The non passage of Gender Equality Bill by the National Assembly has stirred up controversy among the womenfolk nationwide.
The bill which aimed at giving women equal chance in elective and non elective positions was thrown out at the National Assembly.
Our correspondent reliably gathered that women groups nationwide across party lines are now mobilizing their members for what they described as Mother of all protest at the National Assembly complex on Tuesday.
The protest is aimed at condemning the brazen and unconscionable rejection of the bill by National Assembly.
The women who spoke on the condition of anonymity stressed the need for them to be given equal chance like their men counterpart.
According to them, “we are being used as tissue paper by men to achieve their political ambitions.
“Numerically, we are more in numbers but this has not translated to our victory in any election as we are being muscled out by men.
“The initiator of gender equality bill meant well for women in the Country but fellow legislators are seeing us as a threat.
We are not going to be violent in pressing home our demand. What we are saying is that National Assembly should revisit the bill.
“When you take a look at what is going on in our states, majority of them are paying lip service to 35% women affirmative action.
“We can no longer playing a second fiddle. We are all citizens of this Country. It is not about gender but delivering of quality service.”
On Saturday the Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, has challenged the women to march in protest against the All Progressives Congress (APC) on the 2022 International Women’s Day following the rejection of the gender bills at the National Assembly.
“I hear on Tuesday there will be celebration of International Women’s Day. I ask Nigerian women, what are you celebrating? Other countries can celebrate their women, Nigeria cannot celebrate their women.
“Take that particular day, demonstrate against APC, which has refused women to be recognised in this country. Don’t go there and begin to dance, there is nothing to dance about until they recognise you. It is only when Nigeria recognises you , then you can dance.” Wike had said
