Predatory political practices of the male politicians against their female counterparts have been a hallmark of politics in developing countries.
Africa comes out worst when the issue of female political representation becomes a subject.
It was only in January 2006 that the first female President in Africa, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, was inaugurated as the President of the West African nation of Liberia.
The difficulties female politicians face while aspiring for political offices is in multiples of that faced by their male counterparts.
The African culture, whether in the context of religion or secularism, provides a compromised tolerance of women in issues where men are also involved.
Politics also demands the use of huge financial resources.
The relatively disadvantaged positions of women in our society have made it even more difficult for them to source for funds that can be ploughed into their political campaigns.
Hence the male counterparts can easily curtail their aggression in political campaigns.
Nigeria's political terrain is replete with thuggery, blackmail, backstabbing and sometimes elimination.
Women do not always fit when negative and uncivilized practices became imbibed in politics.
They prefer to back up and watch with torments and tears.
Despite these hurdles, some women have left their footprints in the political environment.
In 1999, Senator Kofoworola Buknor-Akerele was sworn in alongside Governor Bola Tinubu as his Deputy in Lagos State.
She became the first female to become Deputy Governor in the history of Nigeria.
Though her reign as the Deputy Governor was brief she carved that niche in the annals as a pioneer female Deputy Governor.
In even Anambra State considered to be the most politically turbulent State in Nigeria, a lady, Madam Virginia Etiaba was also elected as a side kick to Governor Peter Obi.
The unpredictable nature of Anambra politics resulted in the impeachment of Peter Obi paving the way for Etiaba to become the Governor on the 3rd November 2006.
Even though the gates into our politics opens only narrowly to women, the mother element they bring into the practice is necessary to change its ugly peculiarity that ensures that resources are squandered but the nation remains stagnant.
For so long now the splurge of women groups has become so audible that the increasing representation of women in politics can be attributed to it.
Bucknor Akerele stood up in the southwestern part of the country; Virginia Etiaba did it in the south Eastern part of the country.
Now Mrs.
Pauline Tallen has become the first woman to be elected as Deputy Governor in the northern part of the country.
This is an unprecedented feat and this makes her one of the most outstanding Nigerians for the year 2007.