 All right, thanks for staying with us, referencing the publication titled Political Financing for Women. Money is essential for the operations of political parties and particularly affect candidates in electoral process or the processes. Now political financing regulations can effect or affect women's access to run as candidates, be elected, campaign and reach out to the population. Regulations on political funding are used to level the playing field in electoral competition. They can also work to ensure that women are able to compete on a more equal footing with men. Now this in turn may result in women's increased political participation or is there an underlining motive behind these women that are underrepresented not only in the political sphere but also in decision making within the private sector at the village level, at the civil society level, at the local level. Men usually dominate positions of power including as religious and traditional rulers, local politicians and village elders. Now the 2023 elections is fast approaching and we are asking this form costs reduction for women that they have done. Is this strategy at weakening the political relevance of women or it is actually a good thing or is a plus for them? This is the question for tonight. Now please let's hear what you have to say. Remember you can join the conversation. Send us an SMS or WhatsApp to 08183-84663. You can also tweet at us at Weshawafqa1 with the hashtag Weshaw. So this conversation has been brewing for a while now you know and we had to drag in our honoree. Maybe she would help us to tell us the experience, right? So at face value, when you hear that all women and the disabled because they categorize us together so many say we don't disable with that. Women and disabled would pay only expression of interest form. Expression of interest. Yes, expression of interest fee rather. For a position that she is going to be in competition with another person that would pay not just the expression of interest he will also pay the nomination forms. So at face value you go, whoa yeah they're trying to push and support women and make it like truly truly we want to fill up that 35% quota I think that's what we have for women and all of that. But when you now sit down, you know, look like come out of that picture and look at it holistically. Is this really? Is it a plus or a minus? Yes, a good thing for a woman because does it not further cement that patriarchal mindset that feels like a man is more superior? That feels like oh, women are to be seen in a certain light when it comes to that they are not as strong politically as you. So they need to also be treated like eggs and all of that. Is that not like more, but let me hear I'm sorry, and I'll come to you ladies. No, you're starting with me. I wanted to start with you or should I start with Jennifer? I would like to hear. Okay Jennifer, let me hear your thoughts. We've not heard you in a long time. I would like to state that that fee is ridiculous because if you're asking a candidate to pay 100 million, 50 million just to apply for a seat, where do you expect them to get the money from? It just begs the question. Like we know what these people do. We know how some of them make their money. But when you're asking for 100 million Naira, that's ridiculous. And I've seen people who are trying to rally other people around okay donate here, do this, do that. And I'm like, you want them to come in front because that's the next thing and that's how they're going to get their money. But maybe they have big daddies and uncles that are backing them. But then when we bring it down to women, I mean, like you said, at face value, it seems like oh, this is a good thing. They are including women. I mean, we've all been talking about inclusivity for a very long time and we all women want to be part of the change that we're making in our country. We want to set an example. We want people to know that we have a voice. We can also do better. We can play on that field with the men. But at the end of the day, when you look at it, like I mean, it was the way it was categorized. We men are disabled. It doesn't sound nice. It doesn't sound nice. But I mean, I'm not into politics and I feel like the women who are into politics will be the ones to tell us where the shoe is actually pinching them. Do you understand? Because, I mean, the money, like I said, is a lot. It's a lot. See, honestly, it's a big relief. It's a lot of money. So for a firm that I was supposed to probably pay like 10 million, they asked me to just bring only one million. It's a huge relief on me. But I'm just thinking, if somebody that says, it's just like, ah, I don't know how to explain it. When, okay, family meetings, I mean, I mean, the e-bots you will know now. When you're doing family meetings, it is the person that contributes big. Now you're going to give the floor. That's the person you give your respect to. I mean, we all know that Nigerians, there is something with money and, you know. So if because you have dropped a huge thank you that's attached to that. So does not weaken the respect that a woman will get because somebody will say, shut up then, after one million you pay. I actually think there's going to bring a repull effect at the end of the day because when men and women are sitting on the table, you realize that it is still the men that are calling the shots. They are still the one that have the final say. They'll still be the ones to make all the decision and all the women need to do is. So even, yeah, you just know it. And even when you disagree, it's