Kazeem Badmus
GOVERNMENT at all levels have been urged to integrate more women into the governance of the nation.
The appeal was made on Tuesday in Osogbo, during a town hall meeting organised by Justice, Development and Peace Maker Center (JDPMC), to stop Violence Against Women in Politics.
In his welcome address, the General Coordinator of the JDPMC, Osogbo, Rev. Peter Akinkunmi, said every nation needs women in political positions in order to develop.
Akinkunmi said: “We are here to deliberate on our future and how to bring about good governance in our society. The United Nations has said woman must occupy at least 35 percent position in government if we are to witness true democracy.
“Any nation that wants to develop must have woman occupying various positions in the administration of such country”.
Speaking at the programme, the Olokebode of Okebode, Oba Ezekiel Adeniran, maintained that the number of women involved in Nigerian politics is low, compared to other countries in the world.
Oba Adeniran who described Nigerian women as ‘women voter’ urged them to seek elective positions, adding that they have potentials and capability to lead.
He said: “The percentage of women in politics in Nigeria is too low compared to other countries around the world.
“We have a lot of women who are capable and have potential to hold elective and appointment positions but unfortunately, Nigerian women are voters who don’t contest for elective positions.
“I want to urge our women to participate more in politics and contest for elective positions. I want to also urged the government to make the appointment of more women into governance a priority”.
The Olori of Ipetu-Ile, Olori Adetokunbo Falade Fatila, in his own contribution, said women are facing a lot of challenges when it comes to participating in election.
She maintained that until electorate start electing people without considering their gender, the country will cease to progress.
Olori Fatila said: “There was a time I wanted to contest for councillor in my area due to the problems being faced by my fellow women in the community. I made my intention known and people were in support of me. Along the line, some men during a meeting told me people like me shouldn’t be involved in politics, saying those in politics are thieves. They also claimed that politicians are rogues.
“Those are part of what they are using to scare the women away. Until we understand that we have to elect the person who really care for us, irrespective of the gender, that is when we can witness real progress. Without women in governance, there won’t be progress in such government”.
She appealed to women to rise up and fight the menace of violence against them.
“As a woman, if we see another woman who is maltreated, we should be able to rise up and fight on behalf of that woman to demand justice. This is time for us to come together and fight the menace of violence against women”, she added.
Others who spoke in support of women participation in politics during the meeting are; Uztaz Jamiu Alimi, the chief Imam of Boluwatife Community, Ayekale area, Osogbo and Venerable Gabriel Abimbola from Anglican Cathedral, Osun Diocese.
