Osun Stakeholders Declares Women Participation And Inclusion In Politics Long Overdue, Renews Commitment
By Sola Aderinto,
Stakeholders in Osun state, the South West zone of Nigeria has declared the issue of advancing women participation in politics through female elected candidates as long overdue.
This is as the stakeholders jointly renewed commitment to the course, by ensuring that it reiterates to policy makers and other stakeholders the implementation of 35-percent affirmative on appointment and election of women into political positions.
The stakeholders which are groups such as National Council for Women Society NCWS, Civil Society Organizations CSOs, Joint Association of Persons With Disability, League of Imaams, National Youth Council of Nigeria NYCN, Christian Association of Nigeria CAN, Traditional Worshipers, Women Aspirants among others, called to Government at all levels, Inter Party Advisory Council IPAC, Independent National Electoral Commission INEC, and Osun State Independent Electoral Commission OSSIEC to prioritize the process of inclusion of women in elective posts.
At the two-days consultative meeting with stakeholders in Osun state, put together by Hope for Family Development Initiatives HFDI, in collaboration with Institut für Auslandsbeziehungen ifa Germany, themed: Advancing Women’s Political Participation Through Elected Female Candidates in the South West Nigeria, the groups stated that the call for support of women participation and inclusion in the state is long overdue.
They asserted that the time has come for all stakeholders to embrace the advocacy and support women’s participation and inclusion in governance and politics, adding that gender equality should be taking into consideration according to world standard.
Commending states that have few women aspirants representing other women in the few appointments made by some states governments, asking that they can do better, the groups frowned at the low rate and drop of women inclusion in political positions at the Senate, House of Representatives, Assembly, states and local governments.
They agreed that it’s time for women to be added to the list, and called out to the government to enforce the 35-percent affirmative, by making it legal, compared to its paper status that is not effective.
The Advance Women Participation Stakeholders in Osun also agreed to further make their stands known through the forthcoming Constitution Review that will hold in Nigeria.
In her welcome speech and HFDI women Advocate Ambassador, Mrs Folasade Odoro urged everyone to support women aspirants and elected women in politics, adding that its time for the narrative to change.
She added that irrespective of challenges, advocacy, outreaches, training, solutions is achievable through adherent to stipulated regulations and self determination to include and allow women participation in politics.
Also speaking, the Executive Director Hope for Family Development Initiatives HFDI, Ambassador Aremu Stephen Akinyele commended the groups for believing in the organization and support the Advance Women Participation in Politics project.
Speaking further, he added that the non-governmental organization, HFDI will continue to lead the women participation and inclusion in politics project till the 35-percent affirmative is implemented.