a problem. Why? Because I brought in way more money than you did. So if there's a circle, yeah, if there's a circle and the man is bringing, what, 90% and you're bringing 10%, please, what exactly are you bringing to the table? I mean, it seems juicy because, I mean, you pay 100, I paid 2 million. I cannot afford it, do you understand? But I mean, I think this is something we would have to watch and see. How it plays out. Yeah, knowing our Nigerian men. Sorry. It's a very dicey, very difficult one for me to say that the motifs is clean. Yeah, or you're coming from a very genuine place. Thank you. Not my finger. Oh, wow. I totally agree with Jennifer because, like you said, at face value, it looks like a good place to start. And I would say it's a good place. At least we've started, right? But it doesn't end there. It doesn't end there because, for, like Jennifer had mentioned, women need a voice. Women need to be heard. And if it comes from the place where the impression is that you are doing women a favor and you are tagging them along, they say no disrespect to people at this. In fact, just the capping is very unsettling for me because someone who is also disabled, someone who is a woman, does not stop their disability on the fact that they are women, does not change what they can offer, what their capacity or competence is all about. Disability does not in any way impede anybody being able to perform. So when you cap it like that, then, like Jennifer said, it will be seen from a place that is not genuine, right? I'm looking forward to a time, I mean, it's a start, but I'm looking forward to a time where parties will be able to create equal opportunities for women and men and disabled people because it is not the fact of gender or their status or their condition that limits their capacity to be able to perform. If somebody is able to perform, after all, in the time, I think it was Abraham Lincoln or Zed Theodore Roosevelt, there was one of the American presidents who was disabled. A lot of people don't remember that he was disabled. All they remember is that he was president. It didn't impede on his ability to be able to deliver as the president of United States. So if somebody is coming from a perspective where you're saying, okay, let us reduce this because they are women, because they are disabled, then it's very insulting. It's better that you come from the point that says, oh, this money is too much. Like Jennifer rightly said, where are you going to get 100 million from? As a worker, is as a civil servant or as a what? How are you going to get that money? They're trying to perform their civic duties. Exactly. So when you look at it and you say, this money is not feasible, can we do something that any Nigerian who is hardworking enough, who has what it takes and who has the backing of his people or his citizens, after all, in several countries, they actually get people to donate. So your 1,000 Naira or your 5,500,000 Naira can be feasible enough to get me what I need to be able to get the ticket. Then I would say that we are making headway. But we'd love to hear from their honourable in the house because I'm sure she has a lot to say. It's very interesting. I deliberately, Dave, want to... Start off, yeah. Because I wanted to hear my ladies' thoughts. And it defends to my part as a politician. I want to say that for every effort, there's always going to be people that are target and those that support it. When I saw the price, just like, I was so joyous. You relieved, oh my God. This is the best time to be a woman. But later on that day, because I saw it on the National Woman Leaders Platform, Betah Edu, a very good kudos to her for that initiative. You know, it's interesting when people, when she took that initiative, Daya Israel also took the initiative to rise for youth reduction in form. And really, I want to say that in all fairness, because for me, I'm very optimistic than I'm pessimistic. And I like to see the good in everybody's deed than I do see the negativity. But it doesn't mean that there are no drawbacks to this. I want to say well done to EPC. I want to say well done to the party for considering women and giving us a chance because what I see is they want to make it easier for women entry. They understand that a lot of women are probably dependent on their spouses and they have lower sources of income. And as such, they decide to reduce the bar so that more women can have access to buy their form and be able to participate. For me, what I want to address is the cost of forming the first place is quite high. I mean, for every Nigerian who just wants to serve, if we're really committed to service in the real sense, without a motive or an agenda to go and mass wealth, why should we raise the bar that high? For me, that's where it starts. But that's not the conversation for today. The conversation is as the price, reducing the price for women as if favoured us in any way or as if not. And I have to receive the backlash. And that was why I said, ooh, we need to have this conversation on the show. As though, even though we are allowed to pay for expression of interest and we get the form for free, it is convenient without a doubt. I mean, come on. The nine million area that I could have paid for form has gone into campaign and trying to get more support from Nigeria. One thing people do not understand is the fact that I'm paying for, I'm not paying for form, doesn't mean I'm not spending that money. I'm still having to spend the money on a lot of things that are not even, we can get receivable. You're going to do