Category: News

Published Date

Written by Naijatalk

Agitation for eligibility of the incumbent President, Dr Goodluck Jonathan to contest the 2011 presidential election took a dramatic dimension yesterday as a women’s group, African Women in Diaspora, (OAWDN) threatened to go on a seven-day sex strike, if Jonathan does not publicly declare his interest in the 2011 election by Friday, August 27, 2010.
The group issued the threat in a press statement after their inaugural meeting .

According to the statement signed by the Communications Officer of the group, Mrs. Patricia Oreremi Badejo, the women, under the leadership of Lady Igoniwari Halliday, were emboldened to throw their support for President Jonathan because ‘he has been very sensitive to gender issues and issues concerning widows and orphans since he came into office.

“We unequivocally support the presidential bid of Dr. Jonathan and call on him to declare his interest to contest the election on or before Friday 20th August 2010; failure of which will compel the women to embark on a-seven-day sex starvation and will appeal to every well meaning Nigerian woman all over the world to join with us in the journey of sex-starvation.
“We will call on all wives, girlfriends, sex workers and girls within the age of consent to boycott sex for the specified number of days, starting from Friday, 20th to 27th August 2010”.

They said that for long, bad governance, unemployment, health, poverty, child trafficking and dehumanization of young boys and girls by way of under-aged sex have been plaguing the continent and urged all political aspirants desirous of the support of women to put gender and family issues on top of their manifestoes”.
Other reasons given by the women for their wholesale support for the candidacy of president Jonathan includes the eradication of fuel scarcity, implementation of the Justice Uwais committee report on electoral reform, appointment of Prof. Attahiru Jega as Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission , independent investigation of the assets and deficits of the NNPC, comprehensive review and evaluation of ministries, parastatals and government agencies and the increase in public sector workers’ salaries among others.”

Meanwhile, the wife of the Bayelsa State Governor, Mrs. Alayingi Sylva intensified her call for a South-south President in 2011 by challenging women in the eight local government areas of the state to see the project as serious business
She tasked Bayelsa women on participation in the electoral process noting that the time is ripe for the South-south to produce the President of Nigeria.
Mrs. Sylva who spoke when a pro-Jonathan group, New Initiative led by its leader, Deaconess Juliet Pulu Zifawei to a one day workshop by UNICEF/UNDP, explained that Bayelsa women must stand out to be counted as active participants in the 2011 political processes.

According to her, poor enlightenment and participation by women in past electoral processes had rob them of choice of candidates contest for for elective positions, adding that ahead of the 2011 elections there is a renewed effort at mobilising the women at the grassroots and encouraging women aspirants to run for political office.

Link:http://www.sunnewsonline.com/webpages/news/national/2010/aug/11/national-11-08-2010-06.htm