The Ohinoyi of Ebira land, Dr Ado Ibrahim has challenged women in the country to unite and speak in one voice towards putting an end to violence against women in election.
Dr Ibrahim, who identified failure of women in Nigeria to believe in themselves as one of the reasons why violence and harassment of women persist in politics, disclosed this weekend when Challenge Parenthood Initiative (CPI) paid him an advocacy visit in Okene ahead of the governorship election slated for November 16th in Kogi State.
The 93-year old monarch described women as nation builders who should be treated with respect and given equal opportunity in the political space. He said it is appalling that despite the campaign for inclusion of more women in politics, it has not been fully implemented in Nigeria and Africa in general.
While condemning violence before, during and after election in Nigeria, the monarch said it is time for politicians to move from a must win syndrome politics to adoption of a model where the voices the electorate will be reflected through the ballot.
Dr Ibrahim eulogized Nigerian women for their roles at home and in the nation building, adding that the time is ripe for women to come together in one voice and participate in active politics, by avoiding any form of distraction that could emanate from any quarters in the society.
According to him, women makes the future hence the nation cannot achieve it developmental project when women are completely relegated to the background.
He described the spate of violence faced by women in the country as worrisome and enjoined Challenged Parenthood Initiative (CPI) not to be discouraged in accomplishing her goals which, according to him, will help towards building a better society acceptable by all in the world.
Earlier, the Executive Director Challenge Parenthood Initiative (CPI) Eunice Abimbola Agbogun told the monarch that her organization in collaboration with National Democratic Institute (NDI) and USAID have been championing the campaign to put an an end to victimization of women during election.
She pointed out that CPI had visited various stakeholders which includes political parties, traditional institutions with the aim of also accomplishing the ‘Get Out The Vote’ (GOTV) program which is targeted at ensuring active participation in the forthcoming gubernatorial election in Kogi State.
Also at the weekend, CPI technical support team paid an advocacy visit to the State secretariat of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Received by the State Publicity Secretary Bode Ogunmola, CPI technical team lead by Mr Idris hinted that the organization has trained 63 personnel across the 21 Local Government Areas of the State on the campaign to stop violence against women in politics.
Adding her voice, the project manager of CPI, Mrs Ruth Olatunji, while presenting an overview of the project, solicited the support of the party in achieving an election that is devoid of violence, intimidation and harassment of women who are out to exercise their civic responsibility.
She added that the structural barriers against women in party politics should be removed.
Responding, the PDP spokesman, Bode Ogunmola told his visitors that his party over the years have been promoting peace and tranquility before, during and after election in the state.
According to him, all hands must be on deck to achieve a peaceful polls adding that, INEC should not be biased in the discharge of their duties.