consultation, you're going to have meet people. The campaigning is expensive in Nigeria. You dare not go near politics. What I know today, if I knew it's nine months ago when I started, I probably would not have started. But I'm glad that I didn't know. And I only found out along the way. And it was too late for me to say, I'm not doing it again. So now we do what, we stay in this thing and we run it through. So for me, I've had people say that we sat in the meeting, for example, they were trying to streamline us down and say, okay, there's too many of you coming out. Why don't you both, all aspirants, agree and step down for one another? And they say, you step down and say, uh-uh, that's the backlash. Those are some of the drawbacks. I say, excuse me. I am happy to pay 10 million Naira. They said, really, I said, yes, I would have paid 10 million Naira if that is the price of fee. And there was no concessor or no reduction for women because you don't think that because I paid one million Naira, I had no rights. I don't have the same strength to come to the table and negotiate for my inclusion and governance. And for me, I started to wonder, that means we would become weaker and we reduce our negotiating power when they think that we have paid with token and a fraction of what men pay. So therefore, you can't complain if you do not emerge. I see it as a decoy to just give us a chance but not in the real sense, give us a fair level playing field. And that's what we are clamoring for. For me, it's about do not, we are grateful for the chance but then, if it's going to impede on our chances to agitate actively and really throw our weights on the field, then we can just keep the fee, exactly the way we are supposed to. And let us pay the fourth price so that we can have equal rights to compete toe-to-toe with men. So no man can come and challenge my right to say, oh, you pay one million Naira, what do you know about? I mean, I pay 10 million Naira, that is not fair in the real sense. Because people are beginning to attack the fact that we paid less than the men and that doesn't give us a chance to adequately compete with men. For me, that's pretty much it. Okay, so we're going to take a break now. I want to open our phone lines. Stay with us, we'll be right back. All right, thanks for staying with us. If you've just tuned in, it's our ladies night out and our focus tonight is form cost reduction. We're asking, is it a plus or a plot to weaken women's political relevance? Please let us hear what you have to say. Remember, you can join the conversation. Send us an SMS or WhatsApp to 0-8-0-3-4-6-6-3. You can also tweet at us at wishyou.com with the hashtag we show. Our phone line is now open. The number to call is 0-7-0-2-5-0-0-7-7-4-9. I'm already hearing the info ringing. I'm already hearing the info ringing. Today or not today. So, you know, this conversation, me, you know me, I like to find trouble because you know how somebody say, because I've seen this happen and it plays out a lot and that's why I hate handouts. Don't give me fish. Show me the way to go and catch the fish because I might catch a fish that is bigger than your own fish. Do you understand? It is the same, yes, yes, I can't be better than you. So it's the same principle. Don't act as though you are doing me a favor. If I have the capacity and the competence, right, to get this job done, can I please be allowed to get the job done? You understand? And give me a plain field. So they say, okay, they've reduced costs for women and all of that. Everybody's jubilating. But you don't come to the negotiating table where you're having several meetings and consultations. They tell you to step aside. After all, the stake that you put into this matter is not as high as what another man has put in. So that is where the, you know, the disparity now comes unfair. It becomes unfair on the woman because if you really wanted to start acting like that, you should treat me like I paid 10 million. You should treat me like I paid the complete 100 million. Whether if, because I didn't ask for it, you decided that you wanted to give me a 100 million ticket, you said you wanted to pay, you wanted me to pay 5 million. And I am willing to even deliver at that rate. Up to my rate. So the fact that I'm paying this amount does not mean that it changes the capacity or the vision and the goal that I have for the dream and the aspiration to serve my people. Do you get? So that's where I think the problem is. But let's take a call. Sorry darling, we have a first caller for today. Solomon from Abuja. Let's hear what you have to say. You're live. Okay. I see this issue of course, course of reduction of plot or to weakening women's political endeavors. See, just tell them that when they call for a meeting, just let them understand that the issue is not about weakening the women. So that at the end of the day, if they come trying to make anything like that, they should know that from the beginning, you have already agreed that yes, this is what we agreed on. But if there is this agreement on that one, let the women pay exactly the same thing that men pay. So that at the end of the day, anybody that is trying to do something which you know because we have already tired of all this kind of rubbish that they are doing. The government is not trying. Men, men, men, let's try women and see. Because even at home, in the house, women, anything that women say or anything that women agree on, that can always work more than what they do. Thank you so much. So I give you good news. You are trying. Thank you very much. Thank