The Center for Gender Equity and Sustainable Development, Port Harcourt, has called for an unbiased investigation of the alleged sexual harassment made by Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan against Senator President, Godwill Akpabio.
In a statement on Saturday, the Executive Director of the Center, Constance Meju, said: “It has been stated that the degree of women’s emancipation determines the level of emancipation in that society.
“Nigeria is sinking because needed attention is not directed at a segment that constitutes a major population of the country.
“Although they represent a significant voter population, they are more disrespected and disregarded by the very ones to obediently and regularly cast their votes.”
According to the statement, it is not surprising therefore, that the very few women who manage to squeeze past the narrow window left to women for elective positions, often end up as decorations rather than real participants in decision making and this has adversely affected development in this rich but poor country.
“Today is International Women’s Day, and the Nigerian Senate, which has consistently thrown out issues concerning women in disdain, gave us a celebration of the suspension of one of four women in the hallowed chamber, Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan for six months.
“Her offense was speaking up against attempts by Senator Godswil Akpabio as Senate president, to gag her, and assault her sexually.
“Interestingly, some women leaders who have been displaying support for gender equity over the years, are joining forces with those pulling the women down. Nigerian women have recorded more motion than movement.
“Our representation in in the two chambers of the National Assembly is abysmal dropping from seven percent to barely four percent against the West African record of 12 percent and the global 30 percent despite the Nigeria Gender Policy pegging representation at all public leadership tables at 30 percent.
“The political exclusion of women from the Nigerian political decision-making table is a form of violence that the Senate has just made manifest with its hammer on Akpoti.
“It is a systematic exclusion, a warning to women in the office wherever they are, to be silent, subservient, and mindful of the fact that they really do not matter and so, should swallow abuses or be shipped out or shoved aside.
“And this is coming 30 years after the Nigerian government signed up with 188 other countries, to begin a new slate of recognition and empowerment for women at the 1995 Beijing Conference Declaration! This is unacceptable and must be resisted by women who think right.
“Yes, women are making great strides in the private sector emerging as chief executives of top banking and other economic institutions, international organizations, and as vice chancellors of universities but with no voice in the critical public governance space, the chains that hold the majority of Nigerian women down will still hold fast, causing the motion without movement.
“It is even more discomforting to learn that Mrs Remi Tinubu, wife of the president, supposed mother of all, who herself, served as a senator for many years, came out to chastise Akpoti for crying out, not minding that the gender struggle in the last three years has been on amplifying the voices of women and teaching them to understand that they have a right to say No.
“Her statement is unfortunate and speaks against women’s interests and advancement.”
For this celebration, the Center for Gender Equity and Sustainable Development joins Nigerian women-, the community women, women at the workplace, and the real women in leadership to demand as follows:
1. There should be a thorough unbiased investigation of allegations made by Senator Akpoti against Senator Akpabio especially, as another top won, Joy Nunieh, former NDDC acting managing director had levelled such in the past.
2. There should be an end to the silencing of women and issues about women in all our law-making chambers as well as other public decision-making tables.
3. Women demand recognition as equal citizens guaranteed by the Nigerian Constitution with equal contributions to Nigeria’s development and therefore, must be accorded respect.
4. Women’s human rights must be respected and gender inclusion must be mainstreamed in all spheres of governance.
5. There should be an intentional investment in the education of girls and women as well as their protection from insecurity.
“Nigeria has a right to be like other nations where women stand as presidents and vice presidents and not just wives or lame-duck representatives in leadership positions.
“This is a clarion call on women to bring out and spread that wrapper to create synergy for real empowerment and emancipation for until a greater number of women acquire the economic and political power to say No to inequality and discrimination, Nigeria will continue to head for the pit,” the statement added.
