A Non-Governmental Organization, Women’s Effect Initiative International, (WEII) has called on all the political parties contesting the November 11 Kogi State Governorship Election to call their men to order and give them instructions not to kill women.
Arewa Abiola Abimbola, the Director-General of Women’s Effect Initiative International, made the call while addressing journalists in Lokoja on Thursday.
She expressed worries over the killing of a woman in Kotonkarfe at the weekend.
Abimbola urged the political parties to embrace peace, pointing out that the State cannot continue to lose the lives of women in the name of election.
” It is so disheartening that we are losing such vibrant women in our society in the name of political interest”.
” We use this medium to express dismay at the killing of a woman at Kotonkarfe at the weekend. We want a halt to this killing in our society again “.
” As women, if we cannot be protected, then there is no point following the men participating in politics if our lives and security cannot be guaranteed”.
” In 2019 we lost Salome Abu, the woman was killed, till date nothing has happened, meaning that she died for free”.
” Women are the highest voting population in an election. Do not scare them from coming out to vote. Allow our women to actively participate in the forthcoming Kogi Governorship election “.
She urged citizens of the State to see themselves as brothers and sisters, pointing out that “if we kill ourselves because of somebody’s interest, they may get there and not recognize you”.
Abimbola further urged the people of Kogi State to see themselves as one family and desist from political violence.
She called on government at all levels, as well as security agencies, to help in the protection of women and children before, during and after the governorship election from political and other forms of violence.
