…Says No Gender Bills, No Vote For Male Candidate In 2023 General Election
In commemoration of the 2022 international women’s Day celebration, the MMS WoFHoF Initiative has taken to the to campaigning for full participation of women in the helms of affairs of the country.
The road walk which took place in FESTAC environs of Lagos state was tagged ,”Equality Road-Walk”
Addressing the press after the walk, the Executive Secretary of MMS Woman of Fortune Hall of Fame (WoFHoF) Initiative, Mrs Ifeoma Iloh said the year 2022 International Women’s Day with the hashtag #BreakingTheBuas seems more significant in Nigeria to women because it coincided with the renewed agitation for the passage of key gender sensitive bills at the National Assembly.
Mrs Ifeoma Iloh disclosed that the process is precursor of the constitution amendments but unfortunately the bills did not scale through the wall of bias by men at both legislative chambers to hich have made Nigerian women moody and agitated.
She said this has prompted MMS WoFHoF Initiative to lends it’s voice against this gross insensitivity of some of the legislators for gender related causes. “We demand for the immediate passage of all women-related bills at the National Assembly. While we commend the leadership of the House of Representatives for rescinding their earlier position on the bills, we call on both chambers to revisit the rejected bills.
“Unless this is done, we shall mobilize Nigerian women to adopt a posture of “No Gender Bills; No Vote For Male Candidate” In 2023 general election and subsequent ones” Mrs Iloh said.
Stressing that the bias against female gender are rooted in male chauvinism and not African culture or tradition, she questioned why it is difficult to create seats for women in the national and state house if assembly, why the age -long lip-service 35% for women participation in elective and appointive position in Nigeria, reason lawmakers support the floating of women by denial of indigene ship and why a married woman is denied rights in her husband s place and place of birth on the ground that she has been married out.
She reiterated that Nigeria is not really practicing democracy as copied from the west as a woman cannot give her foreign husband Nigerian citizenship.
She maintained that the MMS WoFHoF Initiative remain determined to see the emergence of a female president in Nigeria as the initiative is not encouraged by the reality that no female president aspirant has emerged from any part of the mainstream political parties.
Also speaking , the founder of MMS WoFHoF Initiative, Mr Kingsley Anaroke said every March 8th is a new year for every woman where they need reflect on the past activities and set out plans on business or career for the year.
Mr Anaroke said the porpoise of the IWD is to break the bias created between male and female gender in work/ business place, career wise, family and society.
While urging women to know their rights in all they do, he said ” Nothing can be so encouraging than you knowing right. Am always so happy when I see women who knows their right and enforce it.
” Women should therefore take a stand on their right . If you’re into business, do your business well and in the right way in your place of business and if you work in an office, do the best to stand out right even if you are giving added responsibilities,do it without complaining because the more you do, the more knowledge you get.
“Women are better managers , especially when it has to do with finances, you must build your courage, anywhere you are, prove that you are a woman of purpose,prove yourself justifiable , break the bias and puncture the stereotype” Anaroke quipped.