Joe Okei-Odumakin, president of Women Arise, has called on Nigerian leaders to embark on a genuine process of restructuring the country through a new constitutional framework.

Ms Okei-Odumakin made the call on the sidelines of the first anniversary of the Mohammed Fawehinmi Lecture and Book Presentation held in Ikeja, Lagos, on Thursday.

“Restructuring, the last word on my husband’s breath, is the road to Nigeria’s revival. Without restructuring, we could not remove the federal failures afflicting us, which are sustained by election rigging, census manipulations and the corruption which brings proceeds in sinful rewards,” she said.

The Women Arise leader also urged Nigerians to get their PVCs and participate in the 2023 general elections. She charged them to defend their votes.

Speaking on the theme ‘Nigerian Election And The Masses’, Ms Okei-Odumakin asked political parties to increase the level of women’s representation in various positions across the country. She noted that despite the numerical strength of women, their level of representation was abysmal.

“Over the years, there has been a poor representation and gender imbalance of women in critical areas. For example, in the House of Representatives, out of 360 members, only 18 are women, representing about 4.61 per cent, while the Senate has eight women out of 109 members, representing 7.34 per cent,” she stated. “Why are women good to lead only until elections and benched afterwards when the spoils are shared? She is hardly entitled to the lion’s share?” 

Mr Fawehinmi, the eldest son of the fiery lawyer and human rights activist Gani Fawehinmi, died on August 11, 2021.

(NAN)