Gender
18 Women Aspire for Senate, Reps, State Assembly Seats in Kaduna
Mrs Florence Aya, the President of the Women Mentoring and Leadership Initiative has disclosed that 18 Kaduna women are aspiring for seats in the Senate, House of Representatives and State Assembly in the 2023 General Elections.
Aya, who made this known in an interview with newsmen in Kaduna on Wednesday, said that the women would contest under different political parties.
She explained that a woman would contest a Senatorial seat, three others for the House of Representatives and the remaining 14 would compete for seats in the Kaduna State House of Assembly.
Aya, was a Minority Leader in the Kaduna State Assembly from 1992 to 1993, and also represented Kaura Federal Constituency at the National Assembly from 1999 to 2003.
She expressed optimism that women would get a level playing field.
“In February, we launched Project 2023 Agenda for Women Participation, to mobilise more women to contest and participate effectively in the electoral process.
“Yesterday we had our first meeting for all the women who are aspiring to state assembly, house of reps and senate
“So far, 18 women who had declared interest to contest for various seats in the 2023 elections were at the meeting – one for Senate, three for House of Representatives and the 14 for State Assembly,” she said.
“This is a very bold step, and we are working with them, mentoring them and helping them to achieve their dreams,” she said.
Noting that the women were aspiring for elective positions in a men-dominated political party’s structure, the grassroots politician expressed hope that they would put up a good fight.
“We will get there because people are beginning to know the importance of women participation in politics now more than ever.
“We are working with the political parties to create spaces for women.
“We also had a discussion with key government officials and the Speaker of the Kaduna State Assembly to support our women to secure party’s tickets at the primary elections,” she said.
She added that the organisation was equally working closely with partners like Partnership to Engage, Reform and Learn, a governance programme of the United Kingdom Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Officer.
Others, according to her, are Gender Action Team and Legal Awareness for Nigerian Women, among others who mentor and mobilise support for women to get to where they want to be politically.
On women supporting women, Aya said:”it is very important that women should show support for one another before others will support us.
“It is an issue we are trying to address, and I want to assure you that in the next election (2023), there will be more women who will win elections by the grace of the almighty Allah,” she said.
There were only three women representatives in the Senate, representing 2.8 per cent of the 109 Senators between 1999 and 2003.
The number increased to nine, representing 8.3 per cent between 2007 and 2011, before dropping to eight members representing 7.3 per cent between 2019 to date.
At the House of Representatives, 13 women were elected in the 1999 election, representing 3.3 per cent of the 360 members. The number increased to 26, representing 7.2 per cent between 2011 and 2015.
The women’s seats in the House of Representatives dropped from 26 to 13 in 2019, representing 3.6 per cent.
At the State Assemblies, 24 women were elected in 1999, representing 2.4 per cent of the 990 members across the 36 states assemblies.
The number increased to 68, representing 6.9 per cent in 2003 before dropping to 45 in 2019, with 15 state assemblies with no female members. (NAN)
A Nigerian bride who went for her pre-wedding photoshoot has insisted that men are scum.
The pretty lady was seen looking all glammed up while at the photo studio as she sent out a cautionary PSA to women.
She jokingly insisted that all men are scum. They’d make a woman get married to them, even if they don’t want to.
When someone asked what her husband-to-be is, she said that he’s her personal scum.
David Hundeyin had released an audio of the minister threatening victims of s3xual assault by Prof. Cyril Ndifon, Dean of the Faculty of Law.
Kennedy-Ohanenye, in a statement issued to newsmen on Sunday in Abuja, reiterated her commitment to justice, safeguarding and advancing the rights and welfare of Nigerian women, including the pursuit of justice whenever their rights were violated.
She emphasised her unwavering dedication to upholding due diligence and the rule of law, recognising that justice and fairness were the fundamental principles upon which equitable societies were built.
“I wish to express my sincere apologies to those who were offended by my comments and actions regarding the sexual harassment scandal at the University of Calabar.
“This is extremely regrettable, as my intentions were sincere and aligned with my consistent advocacy for the welfare of Nigerian women and the pursuit of justice.
“I stand for all Nigerian women and I stand for justice and it is my hope that we can work together to actualise the dream of a country where women’s rights are respected and protected and where our daughters feel safe in institutions of learning,” she said.
Some suspected victims of child trafficking in Imo state have been intercepted by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).
Femi Babafemi, NDLEA spokesperson, spoke on Sunday while giving details of the agency’s activities across the country.
Babafemi said the operatives made the interception while on patrol along Aba-Owerri expressway on Wednesday.
According to the spokesperson, the girls were suspected to be victims of child trafficking.
He said they were picked up while being relocated from their hideout in the Naze area of Owerri, the state capital to another part of the city.
Babafemi identified the victims as Chioma Emmanuel, 15; Uma Faith, 15; Divine Adimonye, 17; Opara Gift, 15; and Amarachi Mbata, 16.
“In their statements, they claimed they didn’t know the men who impregnated them,” he added.
“The Imo state command of the agency has since been directed to hand them over to the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons, NAPTIP, for further investigations.”
Speaking on more activities, Babafemi said the agency arrested a passenger identified as Ugwu Peter Tochukwu who was travelling through the Murtala Muhammed International Airport to Oman on a Qatar Airways flight.
“Upon a thorough search of his luggage, 7.50 kilograms of skunk were discovered concealed inside crayfish mixed with dry bitter leaf,” Babafemi said.
“In the same vein, NDLEA officers of the Directorate of Operations and General Investigations attached to some courier companies also intercepted Dubai-bound 2.9 kilograms of skunk and 14 grams of methamphetamine concealed in bags of semovita and soles of ladies’ high heel shoes respectively.”
MORE ARRESTS IN ABUJA, OGUN, KOGI
Babafemi said two suspects identified as Moses Akowe, 32, and Sunday Gabriel, 31, were arrested with 227.1kgs of cannabis on Tuesday in Ikebe village, Ankpa LGA of Kogi state.
The agency said 27-year-old Kingsley Chimaobi was arrested with 6,000 bottles of codeine-based syrup along Lokogoma-Abuja road on the same day.
“A total of 100 blocks of cannabis weighing 55kgs and 600 bottles of codeine-based syrup seized from the duo of Salisu Murtala and Shafi’u Dahiru on Tuesday 11th September along Abuja road have been traced to two other suspects: Muntari Nasiru and Yusuf Ali who were arrested in follow up operations in Kano,” the statement added.
“Meanwhile, a Federal High Court in Lagos on Wednesday 13th September sentenced to five years imprisonment a drug dealer, Segun Odeyemi for trafficking and dealing in 3,842 kilograms of skunk.
“He was arrested on Saturday 1st July while conveying 89 jumbo bags of the illicit substance in his truck around Eleganza area of Ajah, Lekki. He was subsequently charged in suit number FHC/L/388C/2023 presided over by Justice Akintayo Aluko.”
Babafemi added that the agency is committed to ridding the country of illicit drugs.
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