you. Thank you. Yeah, so. I believe the reason why we get some of this favoritism is because of our constant clamor for women's inclusion in governments. I think we remain too late to much empathy on our agenda. And we push a bit too far. There's a lot of programming going on here. Absolutely. There's a lot of. There's a lot of. I agree. Premeditation that is on the lining how we are treated and how we are perceived. It's one thing to, even the same thing that we women are dealing with is the same thing that youth are facing. Because the youth gets 50% reduction because they think that, oh, you're a young person and that. I believe we should look beyond women. And this is for women. We should stop clamoring for inclusion. We should just continue en masse. The tides are changing. The times are different. Because a lot of the number of women that are coming to run for office in this 2023 is way higher than what we've had. And it simply means there's a major shift and there's a major awareness in the level of women's responsiveness towards running for office or trying to run for positions beyond the traditional women leader. Because a lot of the time they consider us for complementary roles. They make you commissioner for women affairs. They make you women leaders. Deputy governor. And deputy governor. And that's pretty much our first ladies. And that's pretty much all they see us to be. And that's what a lot of us see ourselves to be. You know. A pretty face. It's really a major challenge that women themselves need to start to not clamor for inclusion. Just do your job. Just push yourself out there irrespective of your gender. Okay, I think we have a call. Yeah, with time you definitely get there. I was going to say, even the men say, can they really afford the 100 million? Let's take a call somewhere. You're live. Hello, and welcome to New York. Hi Samuel. Yeah, a big thank you. I will tell you a theory about my partner life. And I want the men that are listening to this program to learn from me. The man called me from all these things. That was when I was a teenager. He said, if an average man can listen to this wife, he will go for it. Do you know the piece I have at home today? I learned something from Wachtam and said, let me quickly dive into this topic. If 91 politicians know what I call growth, that you ask me to open my eyes for, when you listen to women, in fact, you will go far. You want to sell it from there. I want to ask a question. Do you know that the countries that are benefiting from democracy today are the ones who are there? Are there presidents? That's the fifth question. Thank you, Samuel. Thank you so much for weighing him from that. That's a serious question. Samuel is still insisting on this goat matter. He called our leaders goats last week. I don't beg you to say, you are not goat or sheep. He's still insisting. But I have someone is saying on YouTube, say, nice conversation today. So it's a nice conversation to have, but I want us to, because for us, we don't just bring topics so that we sit down and say, we're having a great conversation. No, we want people to really think deeply. Because you see this, however you look at it, right? You talked about saying, okay, maybe it is the burden on the woman and all of that. These men that raised this 50 million, 100 million, can they really, really afford it in the sense of it? Do they really have that money? If they really did, right, will not have the issues of Godfatherism, where it means that somebody comes and sponsors, you are now expect certain kinds of conversations and return. Do you understand? Even the men do not have it. They have to go and source for those funds. Do you get it? So it's not about whether you're a man or a woman. We cannot afford it. I was talking to someone, and the person in front, that's why I want us to have that conversation on the minimum wage come Thursday. The person said to me, he said, Uwa, going by the 30,000-ears minimum wage that we have today. Correct me. That if they're born you today, Milula. You can't. Like say, you're born you today today, and you start to earn monthly salary. Like you're not waiting until you're 18. You started earning salary from the month you were born to when you are 85. That's when you can get up to, how much was it? I think maybe what ridiculous amount of money? Maybe 30 million or something for your lifetime of 85 years. To tell me how, do you understand? How do we mean even sustain these things that, it's a false, we are not a wealthy country that you are even putting the form at 100 million or 40 million or 50 million. How many people can really afford this? It is ridiculous. I believe it. But let's take a call then I'll come back to you, Milula. Hello. Who is that again from Abuja? Solomon. Yes, the same Solomon I call back again. Okay. We don't know that. You see, let me use the language that I understand. The team be saying, politicians in Nigeria now, they want, they see women as a weaker person. No, no, we say women are the most important thing in politics. Just as they are important in the house again. You understand? Because anything that you do at home is the same thing that you apply outside. You see? So now, the government of Nigeria today, they think that women are nothing. Just like our president before he said that, his wife work is in the kitchen as the other room. So now, what is that one for? If they allow the women to participate in the politics, at the end of the day, they will see these changes. Meanwhile, they have already fell off. Thank you very much. Thank you so much. Solomon