Falana Backs Increased Women Representation In Parliament

A women rights advocate, Mrs Funmi Falana, (SAN), has thrown her weight behind increased representation of women in the National and State Assemblies.

Falana, who is the Director of Women Empowerment and Legal Aid (WELA) also lamented that children and the women were worst-hit of the renewed insecurity in the country.

She stated this in Iyin Ekiti, Irepodun-Ifelodun Local Government Area of Ekiti State after holding her annual Christmas party with the children of Erelu Angela Adebayo Children’s Home.

According to her, better women representation at the legislative Houses will ensure that more social safety is provided for children, woman and all Nigerians.

The agitation, through a proposed constitutional amendment, the “Reserved Seats for Women Bill” is aimed at fixing systemic underrepresentation of the women through creation of temporary additiona 37 seats each at the Senate and House of Representatives as well as 3 seats for women at the States House of Assembly.

“Definite, increased representation of women will make the difference in governance and that’s why we have continued to say that women are marginalised.

“And when we say let women do it and let’s see the difference, Nigerians have continued to have male presidents and women should be given a chance.

“I am saying women can do better because women will have the heart of compassion. Women will be more honest with government because they are not going to mismanage of resources,” she said.

The wife of human rights activist, Femi Falana (SAN), said the occasion was always dedicated to show love and give hope to the children, assuring that the future belongs to them.

On security situation in the country and its effect on women and children, she said, “Usually in any society children and women are usually the most vulnerable and it is very sad even the future is bleak for them.

“The home is not secured. So you see that children are being picked up in the northern parts. They go to their school and pick them up. These are the things we find there and it’s unfortunate that these children who are not the architects of where they have been born but found themselves being born into Nigeria it’s unfortunate that they have found themselves in this situation. I want to tell Nigerians that these ones (children) will not forgive them if our leaders do not stand up to resist this evil.”

She added that the government seems helpless about the whole situation resulting in the American Government coming to intervene.

“It is shameful and it is embarrassing that we have found ourselves at this situation. Nobody can say precisely how we got here and the government cannot even come out to honestly tell Nigerians that they don’t know how to go about it and now they opened their mouth to say they are collaborating”.

She called on the government to sanction perpetrators or crimes to serve as deterrence to others.

Falana further advised Nigerians to always use their resources to support the down trodden and the less privileged in the society.

“Christmas time is a time to show love and one of the ways to show love is by giving. This is what people of means should be doing. This is what they should put their resources into, to impact the life of the less privileged.

“Instead of wasting money on frivolities, these are things that lift souls. And this is a desire of God for men and women. This is a way to let them know that they are as important as their contemporaries in other places,” she added.