2019: Female Lawmakers Seek Office Of Vice President As A Permanent Right

President Muhammadu Buhari (File Photo)

Female Lawmakers Demand Buhari To Make Law Securing A Woman As Vice President Of  The Country

Female lawmakers in the country have requested  President Muhammadu Buhari to ensure the office of the Vice President is ceeded to them in subsequent elections in the country.

The female lawmakers made the statement Friday, when they paid a courtesy call on President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

Hon. Mrs. Elizabeth Ativie who Spoke on behalf of the delegation, which comprised elected lawmakers from the nation’s 36 states, said Nigerian women were being exploited by their male counterparts. She said the country only had one principal officer in each of the two chambers of the National Assembly since the return to democracy in 1999.

She also told Mr Buhari that as the president, anything he said at the gathering “will become policy and subsequently law.” To this end, she said “whenever the president is a man, the Vice President should be a woman.” Mrs. Ativie also said for every three senatorial seats in the states, one should be a woman. She also said “where there are nine House of Reps members, the men should take six and leave three for women.”

Seemingly amused President Buhari jokingly said “It is a pity that the Vice President is not here, but I am sure the Secretary to the Government of the Federation will brief him that his position is threatened.”

Buhari however appreciated the support given to him by women generally in the four times he ran for president. He recalled reports he received during elections in which women in labour queued to vote for him.

He asked the delegation to take a message to their colleagues to extend the same support since he has declared to seek for second term. On their request, the president said,  “I am not as powerful as you think.” He explained that  such requests could only be made by a military head of state, but, he has today dropped the uniform for “agbada”.