put a seven agenda. Yes, thank you so much for feeling the pain and the plight of women. Nima. You know what? Okay, I have a realistic comment here. Let me read my comments very quickly. It says, hello ladies, my dear feminist Jennifer. You are not clamoring for equality for women to pay same as men. Or your feminism does not extend to this area. So Jennifer, that question is for you. You don't want level playing field again. On the matter, women should clamor for level playing field on all fronts if they want to be taken seriously politically. The discount is attractive. But as we know, a wolf, the Pogbele, this is from Frank, which is very true. And I agree with Honorable Milola because women need to take themselves seriously. You can't continue to have hand me down. This looks like another hand me down. And until they see that they have a lot more to offer, that they have brains that we can key into to change situations in the education, in health care system, in the economy of the, I mean, we have some women who are representing us on that level. But a lot more women need to rise up to that challenge to begin to push themselves, not as women and people to be pitied or weaker vessel or like you are being handed down in responsibility. You have what it takes. It's not the money. It's not the form that validates you as a person. You have it on your inside, let it out. Let it out and let them begin to see, not because you're trying to compete with men, but because you are a human being who has a civic responsibility to citizens that are looking up to you to deliver, whether you say you are in the Senate, whether you say you're going to represent them in the House of Representatives, whether you want to be the governor of a state or even the president of Nigeria, it's not because you're a woman. It is because you're a human being that has what it takes to move this issue. I have a comment here I would like to address. It says there were, yes, the fees fixed for the political stages are outrageous, but intentionally fixed to weed out the crowd of contenders. If men have to source funds for this, women have to step up and do same. It may not be ideal, but you don't hate the player, you hate the game, learn the rules and play by it. So we have not said that we do not. What we are saying is that allow us to also be at that position where we can raise the fund. But you see, when you say that the fees are fixed at our traitors' prizes to weed off, what's it called? To weed off the contenders. Does it still stop the people who do not have what it takes to not gather the money and still come and take that position? So that's what is happening, because it's not in any way within of any contender, you understand? Because for me, I think this fee just continues to bring a lot of people that are really, first of all, very desperate and they can do anything just to get that seat of power, because they know, but the time they land there, there are opportunities for them. People that have capacity and the heart for service might not want to go into that, because if you are from day one, you've already made it a money game. The foundation is already wrong. It's not a money game, it's not about money that determines whether you'll be a good leader, that you have a lot of money will determine that you're a good leader. No, it's a very wrong foundation that you are set. Well, don't get very emotional. In fairness to what that caller said, in the actual fact and in the real sense, a lot of people actually dropped off the place because of the cost. For example, there were five of us from my local government. We dropped down to three. And I said to them, even if it was set at 10 million, I would still have been able to show that I'm serious about the game, because trust me, a lot of people are actually not serious about running. But, Milola, seriousness should not always translate to the value you pay. Do you understand? Go ahead. I feel like every time we're getting close to election period, people tend to forget the past events that have happened. Now, look at the past governance and those who have actually shown interest in the presidency. We've seen how they govern us in the past. And they now want to be presidents. And now they want to. So, yes, they have access to the 100 million, but we know what you've done before. We know that you cannot deliver. And it's as simple as that. I get that, oh, you're putting the money up here so you don't have a lot of contenders. But at the same time, people who actually have the capability to take us to where we want to go to, cannot participate. Even if they want to come from a place of standard, it's not the money. Thank you. Why not raise the bar to... Intellectual standards. Capacity. To capacities that people can see, questions. There's some people who come out and say they want to prepare. They can't even express the reason why. It's a problem. They have no agenda that can move the people forward. So what if you bring people in the room and say, OK, what is your track record? Where are the businesses? Because Nigeria is a business. Where are the businesses that you have run successfully? So you don't have people like the Tony Loomey Loose and all those people that are running successful businesses to say, OK, you know what, I can then step up. It's not a money game. Governance has never been and will never be able to money. So you cannot tell me that raising the money to 100 million means that you're winning up whatever. I think our priority is a bit misplaced. I have a comment from Adee, and he says, good