Women Organization for Gender Issues (WOGI) has demanded a public apology from members of the House of Representatives to Nigerian women for the recent assault on a female member, Mrs. Doris Uboh, or face legal action.

WOGI described the action of the lawmakers as absolutely deplorable, shameful and unbecoming, saying it was a calculated attempt to intimidate the women and drag them on the mud. The group therefore called for restitution for the treatment meted on the female member of the House of Representatives.

WOGI also called for 50 per cent women representation in the leadership of the country, saying that the women have been marginalized in the leadership of the country for too long.

Speaking during a workshop on the challenges of women participation in the democratic process in Lagos last Wednesday, former deputy governor of Anambra State, Princess Mrs. Stella Odife, who is also the national coordinator/chairman, board of trustees of the non_governmental (NGO), said appropriate mechanisms should be set in motion for restitution purposes and avoidance of the reoccurrence of what happened in the lower legislative chamber, warning that failure to do so would lead to legal action.

“We demand a public apology from the legislators to all Nigerian women and for appropriate mechanisms to be set in motion for restitution purposes and avoidance of such ugly scenarios in future. We may be compelled to take legal action against the House if no such actions are taken in the foreseeable future,” she said.

Odife warned that any form of violence against women under any guise was unacceptable.

According to her, no matter the level of provocation, no form of recourse to physical violence leading to serious bodily lacerations, as witnessed in the case of the female legislator, should be condoned.

She called on women to not only ensure active participation in politics, but to also always rise up against any form of social injustice, violence, marginalization and oppressions.

But faulting the present electoral system, Odife called for electoral reform and said that women should be given 50 per cent representation “What does electoral reform mean to us? As far as we are concerned, the core and critical issue here is equal representation for women in all strata of government. We are not talking about 30 per cent affirmative action for women in terms of political representations and appointments, but 50 per cent, that is, equal representation in all its ramifications.

All the speakers at the one day workshop were in agreement that women should be given the chance to prove themselves in the governance of the country.