Enugu lawmakers condemn pro-woman bill as anti-African

The controversial Equal Rights and Opportunities for men and women has failed to pass second reading at the Enugu State House of Assembly. The bill, sponsored by Hon. Dame Nkechi Omeje-Ogbu (Nsukka West), the chairwoman of the gender affairs committee, failed to pass after assembly members condemned it as anti-cultural and anti-African.

The bill was heading towards eventual total rejection before Speaker Hon. Edward Ubosi intervened and suggested further consultations. The sponsor of the bill, Mrs. Lidya Nkechi Omeje-Ogbu said that Enugu state equal opportunities bill would protect all persons from discrimination on the basis of sex.

She said that the bill provided protection for women, integrity, human dignity and would affirm their rights to equal opportunities to realize their full potentials adding that the bill was seeking for positions and appointments to women of Enugu State, and that neither marriage, divorce nor death would deny women their rights.

According to her, Enugu state women should be given equal opportunities as men and women attend the same schools and are awarded the same degrees by universities.

Contributing to the debate before it was stepped down, Hon. Sunny Ude-Okoye (Awugu North) said that he would not be a party to such a bill because Nigeria is in Africa, not America.

“I have risen to declare my stand. I have risen to take my stand that this is a colossal waste. The bill is talking about the women, the women. Who is deceiving who?”  he said

“Here is Africa. Anybody who wants to practice what Obama and Americans are practicing should go to America.”

He said debating the bill was a waste of time because the rights of everyone, including women, had been provided for in the constitution.

“It is a total deceit. If you say 35%, it is deceit. Why not say 50%? I am saying that I am against the bill in its entirety and will never be in support of it”, Ude-Okoye said.

Hon. Iloabuchi Aniagu (Nkanu West) echoed Ude-Okoye’s comments and said that the bill should not be given further attention as it could pertain to gay marriage.

“I can see some unseen hands in the bill,” he added.

Naij.com