League of Women Voters, an NGO, began a ward-to-ward campaign in Kebbi to create awareness for women representation in governance.
The Wife of Kebbi Governor, Hajiya Zainab-Nasare Idris, who inaugurated the campaign in Birnin Kebbi yesterday, said it was time for women to assume power.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the programme tagged, “Her Seat in Parliament and Governance Campaign”, was to create awareness amongst women to improve their participation in governance.
Represented by Hajiya Rafa’atu Hammani, former Permanent Secretary, Ministry for Women Affairs, the governor’s wife encouraged women to be bold in indicating interest for political positions.
She, however, cautioned women against presenting candidates who lack integrity, respect, discipline, and moral values.
“We want women to represent us but which women?
“We want women who have societal respect, women who will truly represent us not represent themselves.
“When a woman comes out to contest, we need to know how cordial she is with her husband, her in-laws, her neighbours and the community in general.
“If she wants to represent us, how is she relating with her neighbours?
“We are fighting for credible and trustworthy women who will be mothers, women who care about our plights, women who will struggle for the rights and privileges of other women,” she said.
The Chairman of the occasion, Alhaji Yakubu Ahmed-BK, who is the state’s Commissioner for Information and Culture, noted that women were the most critical stakeholders in Nigerian politics, with or without political office.
Ahmed-BK, however, lamented that some women abuse the opportunity given to them to serve and stressed the need for the women to reorganise themselves for impactful representation.
According to him, when women present an irresponsible woman for a leadership position, there will be problems.
“There is the need, therefore, to give more opportunities to credible women to ensure inclusive governance.”
On her part, Ms Blessing Michael, the Chairperson of the NGO, explained that the organisation was dedicated to promoting women’s rights and empowerment.
Michael said that the essence of the campaign was to mobilise women for the actualisation of the 74 Special Seats Bill, currently before the National Assembly for consideration.
She urged stakeholders to join hands with women towards achieving this goal.
Also speaking, Hajiya Hassana Koko, the Chairperson, National Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ) in the state, said that the campaign was critical toward mobilising women to support increased women participation in governance.
Koko assured the organisers of the campaign NAWOJ’s support in creating the needed awareness among women in communities.
Similarly, the Chairman, Nigeria Union of journalists (NUJ), Kebbi Council, Alhaji Bello Sarki, commended the foresight of the NGO in organising the event.
Sarki equally promised to collaborate and support any efforts toward strengthening women participation in governance. (NAN)
