Peter Obi, the Labour Party's presidential candidate in the February 25 election, in a series of tweets on his X handle (formerly known as Twitter) on Saturday, presented solutions to address violence against women. The statements were made to mark the Global International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women.
Expressing condemnation for all
acts of violence against women, Obi cited statistics from the National
Demographic and Health Survey, indicating that one in three Nigerian women has
experienced physical violence by the age of 15. Additionally, he highlighted a
2019 survey by the National Bureau of Statistics, revealing that 68% of
Nigerian women, regardless of age, have encountered emotional, economic, or
sexual abuse.
Obi emphasized that the key to
eliminating violence against women lies in granting them unhindered access to
quality education, empowering them to assume their rightful roles in society,
and ensuring they have access to good healthcare.
In his words, "Today, the
global community marks the International Day for the Elimination of Violence
against Women, and I join my voice with that of all lovers of peace and a
violent-free society to speak out against all forms of gender-based violence,
especially against women in our nation."
Highlighting the alarming
prevalence of violence, Obi stated, "According to a 2019 survey by the
Nigerian National Bureau of Statistics, 30% of Nigerian women aged 15-49 have
experienced physical violence, while a shocking 68% have encountered emotional,
economic, or sexual abuse. This ugly trend of violence must not be allowed to
continue."
Obi asserted that empowering
Nigerian women through education and healthcare is essential for eliminating
violence against them and fostering national development. He acknowledged the
significant political influence of women in Nigerian politics and urged
adherence to the rules of the law to prevent violence that hampers their
participation.
In conclusion, he emphasized
the imperative of abolishing violence against women to build a better Nigeria,
stating, "To build the New Nigeria of our dreams, completely abhorrent to
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."
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