By Vera Chinonso Aliyu and Ada Obeleagu, YeyeNews.com, December 16, 2021
Women in northern Nigeria under the aegis of Progressive Women of Northern Nigeria (PWNN) has called on the Senate to throw out any bill seeking to establish equality between men and women in the country. In a letter sent to the senate president the group threatened to occupy the National Assembly if the senators proceed with the consideration of any such bill.
“We represent the progressive women in northern Nigeria. We are using this medium to convey our disapproval of any attempt to legislate any form of equality between men and women under any guise. We are subject to the Quran which is superior to any human written law. Our place is in the home of the man whose authority over us is unchallengeable. We are therefore putting the senate on notice that any attempt to make any law to the contrary will leave us with no option than to occupy the National Assembly”.
A member of the PWNN told YeyeNews.com that the prevalent view among the women of the region is that the move to make men and women equal is a ploy by southern women to introduce vices into the lives of northern women. She said because of the freedom enjoyed by southern women they have imbibed a lot of vices. “They dress loosely exposing their flesh; they don’t see anything wrong going out with a man that is not their husband and the married ones argue with their husbands. These are things they want to introduce to our young girls through that law. We don’t want any equality. The northern woman is satisfied with are position”.
YeyeNews.com had earlier reported how a bill to ensure equality in treatment of men and women sponsored by Senator Olujimi was stepped down due to opposition by some northern senators. A senator who did not want his name mentioned said that the threat of the northern women group was the main reason for stepping the bill down. “The major beneficiaries of the Bill would have been women from northern Nigeria. But they are vehemently opposed to it. They are satisfied with the status quo, even threatening to occupy the National Assembly if we considered the Bill. So when the beneficiaries of change say they prefer the status quo, we have no choice but to accede”.
