By: Felix Ikpotor
Former representative of the Rivers South East Senatorial District at the National Assembly, Senator Magnus Abe has commended the International Federation of Women Lawyers, FIDA, Rivers State for creating the avenue for women in the state to engage with party candidates vying for elective positions in the 2023 general elections.
Abe stated this while addressing journalist on the sideline of a Town Hall Meeting organised by FIDA Rivers to engage party candidates on issues concerning women as they march towards the elections.
The frontline governorship aspirant in the state applauded the female lawyers for the initiative.
“It was a good initiative by the International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA), Rivers State to try to involve women’s input in the dynamics of politics in the state to ensure that women have a place in whatever is going on and for that I commend them”.
“A lot of what the women are talking about is basically what the society is talking about, things like security, prosperity, inclusion and I think the market is free for people, all what we are pursuing at the end of the day is equity. So whether it’s for men or women at the end of the day all what humans are looking for is the opportunity to be their best and to be accepted,” he said.
The convener and chairperson of FIDA Rivers, Adata Bio-Briggs said the purpose of the town hall meeting was to give women the opportunity to present their demands to the candidates ahead of the elections.
She expressed satisfaction at the turnout of participants and party candidates.
“We have been able to get the women to be able to speak to the candidates what we need as Rivers women. We spoke to the aspirants and we told them there was need for improved funding for the fight against gender based violence, we told them there is need for women to be allowed to rule in the society, we told them there is the need for them to provide an enabling environment and to fund every aspect of the economy”.
“ We also told the candidates the need to ensure implementation of the laws against persons with disabilities and we expect the incoming government to implement every gender laws. We also want the 35 percent affirmative action to be increased,” she said.
Bio-Briggs noted that one of their goals as FIDA Nigeria is to see how women can be included in governance, stressing that the meeting was one of the ways of achieving that.
She assured that candidates that couldn’t attend the meeting would be sent the resolution reached by the women.
Earlier, chairman of the occasion, Mrs Inime Chiwenwu Aguma said the female lawyers want to ensure that women take their rightful place in governance.
” FIDA is interested in ensuring that women take their place in governance and this town hall meeting is organized for women to state their demands from the candidates that will run elections from February next year. Importantly, women are asking for more positions in governance, increased participation in politics and that our voices must be heard,” she stated.
The town hall meeting was attended by major female professional bodies, groups and civil society organisations in the state.