evening, ladies. In my opinion, any political party that gives a woman a vice presidential position is most likely to win the race. In Nigeria, women are more populated than men. It's a step forward for possible women, president and future. Thank you so much, Adee, for throwing that in. But most times they really do know what it is for the role of a president. It's always vice. It's always deputy. Even with the vice. Even with the vice and the deputy. You actually have a voice. No. And you're just a figurehead. They're just a spare, even for the man. They're usually a spare in the events that anything happens to the president or to the governor. That's when you're supposed to step in. If there's nothing wrong with the number one citizen, you really are just equated. Jennifer, let's take a comment. Adee says again, Adee is from the UK. She says, women should be given a free ticket but start as a running mate for the political party. Adee, so you see this thing where you always say, everybody just feel, oh, OK, put a woman as a running mate. Put a woman as a running mate. We should stop looking and do. So women do have the capacity to be on the driver's seat. Can we stop limiting women to just, oh, because you see, when you put a woman as a running mate, she's just a figurehead. I mean, we've seen countless deputy governors in legal states as women. What really is their political relevance? What is their relevance? Or what impact do they really have on the actual governors that happen in the state? We know now. We can't be deceiving ourselves. These women always act as invisible supporting rules. If we want to get a balanced opinion, they're going to look at us and say, oh, they are feminists. Oh, they are clamoring for women governors. It would be nice if you probably bring a male on the show and let's hear a male's perspective on this conversation. Because trust me, we sound like we're just agitating for women. And we need more women. But really, it's not about that. It's about trying to identify some of the issues here and see how we can shield the balance and ensure fair system, equal level playing field, where we do not get attacked because we did not ask for a free nomination fee. We were given that. And at the end of the day, that privilege we got seemed to be used against us. And that's really, for me, the major crux of this issue. So I want to address something based on the comments Norma took. So for me, even as a woman, I don't think I would just give you a free pass just because you're a woman. Honestly, you also need to put in the work. I'm not going to vote for you if you're not doing what you're supposed to do. If you cannot deliver as a woman, as a man, you should not be there in the first place. It's as simple as that. And I feel like that's what we need to start looking at. I feel like people have not suffered enough. When it gets to election period, they seem to forget that they suffered. You just suffered last month, too. So why are you not looking for change? Why are you not looking for something better for competence? Jennifer, let's take your comments. So I have a comment here. Good evening, my dear beautiful sisters, of ways concerning two out of the four topics discussed, we cannot blame Cannes from disassociating themselves from that fake pastor who is demanding $310,000 from people to see heaven. It is obvious that the pastor is fake and is camera. I am sure that the pastor has not seen heaven before. My dear beautiful sister, Jennifer, just made a point that the money acts for concerning the form for an office in government is ridiculous and on the high side. If you pay the amount and no guarantee to be elected into the office, the money is gone and you can never retrieve it. Sister Jennifer, you're welcome back. You're looking so pretty and beautiful. Thank you. My name is Daniel Hilo, ways regular fan. Thank you, Daniel. Thank you, Daniel. So we're discussing this topic today possibly because a part of the cost of form was waived. Should this waiver wasn't given? Uncle, I don't understand your English. Women would have complained that they were marked out. I think our women need to learn how to take challenges by the horn and develop negotiation power regards from Laurence Lagos. We will not have felt bad, but let's take. Yes, we would have paid for the form name. Because we are serious like this. Go ahead. All right, so let me take this one. It says, let's get it straight. The women have been sidelined and humiliated politically a long time by the men. How do you expect a woman to buy a form worth 100 million, 50 million alongside the men folk? This is madness and wickedness. The women have the highest votes in Nigeria. It's high time that the women resist by protesting nationwide or better, stop voting. I wait for the Niger woman. This is Bobby Kennedy from Jalingo Interpol. All right, so we have to run. Thank you so much, ladies. We had a fantastic conversation. Time runs so fast. Yeah, we'll bring it back. Now, before we go to ensure you follow us on WeishuAfrica on Instagram and Twitter at WeishuAfricaOne, you can drop your comment. More importantly, follow all our engagements on social media. Now, if you missed today's quote, here it is again. There needs to be a fundamental shift in the way societies view women in government. One that does not see them as a mere seed-feelers or starts on a chart. They must be viewed as a vital contributing factor to the betterment of the world. That's as simple as it gets. We'll see you guys live at 8 p.m. tomorrow as we bring another great conversation to your screen. Enjoy.