Confab: Women deserve 35% elective positions, says Onyeka

Popular singer and Director-General of National Centre for Women Development, Ms. Onyeka Onwenu, has asked delegates to the ongoing national conference to “make a recommendation that would bring laws to protect women from all kinds of violence.”

She also suggested that the constitution should make provision for at least 35 per cent for women in elective positions in line with global trends.

Speaking in an interview in Abuja, she said time had come for women to assert themselves in elective positions.

The ace actress said, “Nigeria is a huge country and where do I begin? We are not just a huge country physically. The country’s position in the black world is so pivotal. As Nigeria goes, so does the black world, we must be careful. This is a pride of place for all black people. We must ensure that Nigeria survives as a nation. One of the beautiful things about this country is our diverse cultures.

“We do not all speak the same language. That is what makes it interesting for me. Let us not lose that. I do not want this country to break up. God brought us back together. Let us ensure the unity of Nigeria is protected. As a woman, the place of a woman is important. I look at countries like Kenya and Rwanda where they have as part of their constitution, that a certain percentage of elective positions must be given to women. Yes, this is the best we have had in terms of support from government, but it is not enough. In terms of appointments, we have done well.

“But in terms of elective offices, we are right there at the bottom. We are about 8 per cent when other countries are recording 58 per cent. Women not being in places where they can contribute to decision making means that the issues that are very important to them in the society are not in the forefront. If you talk about violence, what law do we have to protect women against that? Let us have as part of our constitution at least 35 per cent of the positions should be set aside for women. There should be a law to protect women from violence. These I think delegates in the conference should examine critically,” she said.