2019: Women Rights groups condemn low female representation

Women rights groups have condemned the decline in women representation in politics and by extension governance, in the just concluded election primaries.

They said women representation in this current administration has fared poorly, compared to the previous regime.

With only 31 out of 469 female aspirants successfully emerging as flag bearers for National Assembly positions in the recent polls, the groups unanimously agreed that women needed to intensify efforts in the areas of economic and self development.

Speaking in Abuja on Tuesday, at the ongoing All African Women Summit, the National coordinator, Society for Empowerment and Self Reliance, Rose Mary Effiong, said the situation is dire in Nigeria, because women are not given opportunities to be financially buoyant to vie for political offices.

Mrs Effiong disclosed that Nigeria was sinking deeper into a male dominated governance system and women are not included in the brokering peace as it is expected.

She said “Despite all enabling laws like the Beijing declaration and the Nigeria gender policy, which provides for 35 Percent female representation, women have not gotten up to 27 percent in leadership positions.

“We managed to get 30 percent representation in last regime, and it has now dragged less than 20 Percent in the current dispensation.

“Currently we have 7 women in the senate and 14 In the House of Representatives, and with the outcome of the primaries, we expect that it will be lesser, because not all women have the money to buy votes as it is done.

“Every woman must be advocates of peace and should be present at the negotiation table, they must also learn other skills that the male counterparts exhibit.

She also called for women to be active peace brokers and negotiators during conflicts, stating that the high percentage of women in the country should be a negotiating tool to secure leadership positions.

“This is important because if you look at pictures depicting poverty, you will see a woman with carrying a baby on her back; this is to tell how much women bear the grunt of conflicts.

The women rights advocate, further said Nigeria was not taking its place of pride in the continent with counties like Rwanda which is currently the country with highest female representation in leadership.

Corroborating, the Founder and former convener of the Justice Must Prevail Party Sarah Jibril, strong believed that ignorance and fear are impediments women must overcome before they can successfully change the status quo.

“It is not about the money, I believe vision and essence puts a woman in the best position to lead.

“The place of mentorship and guidance must also be made priority, so that we can equip the next generation with necessary skill to aspire, “she said.