Marginalisation: Ray Of Hope For Women

Recently, history was made as judgement was delivered in favour of Nigerian women at the Federal High Court, Abuja.
The Federal High Court granted all the reliefs sought in the suit filed by various coalitions and organisations challenging the Marginalisation suffered by women in the political space.
That seemed like a ray of hope for women, suffering marginalisation in Nigerian political space as court okays 35per cent Affirmative Action.
In that incidence, Nigerian women were represented by a counsel of the Falana and Falana Chambers, Barrister Marshal Abubakar.
Lately, women realising that they possess so much potentials felt that they have suffered enough of the marginalisation in the Nigerian political space therefore decided to seek redress in the law court.
To their advantage, the Federal High Court, Abuja, on April 6, 2022, delivered a judgement in a matter on Affirmative Action before Justice Donatus Akorowo.
Representatives of the women as well as other stakeholders were a coalition of women groups including the Nigerian Women Trust Fund (NWTF), Women Empowerment and Legal Aid (WELA), Women In Politics Forum (WIPF), Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD-West Africa),  Women Advocates Research and Documentation Centre (WARDC), Vision Spring Initiatives (VSI), YIAGA, Africa, International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA), and 100 Women Lobby Groups.
The group had gone to court, seeking true reflection of democracy through strict compliance to the anti-discriminatory provisions of the Nigerian Constitution and Gender Equality in Nigeria as enshrined in the Constitution.
It was a landmark judgement for Nigerian women who have earnestly desired a truly inclusive governance process in Nigeria since the matter started in 2020.
Reports have it that Nigeria currently ranks very low globally as it is rated 184th (out of 187) in female representation in parliament.
Although, the matter was adjourned a number of times but the development shows the extent of readiness of Nigeria to practise inclusion based on the international and regional instruments that it signed especially since independence in 1960.
It would be recalled that on March 2, 2022 over 1000 women groups in Nigeria wrote National Assembly and demanded reconsideration of all Gender bills for passage as a matter of urgency.
March 7, 2022, as it would be recalled, also recorded another scenario on gender bills where women vowed to continue to occupy National Assembly until six point demands were met.
As women celebrated International Women Day (IWD) 2022 recently, USAID, State2State put together “dialogue to proffer solutions to gender biases.
It was celebration for Nigerian women as they congratulated themselves for the fact that a litigation process which was on since 2020 ended with victory.
It is hoped that those clear interpretations of the Constitution both at the states and National Assembly will provide an enabling environment for women in governance and politics in Nigeria.
A Sharia Court of Appeal headed by Muhammad Uthman El- Mainari, has lamented that Nigeria as a male-dominated society has limited women in the country from discovering their full potentials and as such relegating them to the background.
El-Mainari raised such concern recently at a one-day stakeholders consultative meeting on women, peace and security in Nigeria (phase 11) organised by UN women.  He said that women should have a say in matters directly affecting them in the family and society.
According to him, there is urgent need to stand up for women and support every programme aimed at promoting gender equality and place women in their proper position.
“We need to stand up to fight for the rights of women, support them to get into positions of decision making in governance”, he emphasised.
While the UN and sister organisations are commended for coming up with different programmes aimed at making women feel a sense of belonging in the society, concerted efforts must continue to ensure that every form of gender-based violence against women and girls was eliminated in the society and the rights of women were adequately protected.
Rivers State Prohibition of the Curtailment of the Rights of Women to Share in Family Property Bill, 2022 came up for hearing in the Rivers State House of Assembly, recently.
The Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon Ikuinyi-Owaji Ibani, took laudable steps to streamline the issues of obnoxious traditional practices and discrimination laws against women and the girl-child in the state.
The bill as The Tide Women Desk gathered was initiated by the member representing Obio/Akpor Constituency 11, Hon. Kingsley Oke-Chinda.
The Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ), Rivers State chapter,  commended the Rivers 9th Assembly for the bold step taken to pass such Bill into law and made some recommendations.
NAWOJ also recommended for Repeal of Laws that terminate Widows Share Upon Remarriage.
The Chairperson, NAWOJ, Susan Serekara-Nwikhana, says NAWOJ prides herself as one of the first respondent in issues of abuses because according to her, we always get the calls to probe further in discrimination and neglect in collaboration with sister agencies, have continued to champion the cause of women and girls in the society by making sure that our voices are heard, using our various media platforms.
She expressed optimism that the Bill would put into consideration that the state civil laws shall have supremacy over customary laws and obnoxious practices where some opinion leaders will insist their tradition is supreme.
In her words: “We also hope that the legislation should state that, upon remarrying, a surviving spouse retains the full rights of any property she inherited from the deceased’s estate”.
“Drafters should repeal any law that terminates interests upon remarriage for the widow, but not widower”, she insisted.
Although, Rivers State is already leading other states in women emancipation, but when the Bill is speadily passed into law, it will place Rivers as the most gender-friendly, not just in Nigeria but in Africa at large.
Members of the committee of the 9th Assembly must be commended while ensuring that the Bill receives the attention it deserves.

By: Eunice Choko-Kayode