By Dayo Johnson, Akure

Women groups in Ondo State, have canvasses for the deputy governorship slots in the major political parties ahead of the November 16 governorship election in the state.

The women’s groups including the National Council of Women Society, market women groups, and women in politics insisted that women should be the next deputy governor of the state because no woman emerged as a governorship candidate in the state.

According to the convener, Mrs. Adebimpe Adeniyi, in a communique read after the inaugural meeting of women’s groups with the title “Agitation for Gender Balance and Inclusiveness in Governance” lamented the marginalisation of women in political positions in the country.

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Adeniyi, expressed regret that despite the immeasurable contributions of women to the restoration of democracy and national growth and development, Nigerian women have been relegated and reduced to the back seats in both elective and appointed positions.

The communique reads  “Since 1999, when Nigeria transitioned from military rule to democratic governance, women have yet to occupy up to 15 percent of elective positions in a country where the voting population of women is equal to, if not more than, men.

“Not only has no woman been elected president, none has been elected vice president or governor in Nigeria in the 33 years of democratic rule.

“The only woman who became governor of Anambra state, after the then-governor Peter Obi was impeached, was Etiaba.

“However, her tenure lasted for only three months before she returned to being the deputy governor because the former governor, Obi, was reinstated.”

Adsniyi, however, said that women have been nominated and elected as deputy governors in some states in Nigeria including some states in the Southwest geo-political zone.

She said it is only in Ondo state, which prides itself as the intellectual base of the region, that an opportunity for a female deputy governor has not been provided.

The women group therefore, demanded “A complete and total abandonment of all forms of discrimination – cultural, religious, and traditional – against the girl child in Ondo state.”

“More gender-sensitive and all-inclusive government policies and programmes across all sectors.

Full implementation of all gender balance-related legislation, including the National Gender Policy – Affirmative Action, by allotting 35 percent of appointments in the public sector to women.”

The women group also demanded for a “Free and quality healthcare services for pregnant women and children under age zero to six years and nomination of women as deputy governorship candidates of all the participating political parties in the 2024 Governorship Election of Ondo state.”

They sought an increased budgetary allocation for the State Ministry of Women Affairs.

Adeniyi said the agitation and legitimate demand, particularly regarding the nomination of women as deputy governorship candidates from all participating political parties, would persist until it is met and complied with by all political parties in the state.

They said that confining women to the ‘other room’ is contradictory and unacceptable to them as the state prepares for the next governorship election in the state.