No image reader would deny that she has the most facial and overall presidential presence. But power anywhere in the world, more so in Nigeria, requires more than a great figure. Not the least is the office of the President of the Nigerian Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ) whose members go to the polls to elect its officials November 12th, 2023. And so Ladi Bala who appears in this cover has, in a way, a date with history.
Intervention has been told by some of her campaigners that her first term has been a great moment for NAWOJ. They are celebrating her for acquiring a plot of land for the association in Abuja, calling it unprecedented, arguing that the world approaches Beijing+35, “one of the most neglected of the 12 Critical Areas of Action of the 1995 Beijing Declaration is “Women and Media”.
As far as they are concerned, it would “make strategic sense” to give Ladi Bala another opportunity. That way, they say she would reinforce the other low hanging fruits for Nigeria. Adding a touch of the Heavenly to their campaign, the handlers claim that God is using her to “wipe our tears of historic shame”. It is not clear what the historic shame Ladi Bala will deliver women journalists in Nigeria from.
Intervention could not immediately obtain a list of her opponents for the election and thus has no idea how fierce the electoral battle will be. But keen observers will be watching out of election in the women journalists front will assume the war that elections have become throughout Nigeria or be a clear case of honourable victory.
