The National Woman Leader of the African Action Congress (AAC), Princess Grace Adejoh has expressed surprise over the Rejection of the Gender Equality Bill by the Nigerian National Assembly.
DAILY GIST had reported how the lawmakers voted on the 68 bills that seek to alter the Constitution.
Of the 68 legislations, about five bills sought to promote more opportunities for women in political parties, governance and the society at large.
The women, led by many civil society groups, carried placards to express their grievances.
They said the National Assembly has clearly said it does not want progress in the country.
The women were addressed by the Minority Leader of the Senate, Eyinnaya Abaribe, who said he supported the bills but was outvoted
He then asked the women to seek the voting records to know which lawmakers voted against the bills.
Princess Grace in her address on international women’s day said the rejection of the Gender Equality Bill by the Nigerian National Assembly is an astronomical apolitical stance and aberration against, as well as a separation of Nigerian women participating in politics of which is academically, Legislatively, Constitutionally, Statutorily and actually reprehensible to say the least, because it stagnates the unification and building of very strong and viable Nigeria for Nigerians.
She made her view known in a statement titled “Constitutional Denigration and Vituperation of Nigerian Women by Nigeria’s National Assembly: An Unhealthy And Unwholesome Disservice to Nigerian Women in Politics, Nigerian Women And Nigerians in General”.
The statement read: “And, it restricts as well as depicts the invaluable contributions by Nigerian women being fairly represented in political constructive and productive political leadership positions in Nigerian.
“The Nigerian National Assembly rejecting the Gender Equality Bill is indicative of archaic primitive and inhibitive acceptance of Nigerian women fully, freely, fairly, justly and equitably participating in Nigerian politics on a platter of equality with our male political counterparts. This is very unacceptable seeing what is good for the Goose is also good for the Gander.
“May I be quick to draw to the attention of our male political counterparts and Nigerians in general that women are the Mothers of whatever Nation and Country they belong to, and Nigerian women are no different. And, as we know, no family is complete without a mother or Mother figure. Likewise no nation or country is complete without women in political leadership positions seeing women have a very beautiful well balanced Motherly touch, experience and expertise to bring to the political table for the betterment of Nigeria and Nigerians.
“Long gone are the dark ages and stages when – some male – Nigerian politicians believe that women belong to the kitchen, and the other room; whatever the other room mean in their concept.
“Our male political counterparts will do well in remembering that Nigerian women are some of the most viable and powerful, educated, economically vibrant and politically sound and astute on Earth, as pedagogically evidenced locally, nationally and internationally.
“And, that women, throughout history, have always brought a very balanced political diet to the political table the World over.
“As such, the Nigerian National Assembly rejecting the Gender Equality Bill is indeed a very unhealthy dark political dispensation seeing it allows for the unfair, unjust and inequitable disregard and treatment of Nigerian women in Nigerian and International politics. This is very un-Legislative, unconstitutional, un-Statutory and un-Actoral politically and otherwise.
“Thus, the Nigerian National Assembly rejecting the Gender Equality Bill can and ought to be construed as a clarion call to Nigerian women to stand up and be counted in politics Locally, Nationally and internationally, if we are to bring about a much healthier, wealthier, richer and economical balanced Nigeria for Nigerians now and into the future.
“The aforementioned National imbalance which unfairly, unjustly and inequitably and unacceptably excludes Nigerian women having a free and fair legislative, constitutional, statutory and Actorally balanced representation in politics Locally, Nationally and Internationally very much unaccepted, unwelcome and untenable in 21st Century Nigeria.
“Nigerian female politicians, and, Nigerian women in general, are not phased by the offensive retrogressive openly and arguably regrettable male chauvinistic postulatingly un-Legislatively, unconstitutional, un-Statutory and unActoral, unabrasive anti women political stance by our male political counterparts in the Nigerian National Assembly.
“So, it is that, the office of the AAC National Woman Leader is dutifully respectfully reminding our male political counterparts in the Nigerian National Assembly that it is not beyond the scope and empowerment of Nigerian Women in politics, in professions, and in general, to band together and: legally, lawfully, challenge both the, legality and especially the lawfulness of the rejection, exclusion and, political conflagration of Nigerian women in politics locally, nationally and internationally if the Nigerian National Assembly does not bring the Gender Equality Bill back to the House floor for intensive, extensive and progressive reassessment with a view to righting their wrongs of which they have unfairly, unjustly and inequitably meted out to Nigerian women in politics, and, to Nigerian women in general, and, to all Nigerians Locally, Nationally and Internationally; with a view to moving Nigeria’s politics forward as seen in saner developed climes the World over.
“Nigerian women are very conscious of the fact that our female political counterparts in World political leadership positions are very closely watching, and taking notes, to see if we Nigerian women will eventually come out victorious and, hopefully bridge the very unhealthy unhelpful distasteful political dichotomy sadly and overwhelmingly voted in favour of our male political counterparts in the Nigerian National Assembly on Tuesday 2 March 2022.
“With Nigerian women, it is simply the case of all for one and one for all. Because, we know that united we stand and divided we fall.
“May GOD ALMIGHTY grant the Nigerian National Assembly the Wisdom and fortitude to address and redress her wrong unjustly, unfairly and inequitably meted out to Nigerian women within and without politics, and Nigerians generally, locally, nationally and internationally, amen and amen.”
Princess Grace. Adejoh.
National Woman Leader – African Action Congress (AAC)
