“Imo Women Matter” Insists On Gendre Balance In Governance, Lobby For Deputy Governorship, Other Positions

Following the dearth of gender sensitivity in the Nigerian Polity, albeit with focus on Imo State experience, Imo Women under the umbrella ‘Imo Women Matter’ have resolved to pragmatically change the trend.

The Women Matter’ Group whose Convener is the First Lady of Ondo State and the illustrious daughter of Imo State, Chief (Mrs) Betty Akeredolu among other women during a parley have reached out to all the political parties in the state to include the women in their political equation.

The event, which witnessed the presence of women leaders drawn from politics and various professional backgrounds held at Igolo Abiam Place, Ikenegbu, Owerri, Imo State.

Speaking during the event, Mrs. Akeredolu posits that “the human resource whether elected, appointed or recruited to run governmental affairs must be such that reflects the aspirations of a modern citizen who places premium on new knowledge, technology, innovation, capacity and proven ability of public servants to manage dynamic society.”

In her analogy, she suggested that government institutions must reflect diversity in gender, expertise and sound methodologies to solve complex challenges.

She decried the total relegation of women in Imo State despite the fact that the state is one of the educationally advanced states, wondering the reason for their exclusion from the the politics and and governance of the State.

Buttressing her points, she reeled out data that shows that only one woman emerged out of over forty elective positions in the state; three elected senators are males

– ten elected members of the house of representatives, only one is female

• – twenty seven elected members of the Imo State House of Assembly are males
• – the positions of chairmen, vice chairmen and secretaries of major political parties in the state are all males
• – all the governorship candidates across political parties in the state are males.
• She also disclosed that the intervention by the “Imo Women Matter” is for the sake of the future of the girl-child and the generations yet unborn.
• She averred that women are not only trained to be in the kitchen and child bearing, they should be part of the decision making in the polity so as to represents the critical layers of the state.
• She said they have already written sent protest letters to various political parties, urging them to reconsider their plans by ensuring that women occupy the position of the deputy governorship aspirants.
• Among other strategic steps taken by the women to achieve their aims are;Partnership with friendly segments of the press with an objective for wider reach and to sustain the message of protest and demand.
• Press conference with participation by frontline media outfits and women representatives drawn from zones across the state; Constructive post conference engagements with women, political leaders, relevant persons especially HE4SHEs and opinion leaders in the state.
• Earlier, Prof. Nnamdi Obiaraeri describes the trend and the delegation of womenfolk in the political arrangement of the state as an aberration.
• She went on to reel out the agelong discrimination among women since the return of Nigeria to civil rule.He said that it was only under the administration of Chief Ikedi Ohakim that a woman was the Deputy Governor of the State.
• He said: “In the history of Imo State only one woman has been elected as a Deputy Governor under Ikedi Ohakim ‘s administration.”For 23 years, Imo State has only produced one female Senator who was Dr. Chris Anyanwu.
• “Imo Women cannot only be good in sing and dancing at political rallies, most of them have capacity with compelling qualifications that are compelling enough to be part of the planning of the collective future of the state.
• “I, therefore, join Imo women to say no to this marginalisation; I join them to call on political parties to field them for the office of the deputy governor.
• “Delivering vote of thanks via zoom from Manitoba, Canada, Princess Calista Anane said “the time is now to tackle the hydra-headed monster of discrimination against the women in the political space.
• She accused political parties as being the chief mastermind of the discrimination and relegation of women in the political and leadership process in the state.
• She commended the convener and the wife of the Governor of Ondo State, Chief Mrs (Mrs) Betty Akeredolu, Chief Mrs Ngozi Njoku, former Commissioner for Health and Women Affairs, Prof of Law, Dr. Nnamdi Obiaraeri.
• The Chairman of the occasion and the Chairman of Imo State Correspondent Chapel, Comrade Chris Njoku expressed gladness in the peaceful manner the women have conducted themselves to address the anomalies of discrimination against women in polity.
• He reminded the political class of the capacity of the women to achieve whatever the set their minds to, giving allusion to Aba women riot of 1923.
• He also called on the political class, especially the menfo to discuss with women and reach a truce as they may like lose their place if the women come together.
• “The women are more United, more formidable, more in number and more determined to tackle any collective goal.
• “I am in support of their call for Gendre sensitivity if not equality in political interest sharing and governance. The women can always call the men to order politely when they are overreaching their bounds in public service.”