Onuoha urges deliberate action on dwindling women presence in parliament

By Christiana Ekpa

The first female contestant for the Speakership position of the 10th House of Representatives, Hon Miriam Onuoha, has asked the Federal Government and her Party, All Progressive Congress (APC) to declare state of emergency over the dwindling number of women in parliament which she said call for a deliberate action.

The Imo State Politician, Hon. Onuoha, equally appealed to her Male contestants to step down for her in the spirit of equity and justices, stressing that over 55percent of valid votes casts during the 2023 elections from women.

Hon Miriam Onuoha who disclosed these while formerly declaring her intention to run for the 10th Assembly Speakership position on Wednesday, in Abuja said, a nationalist and a dynamic team player to stem the tide of the dwindling economy is muchneeded to provide dividends to Nigerians.

She said “The 10th Assembly promises to be a water shed of some sort for Nigeria’s fledgling a democracy.

A nationalist and a dynamic team player to stem the tide of our dwindling economy and the muchneeded dividends to Nigerians.

A service driven leader who understands citizen’s consideration and participation is what Nigeria truly needs”

According to her, “the emergency of the dwindling number of women in parliament calls for a deliberate action, an action that will bridge the gender gap, an action that is a call for the leadership of the National Assembly to embrace the stance for a woman of competence and experience.

“On the threshold of service, natural cohesion, effective and cutting edge legislative engagement with the executive, and the view to proffer microeconomic solutions to the nation’s economic health, as well as dealing with other social challenges. I confidently humbly seek the support of my fellow members elect and the prayer of the generality of my Nigerian people, for the office of the speaker in the 10th Assembly.

“My emergence will create opportunities for NASSstakeholders engagement to provide access for public participation in the law making.

“I honorably call for my fellow contestants to support me, a woman with competence, integrity, vision driven mission and a true display of diversity as well as inclusive leadership centered on equity.

No doubt our President-Elect His Excellency Bola Ahmed Tinubu is a he-for-she who has always empowered women in all spheres of life, having picked a woman as his running mate as the governor of Lagos state and also supported his amiable wife to become a senator in the parliament in line with the goals of the UN’S 35% affirmative action for women.

“To this effect, my election as the speaker House of Representatives will therefore afford Nigeria the rare opportunity of killing the two ubiquitous birds of gender balancing and youth inclusiveness in its political/leadership landscape, with one stone. Truthfully, I Princess Miriam amply represents the twin engine essence of Nigeria’s youth and female status quo whom the circumstances of our political exigencies have made an endangered and vulnerable specie.

“Again the issues of regional balancing in the Nation’s leadership equation is also another veritable national challenge that my election to the speakership of the House of Representatives will address and resolve simultaneously in the interest of National Unity, Peace and inclusion.

“I am armed with a remarkable educational resume, with a Bachelor of Science degree in Estate

Management from the illustrious university of Lagos Akoka and a Masters in Environmental Planning & Protection, university of Abuja She equally has a rich professional exposure that straddles the Estate/facility Management, Environmental consultancy and logistics, the International Development and Civil Society Sector. Thus, having gained very extensive professional cum business experience in the course of my career, seamlessly I am a quintessential entrepreneur, boardroom strategist, vis-à-vis an avid player in the real estate, facility management, and management consultancy sectors of our economy.

“I also bring extensive and robust political experience to the table having held multiple political appointments before being consecutively elected as a member of the 9th and 10th Assemblies representing the good people of Isiala-Mbano, Onuimo and Okigwe Federal Constituency of Imo State, a position that amply offered her the opportunity to establish herself as a legislator per excellence with three Bills to her credit and stellar performances in major committees of the House of Representatives, including as pioneer chairman house committee on disability.

“Finally, I am in this race for the speakership of the 10th Assembly to bring fresh ideas and pragmatic solutions to the harrowing current challenges of national cohesion to proffer a new Legislative Agenda for addressing the current debilitating issues of our dwindling economy, mass poverty, promoting bills that supports massive industrialization of the economy to create more jobs, inclusivity and unity of the Nigerian State.

“I believe that Nigeria is at the threshold of history. I believe that the incoming Government has heard loud and clear, the current hues, cries and aspirations of the Nigerian youths and as such, I have no modicum of doubt that my speakership of the 10th Assembly, will very much, help the incoming Government to foster a government that empowers the people, includes the people (youths & women of every region) and works 100% for the people to deliver the promises that my fellow Nigerians have long yearned for through the instrumentality of the house of representatives.

“My mission is a vision to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion, where legislative activities are enabled through technological funnels with ingenious trackers to deliver value for Nigeria”, she said.

Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, Sen. Adeleke Olorunnimbe Mamora (middle) Minister of State for Science, Technology and Innovation, Chief Henry Ikechukwu Ikoh (2nd left) Permanent Secretary Federal Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation, Mrs. Monilola Udoh (left) , Former Chairman, Senate Committee on Science and Technology, Sen. Robert Boroffice (2nd right) and the Director, , Chemical Technology Department of the Federal Ministry /Senior Technical Assistant to the Minister, Mr. Mej Bassey ,during the unveiling and Commissioning Ceremony of the Broadcast Studio of the National Science, Technology and Innovation Television (NSTI tv), in Abuja.