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From Fred Ezeh, Abuja
With barely two weeks to the 2023 general elections, the Women Wing of Christian Association of Nigeria (WOWICAN) and Federation of Muslim Women’s Associations of Nigeria (FOMWAN) have intensified mobilization and sensitization of women, getting them ready for the polls.
Leaders of both women religious organization explained that women are critical stakeholders in election and governance, hence they would no longer be need for them to sit-on-the-fence, but participate fully in the process of choosing their political leaders.
WOWICAN National Chairperson, Mrs. Bolanle Ihesiulor, at a town hall meeting organized by WOWICAN in Abuja, on Saturday, appreciated the United Nations Women, for the support, financial, logistics and otherwise, towards the success of the mobilization and sensitization exercise.
She said: “It’s believed that if you want something said, engage a man, but if you want something done, look for a woman. We have all done a lot of sensitization and orientation work in such a short time. We have also extended our reach to even difficult areas and expected results were achieved.
“We worked and are still working in three states, namely, Cross River, Ebonyi, Ekiti and FCT, while FOMWAN is also working in three state namely, Borno, Kaduna, Kwara and FCT as well.
“We have both worked together during the RCCE programme in 10 states and WOWICAN also worked in Calabar 2022 during the United Nations International Day of rural women cultivating good food for all. All these were done in collaborations with UN Women.
“As we enter into this phase which was designed to extend our reach and also clarify certain questions that must have been encountered in the field with regards to the elections, we hope to strengthen our efforts so we can achieve more.
“Prof. Chinua Achebe of blessed memory said in one of his quote When we gather together in the moonlight village ground, it is not because of the moon. Every man can see it in his own compound. We are gathered as mothers to confront the disinterest associated with elections, to dissuade those of us who sell our votes, and to underline the fact that elections are about dialogue and not violence.
“We equally want to appeal to voters to consider and vote for credible women candidates.”
She appreciated the support received from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the traditional and religious leaders, civil right groups, market women and police commissioners, for the partnership with the UN Women on the subject of the 2023 elections through their presence.
INEC Gender Officer, FCT, Princewill Martina, in her presentation, further buttressed the point that women are key stakeholders in election and government, and encouraged them to mobilize en mass on election day.
“We have assured them that their votes would count, that they should come out en masse to participate in the exercise. INEC has introduced technology into the electoral system. The BVAS machine is the magic one this time and INEC is ready to give Nigerians free, fair and credible elections.”
