Ene Oshaba
The Minister of Women Affairs Dame Pauline Tallen, has lamented the sufferings of women politically, blaming the National Assembly, her own party the All Progressive Congress (APC) and all other political parties for not being fair to women.
Tallen expressed her concerns while addressing the National Dialogue on Preventing Violence Against Women in the 2023 General Elections organized by the Women in Politics Forum (WiPF) in Abuja at the weekend.
She said, “Unfortunately the National Assembly and almost all the political parties including my party the APC have not done well to women they are not fair to women and I say this openly. Its not that there are no qualified or competent women across the parties.
“Despite all these I dont want your spirits to be dampened we will continue to intensify advocacy until we change their mindset, a day will come just like Martin Luther King had a dream for America after many years a black man ruled America and today a black woman is the Vice President of America .
“We are making progress and it will happen one day. Across the world tje experience of Covid 19 was a clear testimony and all the countries that managed the crises are ruled by women,” she added.The Minister maintained that President Mohammadu Buhari wants a clean, credible and fair election, stressing that those managing the elections must ensure that the right things are done so as to save any bad sitution that may arise.
She therefore urged all security agencies to protect women during the elections, noting that the few women at the National Assembly are performing better than all the men and so more women need to occupy leadership positions.
“We must rescue and save this country and so women needs protection in this election because if women are not on decision making tables the right decisions for all will not be made.
“I appeal to security, INEC to make it a responsibility to ensure that women are protected against violence and blackmail and ensure that each vote count,” she said.
In her welcome address, Convener of the dialogue Barr. Ebere Ifendu, lamented that women’s safety is being threatened by the series of violent attacks at campaign rallies and the polity in general, adding that female candidates were being blackmailed and their posters destroyed.
Ifendu said the dialogue was organized following series of calls from female candidates complaining of not being able to get security backup, threat of physical assault, adding that The situation in the country today is so uncomfortable and scary to not just women but including the men.
“We started feeling it ahead and complained but we weren’t taken serious but we took a step by going to the inspector general of Police and we were received by the AIG in charge of operations who directed that signals be sent to states to ensure that female candidates get security.
“The level of violence is something that needs to be addressed because election is in few days. INEC too is crying because over 52 of their establushments have been destroyed. This calls for attention and thats why all stakeholders are gathered here today to talk about how the elections will be free from violence,” she said.
“She further expressed disappointment on political parties with female flagbearers who at the dieing period of election decided to support another party than their own candidates, calling for the integrity of such parties to be questioned and dealt with.
“We must look at the integrity and character of people we are dealing with they have embarrassed themselves, political party and the society and should never be trusted because they are hungry charlatans and shouldn’t be in politics,” she stressed.
In her remarks, the Country Director Action Aid Nigeria, Ene Obi, lamented that adequate sanctions are not given to perpetrators of violence against women, recalling the case of Salome who was burnt to death in Kogi state she urged women to not be discouraged by the poor number of female candidates rather continue to be steadfast and work towards 2027.
“A woman has no tribe but humanity we need to get the agency of women right and start mobilising ahead 2027,” she urged.
Responding, Head of the Gender desk at the Nigerian Securities and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC) Alao Kemi, represented by DSC Olushino Ajao, said to ensure security of all citizens before, during and after the elections and other GBV cases the N-ALERT mobile application was developed to enable people report cases and get help.
Meanwhile, CSP Adekemi Afolabi, Gender Desk Department at the Nigerian Police Force assured of protection of lives during the election period.