BY CHIKA OKEKE, Abuja
The Presidential candidate of Labour Party, Mr Peter Obi has lamented that Senators Ireti Kingibe and Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan have continued to face the harshest forms of discrimination and hostility in the public space despite their electoral victories.
This, he said are solid examples of the brutal reality for women in politics, a system that not only resists their inclusion but actively works to push them out.
He stated this via his X handle on Saturday in commemoration of 2025 International Women's Day (IWD) with the theme: ""For All Women and Girls: Rights, Equality, Empowerment,"
The IWD is a day set aside by the global community to celebrate women and womanhood, and honour women's achievements and advance advocacy for their rights, opportunities, and empowerment.
Obi noted that the theme for this year's celebration: "For All Women and Girls: Rights, Equality, Empowerment," highlighted the importance of protecting women's rights and fostering their empowerment for the progress of our nation.
To this end, Obi advocated for aggressive investment in girl-child education particularly in educationally disadvantaged areas.
This, he believed would break the cycles of inequality and underdevelopment, adding that the critical roles played by women in family and national development is unquantifiable.
He stated that women in Nigeria, who have shown enormous resilience remain trapped in cycles of poverty, with limited access to basic healthcare—marked by low neonatal care, high infant mortality, education, and other essential services.
The former governor of Anambra State hinted that among the millions of out-of-school children, girls account for the majority.
He pointed out that girls continue to bear the brunt of the rising insecurity as they are disproportionately affected by violence, abductions, and other forms of insecurity.
"Despite their critical contributions to society, Nigerian women hold only 6 percent of leadership positions in the private sector, while political representation continues to decline, reaching its lowest point after the 2023 elections.
"Even for the few women who break through these systemic barriers and secure positions of power, the challenges are relentless," he added.
Obi stated that without thorough implementation of affirmative action to guarantee a minimum of 25 percent representation in all decision-making bodies—across all arms of government– both elective and appointive, women will remain excluded.
He noted that affirmative action should cut across the corporate world and other areas of our national livelihood.
News Rider reports that a National Gender Policy was formulated in 2006 to promote a 35 percent affirmative action– a policy that demands 35 percent involvement of women in all governance processes.
Ninenteen years down the line, the affirmative action are yet to be domesticated as there are no structures and processes for its implementation.
Obi added: "The time to act is now. Women are the backbone of our society, and the progress of our nation depends on ensuring they have equal opportunities to shape our collective future.
"A new Nigeria is POssible."
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