The traditional ruler of Aka Efa village in the Calabar Municipality, Cross River State, Her Highness Eti-Eka Henrietta Efa Akpera, has lamented that in Nigeria, especially in the State, female traditional rulers do not enjoy the same incentives as their male counterparts.
In an interview in her palace, the monarch said, “It is true that women traditional rulers are neglected and denied incentives given to their male counterparts. This has been happening for a long time.
“Have you ever heard when they share cars, cash or such things that they have given a woman who holds a traditional position? They will share among themselves and will not know if we, the women, exist.”
She maintained that women traditional rulers are very important in the society.
According to her, the neglect is not only in the traditional set up but in the political, religious, professional, and many other areas.
Akpera believes that when it comes to making a difference, women under any circumstances are always a challenge to their male counterparts.
According to her, when women are given the opportunity to lead in the traditional institution, they approach leadership with the mission of bringing about peace.
She wants the Houses of Assembly in different states to enact laws to improve welfare of traditional rulers in their states and also give them roles.
Going by recent revelations, she strongly disagreed that women are more corrupt in government, saying it is gender discrimination.
“Women are very good at politics, not as corrupt as people think.
“It is not true that women are more corrupt than men. On the contrary, women are more honest and great minded than men.
“When it comes to public leadership, women can easily be accused of corruption when they are not even close to the irregularity done by the male counterpart. It is all about gender discrimination to label women as corrupt.
“They will try every means to make sure that women are not heard. They want to put women under. There are so many things that men do yet women have not done one third of such,” she said.
The traditional ruler insisted that the Nigerian political system cannot make good progress until women are given ample opportunity to take part in it.
She canvassed for women to be allowed to take part in policy making and political leadership while calling for women to be united.
Women traditional rulers are denied incentives – C’River village head Akpera alleges