Mr. Akin Fadeyi spoke extensively about the plights of Women in politics, Leadership, and Good Governance and women’s inclusion in the 2023 elections.
He said, “oftentimes, male kids have been applauded more than females and it means, we conflicted the importance of having a child with that jaundice perception of male gender supremacy, and that defines why girls have been molded to have that soft domesticated impression of themselves while men are described as aggressive and bold.
“This is what they take into adulthood, this is what they mainstream as a non-culture that enters the governance space and then you now find out that today, to the shame and embarrassment of the world, since 1999 when you count 360 House of Reps member you barely count 6 women. When you count 109 senators, we barely count 3 women.
“In this country, we produce women leaders in businesses, within the corporate sector, in medicine, and across the professional boards but when it comes to governance where are the women? We don’t find them.” He added
The Gender and Equal Opportunities Bill had been under consideration in the Nigerian Senate since 2010 to be enacted as a Nigerian law as part of the effort toward MDG 3.
The Rejection Of Gender Equity Bill Has Triggered The Absence Of Women In Politics
In March 2016, after six years, the Bill was voted out for “lack of merit”. The Nigerian senate failed to enact the bill of “gender and equal opportunity”, which forbids physical, psychological, and sexual rights of women.
It was agreed by members of the Nigerian Senate that the content of the Bill was not in line with the religious and cultural beliefs of most of the Nigerian population and thus, unworthy to be enacted as a Nigerian law.
On the National Assembly’s rejection of the bill which sought extra legislative seats for women and Affirmative Action for Women in Political Parties’ Administration, Mrs. Tallen urged Nigerians to pray for the members of Parliament, describing their action as a “show of shame”.
She threatened to mobilize Nigerian women to strategize during the 2023 election.
“I urge all Nigerians to help us pray for the men that killed this bill yesterday in the National Assembly,” she said.
Mrs. Tallen maintained that the decision to turn down the proposed legislation was unfortunate.
She, however, expressed optimism that there would be light at the end of the tunnel.
“It clearly shows that the men that were against the bill don’t have any respect for women, it’s clear.
“But I am not generalizing, not all the men in the National Assembly. We have the figures, 72 men in the House of Representatives voted in support of the bill.
“So, I’m not generalizing. We are saying that, for those that don’t believe in it, we will continue to intensify advocacy for them to believe in gender equality and the role that women can play when they are on the decision table to make Nigeria better.
“I want to assure you, that all hope is not lost. I have reassured Nigerian women that we should not be daunted, we should remain resilient. And we have already put in place strategies.
“Last night we all met the key civil society organizations and other women activists.
“We are strategizing with the female members in both Houses of National Assembly. And I want to assure you, that Nigeria women will not give up, we’ll keep pushing until we achieve the affirmative action.’’
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