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If you need care, get a doctor, don’t burden your wife, Nigerian women attack Buhari over kitchen comment

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If you need care, get a doctor, don’t burden your wife, Nigerian women attack Buhari over kitchen comment

The Nigerian Feminist Forum, NFF, an umbrella body of several women groups in the country, has faulted President Muhammadu Buhari’s statement that his wife belongs to his kitchen, living room and the other room.

Frowning at the president’s further assertion in an Interview that his wife’s job is to take care of him, the feminist group, said:  “We equally admonish your follow up comments/confirmation of your earlier position to a journalist that your wife’s sole duty is to ‘take care of you’ is equally unacceptable. We believe that you are not physically disabled or incapacitated to warrant 24hours personal care and if that is the case, may we suggest you seek qualified paid professional care.”

The group, in its reaction, contained in a strongly worded statement on Sunday, signed by Geraldine Ezeakile, described the president’s statement as condescending,  demeaning and a violation of the right to dignity of every woman as recognized under section 34 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended.

It will be recalled that President Buhari, while responding to critical statements made by his wife, Aisha in an interview with the Hausa Service of the BBC, said: “I don’t know which party my wife belongs to, but she belongs to my kitchen and my living room and the other room”.

The NFF, which praised Mrs Buhari for her courage and audacity to speak out even at the risk of personal discomfort, said in the statement: “the President’s comment connotes a nostalgic and repugnant invocation of historical patriarchal oppression and subjugation of Nigerian women, which has over the past alienated and denied Nigerian women access and a level playing ground to compete equally with their male counterparts both in public and personal spaces.

“We Nigerian women alongside our male counterparts have throughout the history of the development of this country resisted and will continue to resist every attempt made to diminish our contributions to the development of this nation. We will continue to fights against the entrenchment of patriarchal, socio-cultural and religious misogynistic structures that oppress and demean the status of women in our society.

“It is notable that Mr. President’s condescending comment relegating his wife’s role exclusively to his ’’kitchen and the other room’’ was made during a state visit to Germany, a first world nation with advanced democracy, headed by a woman (Ms. Angela Merkel).

“Ms. Merkel serves as a clear example that women can attain to the highest leadership position anywhere in the world if given the right support and opportunity. Ms. Merkel would not have become the German Chancellor if she as a woman was solely relegated to the kitchen or the other room. Ms. Merkel, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, Michelle Bachelet, Thersa May, Doris Leuthard and other women in similar position demonstrates that women just like men, are capable of making important decisions in the ‘boardrooms and conference rooms’.

“Mr. President Sir, we Nigerian women hereby categorically state that we are no less important than our male citizens. We matter equally. It is inexcusable and utterly condemnable to refer to the first lady of Nigeria and indeed any other woman as belonging to the ’’kitchen’’.

“Nigerian women including your wife Aisha, constitute 50% of the country’s population and comments such as yours can never diminish or undermine our status and contribution to national development and growth.

“Mr, President Sir, your role as a statesman and leader of a polarized country such as ours, connotes that you must never be seen either in public or private to support ideas and positions that stifles 50% of the citizens of the country you head”, the group said.

Reminding Buhari of the role played by Aisha towards his election, the group further reminded him that the promises he made to Nigerian women during his electioneering campaigns have remained unfulfilled.

“We have not forgotten about the promises you made to women during your election campaign speeches, we are eagerly waiting for you to fulfil them starting from appointing women equally in your ministerial cabinet.

“The NFF and its partners are saddened and worried to note that the present political dispensation has the lowest representation of women in public office. Women make up roughly 8% of the overall membership of the legislature and only 7% of ministers currently serving in your cabinet are women. This is against the 31% in the immediate past administration.  We wonder if this dismal representation of women in decision making in your government has a direct link to your personal opinion of women and their role in the society.

“The dismal role of women in decision-making positions in this present administration is extremely discomforting.  Nigerian women were even further assaulted by the rejection of the Gender and Equal Opportunities Bill (GEOP) by members of Nigeria’s Senate on Tuesday the 15th of March 2016.  The GEOP Bill seeks to guarantee the rights of women to access equal opportunities in employment and education. It also seeks to guarantee equal rights to inheritance for both male and female children.”

The women however called on the president to tender an unreserved public apology to Aisha and Nigerian women for disparaging them.

“We hereby use this medium to call on President Mohammad Buhari to immediately;

“Offer an unreserved public apology to his wife and indeed every Nigerian woman and girls for the disparaging and demeaning misogynistic comment made about confining the role of women in the society solely to the domestics.

“Take concrete actions to demonstrate his government’s commitment to actualizing 35% Affirmative Action in all government institutions, structures and decision-making positions.

“Demonstrate a clear road map of implementing the sustainable development goal especially goal 5 on Gender equality.

“Fulfil every electioneering promise made to Nigerian women and take steps to secure the lives of women and girls especially those in conflict situations.

“Show public support for women’s right and gender equality”, the group demanded.

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