As Nigeria commemorates the maiden celebration of the country’s Democracy Day on June 12, Ondo State women under the aegis of Association of Female Politicians, AFP, have cried out over the alleged continuous marginalization of women from governance in the state.
The women, who spoke at the state secretariat of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, during a press conference in Akure, the Ondo State capital, frowned at the situation, which they described as worrisome.
According to the Chairman of the group, Mrs. Janet Adeyemi, who has been the only woman from Ondo State to have occupied a sit at the National Assembly, stated that women representation in the political setting of the state has not been encouraging, stressing that Ondo State is the only state in the south west that is yet to produce a female Deputy Governor, Secretary to the State Government, SSG, Senator among others.
Mrs. Adeyemi, who was represented by Mrs. Adebunmi Osadahun, appealed that the 35 per cent affirmative action should implemented in the state, emphasizing that come 2020, the position of the Deputy Governor or SSG must be reserved for women.
“We, the female politicians in Ondo state, irrespective of our political parties operating under Association of Female Politicians came together in celebration of June 12 Democracy Day and the 20th anniversary of uninterrupted democracy in Nigeria.
“We conducted a historical scan of the political participation of women in Ondo state and Nigeria at large and observed that: Over the 20 year period from 1999-2019, Ondo State women have continued to witness abysmal representative percentages across the state.
“In elective offices and legislative arm, the highest representation ever attained by women in Ondo state was 11 per cent in 2011 with three women elected to State House of Assembly, as against the recommended 35 per cent affirmation, which is operative under the law.
“This unacceptable low representation further reduced, drastically, to 3.8 per cent with just one female representative presently in the State House of Assembly,and NONE in the Federal House of Assembly and the Senate.
“The same trend is observed in the state allocation of appointments through which persistently few women are allowed the golden opportunity of service to their state and nation relative to the men in spite of the tireless political participation of women in Ondo State.”
In the same vein, one of the leaders of the group, Mrs. Omowumi Ohwovoriole, a former Commissioner for Women Affairs in the state maintained that despite the fact that Nigeria is a signatory to several international instruments affirming gender parity, it is unfortunate that the state is among the most gender insensitive states in Nigeria.
“Party structures in Ondo State has done nothing to encourage gender inclusion in its polity.
“Currently, Ondo state ranks high among the states where very few women have participated in the management of Nigerian public institutions such as Political Parties, Legislative Assemblies and Executive Councils, which are depicted as “male clubs”.
“The height of worry and tipping point for female politicians in Ondo State was the stark reality presented by the just concluded 2019 election where ONLY ONE woman made it to the state assembly.
“Across the world, the global trend reflects a close connection between female participation in governance and national development. This is observable in African countries such as Rwanda and Ethiopia where rapid socio-economic development is witnessed after the deliberate policy implementation on female participation.”
Also Dr. (Mrs) Yemi Mahmud, Former Commissioner for Women Affairs who also spoke during the press conference said, “This is is a call for urgent action by the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration to follow the trend of other African nations, who have entrenched women leadership as a way of governance and are currently reaping the huge benefits rapid development and growth in all sectors of social and economic life.
“Association of Female Politicians, Ondo State Chapter is, therefore, calling on all State Governors across the nation to entrench the Affirmative Action through adequate appointment of women into key political offices in places where there is a shortfall in female elective representation.
“We call on the leadership of Ondo State Government, Arakunrin Odunayo Akeredolu to hearken to the voice of women in the state and ensure a change of this negative narrative, which has led to lack of political interest and created sense of injustice and marginalization in women in the state. We implore the Governor to see women as partners in progress in the state, and insist on massive increase in appointment of credible women into key political offices.”
