When called to speak to the House of Representatives Committee on Finance, Finance Minister Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala admitted to being sick. As she was about to give her report, the committee chair, Representative Jibril Abdulmumin cut her off saying the committee would adjourn and reconvene two weeks later. Some experts say this was a deliberate attack on the fact that many Nigerians believe women are not strong enough for politics. In response, Jibril Abdulmumin says he was merely looking out for Okonjo-Iweala's best interests:
The Finance Minister clearly took it as an affront to her ability to lead and be held accountable for her ministry's actions. As Jon Stewart said in a recent segment, U.S. attitudes towards women in politics are currently along the lines of "the broads must be crazy." He claims that the same thing said by a woman versus a man are interpreted differently. Examples Stewart used included crying. When men cry they are passionate and sensitive to an issue. When women cry they are emotionally unstable. Do you think that the same culture exists in Nigeria? If the Committee chairman had said he felt sick but was willing to speak, would it have been seen as him toughening up or acting irrationally?
I suppose the issue comes down to whether or not Abdulmumin was being disrespectful or not. Okonjo-Iweala believes so and claims that she still isn't respected despite all her recent work and improvements to the Nigerian State.
This article demonstrates the positive effects that her economic reforms have brought. Nigeria is now considered the largest economy in Africa! Even with all the good she has done, it is sad to think that the hope she has brought to her people and administration is being overshadowed by sexism.
This is big news for Nigeria and big news for the United States as well. Already, since this news, Obama has visited President Goodluck Jonathan to discuss a coalition to help end terrorism. Is he truly concerned about Nigerian citizens or was it a ploy to garner trade agreements with the now largest African economy?
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