Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the February 25 election, has put forth solutions to address and prevent violence against women. In a series of tweets on his X handle (formerly Twitter), Obi shared his suggestions to coincide with the Global International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women.
Expressing condemnation for all forms of violence against women, Obi highlighted troubling statistics. According to the National Demographic and Health Survey, one in three Nigerian women has experienced physical violence by the age of 15. Additionally, a 2019 survey by the National Bureau of Statistics revealed that 68% of Nigerian women, spanning various age groups, have encountered emotional, economic, or sexual abuse.
Obi emphasized that providing unhindered access to quality education, empowering women to assume their rightful roles in society, and ensuring adequate healthcare are key to eliminating violence against women.
In his statement, he said, “Violence against women can be eliminated by empowering Nigerian women to take their rightful place in society and contribute to our collective development as a nation. This, we can do by giving them access to education and healthcare which are most critical to national development.”
Despite being considered the “weaker vessels,” Obi underscored the significant political influence of women in the Nigerian polity. He acknowledged women as critical players in politics, contributing significantly to the voting numbers. However, he noted that violence often hampers their participation, emphasizing the need to adhere to the rule of law in the political arena.
Obi concluded by stating that to achieve the New Nigeria envisioned by its founding fathers, violence against women must be eradicated. He emphasized the non-gendered nature of development and called for unity among men and women to move the nation forward.
“To build the New Nigeria of our dreams, completely abhorrent of violence against women, we must understand that development is not gender-based, and we all, men and women, must unite, in love, to move our nation forward,” he concluded.