Engage in Politics, Atoyebi Counsels Military, Paramilitary Wives
Comrade Bamidele Atoyebi has urged wives of military and paramilitary personnel to actively participate in Nigeria’s democratic process, stressing that no law restricts them from political engagement despite their husbands’ professional obligations.
Atoyebi made this assertion while speaking at a training and empowerment programme for military and paramilitary spouses held in Lagos on Monday, where he described political participation by spouses as both lawful and strategically important for family and national development.
“Democratic process and progress require active participation from all sectors in society, especially military and paramilitary spouses,” he said, noting that while active service personnel are bound by institutional neutrality, their spouses are not subject to the same constraints.
According to him, “while your spouses are in uniform, wives can explore and express political affiliations and that can only deepen and institutionalise democracy,” adding that spouses should understand that “you are not constrained by any rule or law from playing active roles as spouses of military or paramilitary personnel.”
He observed that many spouses have historically avoided political engagement out of fear that it might affect their husbands’ careers, describing such restraint as a misunderstanding of constitutional rights. He warned that excessive rigidity in a democratic system often leads to missed opportunities.
Atoyebi further argued that active civic and political engagement could directly benefit military families, explaining that networking within political and civic leadership spaces provides access and advocacy not available within formal military hierarchies.
“In a democratic system, the art of lobbying is a fundamental tool for securing career-defining opportunities and ‘juicy appointments’,” he said, emphasizing that political participation remains one of the most effective ways to advance collective family interests.
He also highlighted the legal standing of spouses, stating that “military and paramilitary spouses are not encumbered but are fully entitled to vote and be voted for as well as participate in the democratic process,” while stressing that exercising such rights amounts to fulfilling civic responsibility, not violating institutional norms.
The speaker lamented what he described as a loss to the nation when educated spouses, including technocrats and lawyers, withdraw from politics due to fear, noting that their absence deprives society of valuable expertise needed for governance and development.
Addressing concerns about public visibility, Atoyebi said reluctance to be seen or heard in public spaces weakens advocacy efforts, particularly on policies affecting families and children.
He concluded by encouraging spouses to abandon what he termed rigid mindsets and embrace democratic engagement, calling on them to mentor, support, and uplift others while contributing their skills and knowledge beyond their immediate families.
