..Warns Against Violence Targeted At Women,
From Joseph Amedu, Lokoja
The Attah Igala, Michael Ameh Oboni 11
Ahead of the November 16 governorship election in Kogi state, the Attah Igala, His Royal Majesty, Michael Ameh Oboni 11, has warned politicians to ensure the safety of women in the state, before during and after the polls.
The Royal Father who is the president of Kogi state Council of Chiefs, gave the warning the during an advocacy visit of Challenged Parenthood Initiative at his palace in Idah, the traditional seat of the Igala Kingdom.
He said violence against women during election is capable of retarding the political development in the country and the state in particular.
According to the royal monarch, women have contributed immensely towards peace and development in the country, giving reference to the sacrifice of Princess Inikpi who gave her life to save the Igala Kingdom from invasion.
He equally encouraged women to be more active in politics so that they can have more voices in the nation’s policy making.
“It’s a shame that with the large population of women, they are not adequately represented in governance. Politics doesn’t belong to men alone it also involves women. Give women a chance as not only men has monopoly of ideas,” he added.
Speaking earlier, the Executive Director Challenged Parenthood Initiative, Ms. Eunice Abimbola Agbogun, said Stop Violence Against Women in Politics (Stop-VAWIP), campaign is an initiative that seeks to establish the link between gender-based electoral violence and the low level of participation of women in politics.
She said the campaign over all goal is to mitigate violence against women during elections and encourage women to actively participate in politics.
According to her, women are subjected into various stage of intimidation, ranging from assault, sexual harassment, forcibly taken away their voter cards, beating, pushing, murder and mixing them with men in the queue.
She stressed that women are also face with threat to harm their family, coerced to vote a particular candidate and threat of divorce.
She however maintained that society at large also used traditional means to perpetrate evils.
