So, I was invited by the Deputy Speaker of National Assemnly to the programme that I have made the title of this post. He is the Chairman of the House Committee on Constitution Review. The Gender Equity Bill is a major issue. Indeed, I was glad to be part of the Panel that discussed the Next Steps, which is the solution section of Dialogue.
The Town Hall procedure is good. The ambition of the 10th Assembly to write its name in gold is great.
The discussion was robust. The thing all of us agreed on is that we should move from rhetorics to actions.
The review and total overhauling of the Nigerian Constitution is long overdue, there is no doubt about it. But the focus in this review towards tokenism is still worrisome to me even though the arguments for it seem to make some sense. However, I will like to give the benefit of doubt to the position being canvassed here.
As I stated in my Inaugural Lecture, the idea of concension to women is not the issue but being regarded as a person with the right to exist and thus the right to hold political office.
I am writing this from the ongoing Closing Dinner for the meet. I just thought to put down my thoughts here for now.
I did a full paper prepared for this Dialogue. I hope to share it with us as a video presentation in a later update to this post as I do not have access to the recordings on this discourse. If I get it, I will add the link too at a later date.
Come enjoy with me the sights of the meet and the dinner even if you cannot get the taste!
Lara Authe
IYABODE OMOLARA AKEWO NWABUEZE 