IFENDU CHARGES BUHARI TO GIVE WOMEN A CHANCE TO SERVE NIGERIA

Ebere Ifendu the president of Women in Politics Forum at a press briefing in Abuja urged President Muhammadu Buhari to redeem his promise to implement the 35% affirmative Action policy, a promise he made to the women at aspirants summit in August of 2018.

Ifendu who congratulated Buhari on his recent inauguration into office as President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria for a second term said his re-election is a show of the quantum of faith reposed on him by Nigerians, especially Nigerian women.

Ifendu said Nigerian women are saddend by the stark reality of the poor representation of women across board in all elective offices despite concerted efforts to achieve the 35% Affirmative Action. She expressed fear that with this trend of low participation and emergence of women in both elective and appointive positions, Nigeria’s democratic and economic flight will be hindered like the proverbial one winged-bird and called on President Buhari to strengthen the confidence of Nigerian women and also place Nigeria in its proper place as the Giant of Africa.

Ifendu compared Nigeria as doing badly to Ethiopia, Rwanda, South Africa & Senegal who rate among the top ten in the world with the greatest representation of women in elective and appointive positions.
The 2019 election showed the lowest representation of Nigerian Women with 7 elected female senators out of 109 and 11women as members of the House of representatives out of a House of 360. There was no female governor and only 4 female deputy governors emerged out of 36 states. 40 elected female politicians emerged in the state assemblies making a total of 65 elected female politicians out of an unprecedented number of 2970 candidates.

Ifendu said Nigeria does not lack in quality and quantity women who have proven themselves both as national and global resource in all spheres of endeavor and urged him to give these women a chance to serve Nigetia.

While congratulating President Buhari for winning a second term Ifendu demanded that Hon. Nkeiruka Onyejeocha who is a woman of cognate and eminent experience and a fourth term returnee to the House of representative should be given all the support to emerge as speaker of the House of Representatives in the 9th Assembly. The group also advocated for Hon. Khadija Bukar, a fourth term returnee as a principal officer of the House of Representatives and all other female ranking members of the national assembly to be appointed as principal officers and in cabinet formation, women who excelled like Sharon Ikeazor and others should be considered. The group commended the President in his visionary leadership and urged him to redeem his pledge to the women by implementing the 35% Affirmative action policy as promised for the actualization of his next level agenda. Ifendu said Mr. President can go further by following the global trend of 50/50 as practiced by South Africa and Rwanda.