The member representing Isiala Mbano/Okigwe/Onuimo of Imo State in the House of Representatives, Princess Miriam Onuoha, has called for a state of emergency to be declared over the dwindling participation of women in parliament.
Onuoha said this when she declared her intention to run for the office of the Speaker of the 10th Assembly while briefing reporters in Abuja on Wednesday.
The lawmaker, a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), urged the male contestants to step down for her in solidarity of promoting gender equality.
She said her desire to run was not based on just being a woman but on her capacity to deliver the required dividend of democracy.
She is the only female so far that has indicated interest in the Speakership position.
Onuoha, who stressed the need for equality, said there was need for urgent action to bridge the gender gap.
She regretted that this was despite the fact that over 55 percent of valid votes cast are by women.
“I should be given the support as a woman with competence driven with integrity, vision, mission and true display of diversity as well as inclusivity and leadership centred on equality and the capacity to deliver the needed dividends of democracy,” she said.
Onuoha also promised to make the House transparent to members of the public contrary to the perception held about the opaqueness of the activities of the National Assembly, if she is elected Speaker.
She said the 10th Assembly promises to be a watershed of some sort for Nigeria’s fledgling democracy.
The lawmaker said there was a need for a nationalist and a dynamic team player to stem the tide of the country’s dwindling economy and the much-needed dividends to Nigerians.
She said a service driven leader who understands citizen’s consideration and participation is what Nigeria truly needs.
“We are on the threshold of service, natural cohesion, effective and cutting edge legislative engagement with the executive, with the view to proffer microeconomic solutions to the nation’s economic health, as well as dealing with other social challenges.
“I confidently yet humbly seek the support of my fellow members elect and the prayer of the generality of my Nigerian people, for the office of the speaker in the 10th Assembly.
“My emergence will create opportunities for NASS-stakeholders engagement to provide access for public participation in the law making.
“The emergency of the dwindling number of women in parliament calls for a deliberate action, an action that will bridge the gender gap, an action that is a call for the leadership of the National Assembly to embrace the stance for a woman of competence and experience.
“I honorably call for my fellow contestants to support me, a woman with competence, integrity, vision driven mission and a true display of diversity as well as inclusive leadership centered on equity.
“No doubt our President-Elect His Excellency Bola Ahmed Tinubu is a he-for-she who has always empowered women in all spheres of life, having picked a woman as his running mate as the governor of Lagos state and also supported his amiable wife to become a senator in the parliament in line with the goals of the UN’S 35% affirmative action for women.
“To this effect, my election as the Speaker House of Representatives will therefore afford Nigeria the rare opportunity of killing the two ubiquitous birds of gender balancing and youth inclusiveness in its political/leadership landscape, with one stone.
“Truthfully, I Princess Miriam amply represents the twin engine essence of Nigeria’s youth and female status quo whom the circumstances of our political exigencies have made an endangered and vulnerable species.
“Again the issues of regional balancing in the Nation’s leadership equation is also another veritable national challenge that my election to the speakership of the House of Representatives will address and resolve simultaneously in the interest of National Unity, Peace and inclusion.
“I am armed with a remarkable educational resume, with a Bachelor of Science degree in Estate Management from the illustrious university of Lagos Akoka and a Masters in Environmental Planning & Protection, university of Abuja She equally has a rich professional exposure that straddles the Estate/facility Management, Environmental consultancy and logistics, the International Development and Civil Society Sector.
“Thus, having gained very extensive professional cum business experience in the course of my career, seamlessly I am a quintessential entrepreneur, boardroom strategist, vis-à-vis an avid player in the real estate, facility management, and management consultancy sectors of our economy.
“I also bring extensive and robust political experience to the table having held multiple political appointments before being consecutively elected as a member of the 9th and 10th Assemblies representing the good people of Isiala-Mbano, Onuimo and Okigwe Federal Constituency of Imo State, a position that amply offered her the opportunity to establish herself as a legislator per excellence with three Bills to her credit and stellar performances in major committees of the House of Representatives, including as pioneer chairman house committee on disability.
“Finally, I am in this race for the speakership of the 10th Assembly to bring fresh ideas and pragmatic solutions to the harrowing current challenges of national cohesion to proffer a new Legislative Agenda for addressing the current debilitating issues of our dwindling economy, mass poverty, promoting bills that supports massive industrialization of the economy to create more jobs, inclusivity and unity of the Nigerian State.
“I believe that Nigeria is at the threshold of history. I believe that the incoming Government has heard loud and clear, the current hues, cries and aspirations of the Nigerian youths and as such, I have no modicum of doubt that my speakership of the 10th Assembly, will very much, help the incoming Government to foster a government that empowers the people, includes the people (youths and women of every region) and works 100% for the people to deliver the promises that my fellow Nigerians have long yearned for through the instrumentality of the house of representatives.
“My mission is a vision to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion, where legislative activities are enabled through technological funnels with ingenious trackers to deliver value for Nigeria.”