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From: Ali Abare, Gombe
Ahead of the 2019 general election, a group, Wildan Care Foundation, has made a case for more women in elective positions in Gombe State.
Executive Director of the group, Hajiya Zariyatu Abubakar, made the call, on Wednesday, when officials of the organisation paid an advocacy visit to the Correspondents’ Chapel in Gombe.
Hajiya Zariyatu disclosed that Wildan Care Foundation was on a sensitisation visit to stakeholders across the state such as the media, political parties and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) among others.
She decried a situation whereby during the recently concluded council election in the state no single woman was elected as either councillor or chairperson across the 11 council areas.
“We want women to part of decision making in both the formal and informal sector of the society,” she said.
She said the group apart from seeking improved participation by women in election matters, is also concerned on issues of women and children particularly those in conflict situations.
Commenting further, state coordinator, Women Situation Room Nigeria, Hajiya Jamila Suleiman, solicits men’s cooperation to allow women participate actively in election.
She recalled how during the 2015 general election at a polling unit with over 400 registered voters in Kyari Primary School in Kwame local government area, no single woman came out to cast her vote.
“I was monitoring the election in Kwame and I was shocked to see that no single woman came out to cast her vote in a particular polling unit. I sought to know from the women after noticing that they were actually registered as voters. They said their husbands prevented from going out to vote,” she narrated.
Hajiya Zariyatu who is also the North-east coordinator, Women Situation Room Nigeria said Wildan Care Foundation, an organisation working to provide care, support children and empower women.
She said the group is collaborating with the Women Situation Room Nigeria committed to harnessing the leadership resources of women for effective participation and contribution in peace building process, economic and human development.
