As final arrangements are being put in place for the kick-off of the 2023 general elections beginning with the presidential election, I deem it important to inform Nigerian Women, Niger Delta Women in particular, that February 25, 2023 is very special, not because it is the date for the presidential election, but because it is a date to finally speak to the various issues plaguing women, and families through the ballot box.
Elections are for expression of choice – a mandatory participation for all adults, in deciding who you want to act and speak for you in decision making.
The numerous calamities that have befallen the country with heavy consequences on women and girls makes it important that women, since they have less visibility and space in public office decision making, should wisely choose who they prefer to lead them.
The last almost 24 years of civilian rule in the country has not fetched much dividend for women and in no time in history have Nigerian women suffered such great humiliation, abuse, hunger and death as experienced in the last eight years of the Buhari administration.
Herdsmen, bandits, cultists, militants, kidnappers, rapists, ritualists, etc. have fed fat on women, with some being borrowed for weekends in places like Katsina State, abducted at weddings in Niger State or have their husbands beheaded for going to their farm without permission. We have been your tools for exhibiting power. Politicians have not treated us better either, slapping, locking up and abusing girls and women with nobody actually bringing them to book.
Domestic abuse incidents rose to unprecedented heights, flood displaced and dispossessed many without government paying attention.
Your children have been rendered jobless, students more out of school than in school while hunger and poverty have been constant heightened by the ongoing new naira currency policy. Pregnant women have died because new notes could not be accessed and the focus of the politicians is on getting you to vote. Your only use for them is to cast your votes.
And Nigerian women and youths are the ones who really vote in Nigerian elections. So they have the power to make the difference.
Because of high corruption and impunity in the system, our children are being forced to flee this country in droves leaving only the old and too poor behind. According to the National Bureau of Statistics, NBS, unemployment rate among youth aged 15-34 was 42.5 per cent in the first quarter of 2020.
And from the records of the Independent Electoral Commission, INEC, of the 93, 469, 008 registered voters for this 2023 elections, 37, 060,399 almost 40 per cent are within that age bracket.
Female voters represent 47.5 per cent of the voters- 4, 414, 846 against 49, 054.162 males.
Are you happy with the state of things? Will you allow the current decadent state of the country to continue? Can you turn this into an advantage?
Saturday, February25 is a serious opportunity for us to speak, to call impunity to order by casting our votes for only those who deserve to be in power; those with competence, a heart for the people and care for women, youth, children, the vulnerable.
Sit down and reflect on all that the presidential candidates have said in the course of their campaigns. Decide on the Nigeria you want for yourself and your children and vote for that person you really feel can help Nigerian women live peacefully, have space to effectively contribute to society at all levels, and a candidate that will help recover the future for our youth to develop in with pride.
Forget tribe, forget religion, forget brother/sisterhood, and think development and peace as you vote. No amount given to you to sell your vote will compensate for the pains ahead if you act wrongly. VOTE WISELY!
