Recently there have been awakening calls by well meaning Nigerians for women of the country to rise as a strong force and take their political, social and cultural freedom and advancement into their own hands towards fulfilling their destinies.
They are encouraged more for political enfranchisement which will enable them participate and win some elective positions in the government.
Prominent among the voices includes the Rivers State Deputy Governor Dr. Banigo Ipalibo who champions Women Emancipation in the State.
According to the Deputy Governor, Wike administration had initiated a Political Revolution which makes it compulsory for all vice chairmanship positions in the Local Government Council Elections be reserved for women.
She therefore enjoined all women in the State to get involved in the forthcoming General Elections in 2023.
Banigo Ipalibo made this call when she addressed Women in Energy, Oil and Gas (WEOG) Summit at the Presidential Hotel Port Harcourt recently, stressing that now that the Electoral Act has been amended and signed into law , women must get their PVCs ready for the elections because every vote must count under the new electoral order.
She equally encouraged the participants in the summit in particular and women of our great nation to see themselves as working together for inter-party and cross-cultural centripetal force for all women of substance and more especially to endeavour to articulate and take appropriate steps that would address the lingering artificial and social- cultural barriers against women aspiring to fulfill destinies in their chosen professions in the society.
The chairperson of the International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA) Adata Bio Briggs in an interview with our reporters called on women to participate actively in the nations electoral process. She said women’s political participation results in tangible gains for democracy, including greater responsiveness to citizens needs, increased cooperation across party and ethnic lines and more sustainable peace. Adding that women’s participation in politics helps advance gender equality and affects both the range of policy issues that get considered and the types of solutions that are proposed.
FIDA chairperson in Rivers State however advised women to begin to equip themselves with their Permanent Voters Card ( PVC’S ) in preparation for the 2023 general election, so that they can vote for their choice candidates, in order to avoid regret in the future.
