Oyebanji’s wife champions reserved seats for women in assemblies

Ekiti State First Lady, Olayemi Oyebanji, has canvassed support of Nigerians for the Reserved Seat for Women Bill targeted at increasing female representation at the national and state assemblies.

The governor’s wife said the ongoing constitutional reform presented an urgent opportunity to correct the imbalance and institutionalise gender responsive provisions.

Oyebanji, represented by the Deputy Speaker, Ekiti State House of Assembly, Bolaji Egbeyemi-Ayegbaju, spoke in Ado Ekiti on Wednesday during ‘A conference to endorse the Reserved Seat Bill’ organised by Balm in Gilead Foundation for Sustainable Development in partnership with Ekiti State Ministry of Women Affairs, United Nations Women and the Government of Canada.

The Reserved Seat Bill seeks to amend the 1999 Constitution to provide for the reservation of seats for women in the National Assembly and state Houses of Assembly with a view to remedy the low representation of women in Legislative Houses by providing for special constituencies to be contested and filled by women to promote women’s political representation.

Oyebanji’s wife, who declared the conference open and urged participants to move for the success of the bill, said, “We cannot afford to waste this moment, we must all come together towards this very special bill for the reservation of seats for the National Assembly members.

“We must move from advocacy to action. Gender quotas are not a favour, they are rights and a necessity for sustainable development. Let our voices today form a collective force that cannot be ignored. We are here on endorsement, we are here to support the cause of women.”

The First Lady, who said that increased women’s representation would engender development, said, For instance, in Ekiti State, the inclusion of women in governance has brought good dividends, greater transparency, stronger community engagements, and more inclusive decision making.

“I must commend the governor, Biodun Oyebanji, for his giant steps that have made Ekiti State the state with the highest number of women in governance across the nation,” she said.

Ekiti State Commissioner for Women Affairs, Peju Babafemi, who expressed the ministry’s gladness to work with BIGIF on the project, said, “Women should be given the desired space in governance”.

Babafemi, who said the Reserved Seat Bill was necessary to give room to women so that the country could enjoy the benefits, said, “Nobody can champion the cause of women like women”, assured, “We are in a fight that we must win.”.

The Executive Director, BIGIF, Oluwatumininu Akerele, said that the gathering was “to advance and endorse the Reserved Seat Bill, a legislative initiative that holds the power to transform our nation’s political landscape”, as she hailed all those who believed in the future of Nigeria through the empowerment of women.

The BIGIF boss, who described the Reserved Seat Bill as “a bold legislative tool that promotes this
agenda,” added, “Endorsing this Bill is endorsing justice. It is saying women deserve their rightful
place at the table where decisions about their lives are made.

“This Bill seeks to alter the longstanding narrative of exclusion and underrepresentation
that has marred our political system. By reserving seats for women in the national and
state Assemblies, we are not asking for handouts or charity – we are demanding fairness, equity, and a structure that reflects the rich diversity of Nigeria.

“The stark reality is that the continued underrepresentation – and sometimes outright exclusion of women in governance presents a future Nigeria should not and cannot be proud of.

“We must rewrite this narrative. And to do so, we must act collectively, intentionally and urgently. When women lead, communities thrive, and societies blossom. That is the foundation of sustainable democracy. That is what balanced development looks like. That is inclusive governance.”

Akerele urged the gathering to support the Reserved Seat Bill. Vote ‘yes’ to Special Seats for Women in our national and state Parliaments.

Among stakeholders at the conference were Ekiti State Commissioner for Capacity Development, Prof. Patrick Tedela; the Chairman, Ekiti State House of Assembly Committee on Women Affairs, Alhaja Mariam Ogunlade; House of Assembly member, Abimbola Solanke; and the Chairman, Inter-Party Advisory Committee, Daramola Owoola.

Others included the state Director, National Human Rights Commission, Oluwaponmile Sodeinde, State Director, National Orientation Agency, Mrs Kemi Akomolede; Representatives of traditional rulers, religious leaders, political parties and civil society groups.

Source: Punch