concentration camps?

Yes. You know, for the men, I wouldn’t want to say that the men are not being selfish or so. No. We know that the men are ahead of us. They are the men. All we are saying is, we are not saying that any man should stand up and then we want to collect his seat and sit down. No. What we are pleading with the men is for the men to shift a little, so that we can sit down. If there are 10 seats that men are seated, we are saying they should shift a little, so that the seat can accommodate 15 people, 5 women. That is all we are saying.

And we have been talking about this 35% affirmative action. If you look at it, I don’t think we have even reached 5%. So, it’s not a kind of a war. We are not competing with the men.

And we are not saying it’s a must, but we are pleading. Let the men kindly shift a little, so that we can sit. Thank you.

So, lastly, leading up to 2027, you are a political leader in North Central Zone. What is your call to the people of North Central Zone in particular, leading up to that time?

My call to the people in the North Central Zone is to support Bola Ahmed Tinubu, so that there should be continuity in this government. He has done so much and he has a lot to do. A lot of initiatives that are going to help the women, the youth, the men, every Nigerian. So, when we support him, that is when we will benefit. So, I am pleading with our people to key into this government.

They say there is hope at the end of the tunnel, right? Let’s get there. We will definitely get there and we will see the hope, by the grace of God. Thank you.