A group women under the aegis of Ondo State Women Groups has called on all the political parties participating in the 2024 governorship election in the state to nominate women as their deputy governorship candidates.
The women groups, which made the demand in a communique issued at the end of its inaugural meeting on Thursday with the theme: “Agitation For Gender Balance And Inclusiveness,” regretted that only Ondo
State, which prides itself as the intellectual base of the Southwest region of Nigeria, is yet to provide an opportunity for a female deputy governor.
They observed that despite the immeasurable contributions of women to the restoration of democracy and national growth and development, Nigerian women have been relegated and reduced to the back seats in both elective and appointed positions.
In a communique signed by the Convener of the groups, Mrs Adebimpe K. Adebiyi, the women observed that since 1999, when Nigeria transitioned from military rule to democratic governance, women have yet to occupy up to 15 percent of elective positions in a country where the voting population of women is equal to, if not more than, men.
It reads, “Not only has no woman been elected president, none has been elected vice president or governor in Nigeria in the 33 years of democratic rule. The only woman who became governor of Anambra state, after the then governor Peter Obi was impeached, was Etiaba.
“However, her tenure lasted for only three months before she returned to being the deputy governor because the former governor, Obi, was reinstated.
“We must, however, acknowledge that women have been nominated and elected as deputy governors in some states in Nigeria. In the South West, only Ondo state, which prides itself as the intellectual base of the region, is yet to provide an opportunity for a female deputy governor.”
According to the communique, after extensive deliberations during the inaugural meeting, the women demanded as follows:
“A complete and total abandonment of all forms of discrimination – cultural, religious, and traditional – against the girl child in Ondo state.
“A more gender-sensitive and all-inclusive government policies and programmes across all sectors.
“Full implementation of all gender balance-related legislations, including the National Gender Policy – Affirmative Action, by allotting 35 percent of appointments in the public sector to women.
“Free and quality healthcare services for pregnant women and children under age 0-6.
“Nomination of women as deputy governorship candidates of all the participating political parties in the 2024 Governorship Election of Ondo state.
“An increased budgetary allocation for the State Ministry of Women Affairs.”
The group, however, maintained that its agitation and legitimate demand, especially on the nomination of women as deputy governorship candidates from all participating political parties, will persist until it is met and complied with by all political parties in the state.
“Using the unique Yoruba word ‘Odatiwa’ for inclusiveness while simultaneously confining women to the ‘other room’ is contradictory and unacceptable,” the women groups said.
