…calls for collaborative support
Nnenna Mba
Stakeholders from Ebonyi North, including Traditional rulers have endorsed the Special Seats Bill for Women, while calling for strong commitment in ensuring that the Bill succeeds.
This formed part of an Advocacy meeting held at San Diego hotel, Abakaliki.
The Town hall meeting tagged; “Support for the Reserved Seat Bill: Ebonyi North Advocacy/Townhall”, organized by Women Aids Collective, WACOL, in partnership with UN Women and funded by the Government of Canada, seeks to remedy the low representation of women in legislative houses by providing for special constituencies to be contested and filled by women, as a temporary measure to promote women’s political representation.
In her opening remark, the state Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Women Affairs, Dr Mrs Alo Lynda, stated that the issue of constitutional amendment to reserve seats for women in elective and appointive positions – is not just a legal or political reform, but a moral imperative.
Dr Alo, while commending WACOL and its partners for driving this bold initiative, lauded stakeholders/participants for their presence adding, “your presence affirms that change is not only necessary but also possible.”
During a panel discussion, the Cordinator National Human Rights, Ebonyi state chapter, Onyekachi Okorie, while supporting the Reserved Seat Bill, stressed on the need for equity adding that women have been sidelined for long.
“I personally endorse this bill, secondly my office, the National Human Rights is also endorsing it. Human Rights and law makes no sense without equity.
“The Reserved Seat Bill is a summary of what we call Equity, in the sense that for a very long time the male gender have controlled the political space. So much so, that it’s so difficult for their counterpart gender to flow undefeated. And if we allow this continue, women will always be sidelined”, Okorie said.
Representative of the Civil Society Organisation, Ajah Oliver, stated that for the Bill to succeed, it must be seen as people oriented, not for a certain group of people. He equally said there’s need for supporters from various Constituency to engage lawmakers in favour of the Bill.
Adding their voices, traditional ruler of Okpuitumo community, Ikwo LGA, HRH Eze Stephen Ukpai, and Pastor Kalu Gerald Udonsi noted that men cannot function alone without the help of women.
They pointed out that certain norm/practice prevents women from expressing themselves or shy away from political activities. For instance, women do not partake in village cabinet meetings, hence their opinion on certain issues are not made known.
On the way forward, Mr Okorie while noting that this norm/practices is a systemic problem, called for everyone’s commitment in changing the system. He said, “we must be very committed, until our commitment gets stretched to elasticity limit, beyond economic, cultural, and social background.”
The participants also emphasized on sensitization to the public about the Bill as well as mentorship on political participation, for women and girls including the young ones in schools, thereby getting them equipped for political activities.
They equally appealed to traditional rulers to incorporate women in their cabinet meetings and ensure that women’s right are protected.
The event equally featured signing of HeForShe Champions by the male stakeholders.
Stakeholders include; Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Women Affairs; Dr. Mrs Lynda Alo, Cordinator, National Human Rights Commission, Ebonyi state; Onyekachi Okorie, Representative of Civil Society Organisation; Ajah Oliver, Traditional rulers, Clergy among others.
