Activist lawyer Maduabuchi Idam has urged President Bola Tinubu to consider appointing women as Security Chiefs, arguing that female leadership could be the solution to Nigeria's persistent security challenges.
In a statement issued on Sunday, Idam emphasized that women possess qualities that could be advantageous in security leadership roles, describing them as "firm in decision making, stable and consistent" in their approach.
Challenging Gender Bias in Security Appointments
"Given the spate of insecurity in Nigeria, the time for out-of-the-box thinking has to be now. Nothing produces a different result when done repeatedly in the same manner," Idam stated, calling on the President to fulfill his constitutional mandate of ensuring security of lives and property by adopting new approaches.
The lawyer highlighted what he described as a "tacit and prejudicial conspiracy" among political elites against considering women for top security positions in Nigeria. He noted that even women's rights advocates rarely discuss the possibility of female security chiefs.
"I have gleaned the relevant statutes on the appointment and progression of security chiefs in various security agencies in Nigeria. I have not come across any legislation that favours the apparent exclusion of women from key security positions," Idam observed.
Intelligence Over Combat Skills
Challenging the notion that men are more suited for security roles, Idam argued that security leadership in Nigeria "has more to do with intelligence than being combatant." He emphasized that female officers undergo the same training as their male counterparts, questioning the basis for gender bias in appointments.
"It is not on record that female officers in Nigeria are all incompetent or unfit to be trusted with critical assignments, nor that they are all reputed for underperformance, contrary to their male counterparts," he stated.
The activist lawyer pointed to the continuing security challenges as evidence that the current male-dominated security leadership has not effectively addressed the nation's security problems.
"It is worrisome that the security situation in Nigeria continues to question the competence of the security chiefs. Therefore, it is high time if not exigent that Nigeria considered a female leadership in the nation's security hierarchy."
Idam concluded by urging President Tinubu to consider appointing women to key security positions, suggesting that their leadership qualities might bring fresh perspectives to Nigeria's security challenges.
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