The wife of Ondo State Governor, Betty Anyanwu-Akeredolu, has called on women across the country to always rise to fight against all forms of discrimination against them.
This came following the recent rejection of the gender-related bills by the National Assembly, which was greeted by protests from different women groups and associations, which as a result of the protests, the decision was reversed.
Anyanwu, who spoke at the celebration of the 2022 International Women’s Day, held in Akure, the state capital, on Thursday, said women in Nigeria experienced different shades of discrimination, battling bigotry and “confronting stubborn patriarchal tendencies in our social transactions.”
According to her part of the discrimination against women was “what played out at the National Assembly against the pro-female bills, and it confirmed our fear that there is a strategic attempt by the male folk to subtly subjugate the women.”
Charging women, the Ondo first lady said, “We cannot just wish this (discrimination against women) away as it may graduate to a suffocating stage if we further hesitate to confront the reactionary attitudes toward women’s rights. Good, we have spoken against the parliamentary injustice in clear and unmistakable terms and we are still speaking.
“As we progress, however, in our march towards emancipation, let us be our sisters’ keepers. I call on women across social, religious and political lines to unite in defence of womanhood. We all have roles to play in making sure that the status of women is improved at all fronts.
“We must also not lose sight of the need to strengthen the weak among us and the need to fortify the malleable ones with a competent compass as they navigate the murky socio-political terrain.”
In her remarks, the state Commissioner for Woman Affairs and Social Development, Juliana Osadahun, lauded the womenfolk for protesting against the National Assembly’s rejection of the gender bills. She however expressed delight that the NASS had reversed its action on the bill.
“We cannot be celebrating IWD and fail to talk about the NASS repulsive legislation, women have reacted in unity and their decision was reversed. There is a lesson for the future. We need to celebrate ourselves as women because without us the world cannot multiply and replenish,” Osadahun stated.
