Veteran Nollywood actress, Joke Silva has expressed dismay over the lack of women in leadership roles in Nigeria, particularly within the political sphere.
In a recent interview with TVC, Silva stated that women played a prominent role in leadership during pre-independent Nigeria but have seen a decline in their influence in recent times.
Without mincing words, Silva said it would be fitting for Nigeria to have, at the very least, a democratically elected female governor.
She said
“In the area of leadership, especially political leadership, women have regressed. I mean, we had some really powerful women. You mentioned Fumilayo Kuti earlier. All these powerful women. There were so many of them spread around the nation. So, you expect them to grow in numbers by now.
“At least by now, we should have had a female governor. Mrs. Oluremi Tinubu for one, in contemporary Nigerian politics, is probably the most experienced female politician. She was just in the Senate for a long time and now she is the First Lady. But the thing is this: how many others? But we have so many male senators. It goes back to what late Chief MKO Abiola used to say: ‘A nation clapping with one hand.’ How do you clap? How is it heard?”
Glamsquad recalls that Joke Silva faced backlash for drumming support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu during the 2023 general elections. Netizens stated that she needed money from the APC’s administration to care for her husband, Olu Jacobs who suffers from dementia.
Read Also: How Popular Nigerian Actress, Joke Silver Rose To Fame
Virginia Etiaba was the first-ever female governor in Nigeria. She assumed power after Peter Obi was impeached by the Anambra State House of Assembly after seven months in office.
Etiaba was Peter Obi’s deputy at the time.