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He stated this at the 14th annual lecture of Women in Management, Business and Public Service (WINBIZ), held in Lagos.
“Women as majority must be reckoned with. They need to be participants in decision-making positions. It all starts by commencing mobilisation through our children and youths.
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“Through the coalition for Nigeria women movement, I believe women have found a place of honour where a political party may emanate from, that will enable women have 40 per cent in politics and youths 40 per cent as well.”
He blamed the marginalisation of women in politics to selfishness of some men who wishes to keep women under them.
Although men in politics have always been an impediment to women, Obasanjo advised women not to be discouraged by this but to learn to use the power they have over men to their advantage.
“Its not that you don’t have what it takes, but there are some people holding you back. But you have to make them give way. You need to make use of them, learn how to apply the knowledge you have.
“There are many reasons why we don’t have many women in elective position, some will say it’s tradition, culture, or religion, but its out of the selfishness of our men. They will look for any reason to keep women under. My first child is a girl, and she will not take nonsense from you. I have more girls with PHDs than boys,” he said.
He frowned against gender inequality in Nigerian politics, stressing that women and men are same except in the role of procreation.
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