A non-governmental group, promoting health, education, sport and sociocultural life of a girl-child, Ibadan United Ladies Fc Foundation has appealed to the Executive governor of Oyo State, Engineer Oluseyi Abiodun Makinde to implement the UN Economic and Social Council resolution 1990/15 which recommended 30 percent women representation in government.
The group made the appeal in Ibadan on Tuesday during a media chat with some selected journalists.
Speaking through its Director of Campaign and Organization, Mrs. Olufunmilayo Bankole, the group called on government at all levels to consider the policy of equal and fair gender involvement in all areas of government activities.
“It’s about 24 years now that governments from all the nations under UN converged in Beijing for the Fourth World Conference on Women. At the end of the meeting the resolution adopted was tagged ‘Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action’. It was pronounced ‘the most progressive blueprint ever for advancing women’s rights’. The resolution was actually adopted to promulgate a set of principles concerning the quality of men and women.”
“It’s pathetic to note that of all the 17 platform for action agreed by the participating nations to implement hardly could we point to one that has been sincerely implemented in Nigeria. This is unacceptable and we are ready to commit all to ensure situation change in Nigeria, Oyo State in particular,” Bankole lamented.
“The UN Economic and Social Council resolution 1990/15 calls on governments, political parties, trade unions, and professional and other representative groups to adopt a 30 percent minimum proportion of women in leadership positions, with a view to achieving equal representation. Unfortunately this has not been adopted, not even in Oyo State. Although, we could understand that parties amalgamation affected Gov. Makinde’s decision on this, nevertheless, we are expecting the governor to make up for this in his future appointments,” she stated.
Bankole also stated the determination of the group to go round various groups, unions, associations, political parties and governments to demand support for women and girl-children. “By December, 2019 we shall kick start a campaign for the implementation of Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, as well as adoption of the UN Economic and Social Council resolution 1990/15 on 30 percent women representation,” Bankole promised.
In a similar development, the former First Lady of Oyo State, Chief (Mrs.) Mutiat Olayinka Ladoja, the Asiwaju Iyalode of Ibadanland condemned noncompliance of the political parties and government at all levels with the recommendation of United Nations on women appointment into leadership positions.
“Men are unfair to women in position sharing after election, they exploit women during the campaign period. We are the one you will see on the road singing, dancing, hailing, or how many men can dance on the street during campaign? We leave our husbands, children and businesses to make an unmatched contributions towards ensuring success for our various political parties during elections. We are mothers, we know it will affect the future of our children that’s why we go all out to vote.
“But after elections men will come up with various and unpleasant excuses to deny women of their rights, deny us of dividend of democracy, monopolizing every available position, they are cheating us. When it comes to sharing dividend of democracy you will hear them saying, she’s a woman, she cannot hold this position and so many excuses will be coming up. Number of women in power is too low, am not happy with that.
“Women should learn to rally support for their fellow women, encourage more women participation in politics, ensure every girl-child receive good and quality education. You men are using our brain, there’s no man that wouldn’t discuss his challenges at working place with his wife. Women are brilliant, prudent, trustworthy and professionally qualified to hold any political post. I will support and sponsor any woman that is interested in contesting for political post,” Asiwaju Iyalode concluded.
