Shame On You: A Senate Lacking Moral Authority By Mike Ikem Umealo

Isn't it incandescently clear my friends that those countries who are doing well in the world today are those countries that have sense enough to incorporate and share power with women who make up, on the average, 60 percent of the population? Since when has equal opportunity become a threat against development?  

It is true that at the end of the day, just a handful of people will have enough intellectual capacity to change history itself, but any of us, all of us, can work to change a small portion of events by doing the right thing at the right time. 

If we have the maturity, it is at times like this, and the countless and diverse acts of courage and faith that the history of our country can be shaped. But that's if we have the maturity to understand this. 

What the Senate did yesterday is at worse the complete dramatisation of the chauvinistic, pedophilic mental castration and patriarchal terrorism which has turned the floor of the senate to a collection of men incensed with a free flow of erototoxins. What provocation? 

That a bill titled “Gender Parity and Prohibition of Violence against Women”, was presented by Abiodun Olujimi, representing Ekiti south, during the senate’s plenary session and it was rejected? 

According to Mrs. Olujimi, the bill would seek equal rights for women in marriage, education and job. 

A part of the bill also would have ensured that a widow in Nigeria would automatically become the custodian of her children in the event of the death of her husband, and would also inherit his property.

The rejection of this bill is against common sense and it is absurd.

Let this ring as a bell in the ears of every girl and woman in this country to make a solemn pledge today to elect ONLY men who are not afraid to lead the campaign for equal opportunity for all of the citizens of this country, Nigeria. 

2019 is not just another year for another elections, No! It is the time to make equality a reality for all women in Nigeria. 

And don't dare listen to any senator who may tell you, "we will represent the bill again." No..no..no! They have told us what they are capable of doing. Another round of Election won't change their mindset- it's their nature to keep women down because they believe that "keeping women down, keeps them up." 

In truth, a few of the senators supported the bill, but did they work hard enough behind the scene? I don't think so.

There will be no sustainable economic growth in Nigeria until the Nigerian woman is granted equality before the law. This is because, the right of equal opportunity for the Nigerian woman is inextricably tied to the 60 percent of our population being free to contribute to the economy by getting jobs they like, paying taxes, and not living under fear and abuse. We should look forward to the day when some Professional titles would become generic in Nigeria- as a norm and way of life in positions ascribed to men and women. 

Each time a man stands up for an ideal, or acts to improve the lot of others, or strikes out against inequality, he sends out a message with a tiny ripple of hope. It is the gathering of these ripples of hope and optimism that will build such a current, forceful and mighty enough to sweep down the strongest forces holding down the greatest majority of Nigerians- women. I have taken note of this bill, and I hope Nigerian women too, will take note.  

God bless. (Mike Ikem Umealo- March, 2016)