By Ebi Perekeme
Asaba centre of the South-South zone of the proposed alteration of the 1999 constitution as amended, was destructed by women who bombarded the centre on Wednesday in their hundreds.
It was learnt the women that came from Bayelsa, Delta and the Edo States were mobilized from various umbrellas, including the 100% Lobby Women for Democracy and the National Council for Women Societies (NCWS) participating in politics, under the United Nations charter.
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The women demanded for 100 percent oil derivation for oil-producing communities as against the 13 per cent presently being paid. Noting that the sharing formula as enshrined in the amended constitution had become obsolete. While they also demanded for a 35 percent affirmative action benchmark in politics.
It was emphasized by the women that the togetherness of Nigeria would depend largely on. the outcome of the constitutional review.
However, Mrs Joyce Ogwuezi, who spoke on behalf of women stressed that an all-inclusive spirit must be registered in the review. She explained that certain Sections of the constitution must be expunged or reamended to stop gender inequality.
“Sections 48/49 must be reviewed to accommodate additional senatorial districts in the National Assembly for all states to be occupied by a woman each.
“since 2015, the 35 per cent benchmark for the affirmative action for women in politics drastically dropped below 10 per cent. The envisaged new constitution must truly reflect the yearnings and aspirations of the Nigerian women for their representation in politics.”
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