The 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) Peter Obi, says unhindered access to good education and provision of good healthcare will eliminate violence against women in society.
Mr Obi gave this position in a series of tweets on his X handle on Saturday to mark the global International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women.
He said, “The surest way to eliminate violence against women is to grant them unhindered access to good education and the provision of good healthcare for them.”
The former Anambra governor also noted that while every form of violence against any Nigerian deserved to be condemned, gender-based violence against women must not be given a place in society.
According to him, the National Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS) reports that one in three Nigerian women have experienced physical violence by age 15 (NDHS 2013).
He added that a 2019 survey by the Nigerian National Bureau of Statistics revealed that 30 per cent of Nigerian women between 15 and 49 years had experienced physical violence.
Mr Obi said the survey added that 68 per cent had encountered emotional, economic, or sexual abuse.
Noting the political influence of women in our polity, Mr Obi said, “Reports also show that women are critical players in our politics.
“They contribute significantly to the voting numbers but are often hampered by violence, which can only be eliminated by playing by the rules of the law guiding the game.”
Mr Obi said the ugly trend of violence must not be allowed to continue.
He posited that violence against women could be eliminated by empowering Nigerian women to take their rightful place in society and contribute to the collective development of the nation.
“This, we can do by giving them access to education and healthcare, which are most critical to national development.
“To build the New Nigeria of our dreams, completely abhorrent of violence against women, we must understand that development is not gender-based, and we all, men and women, must unite, in love, to move our nation forward,” he added.
(NAN)