- * Criticises PDP For Ignoring Five Govs On Presidential Campaign
By Suzan Okenwa (National Assembly Correspondent)
Chairman, Senate Committee on Cooperation and Integration in Africa, Dr. Chimaroke Nnamani, has urged governments at all levels to make deliberate efforts to address the challenges militating against the advancement of the girl child in the country.
Senator Nnamani listed the problems facing the girl child in Nigeria to include early child marriages with attendant birth trauma, vesico -vaginal fistula and psychosocial maladjustment.
The two-time former Governor of Enugu state in a goodwill message to commemorate this year’s international day of the girl child, added that discrimination in Access to Education, Poor or near Absence of Menstrual Hygiene, Welfare and Education and Gender discriminatory practices in favour of the Boy Child, as some of the problems .
The United Nations General Assembly had on December 19, 2011 adopted Resolution 66/170 to declare October 11 every year as the International Day of the Girl Child, to, among other things, recognize girls’ right and the unique challenges they face around the world.
This year’s International Day of the Girl Child focuses attention on the need to address the challenges girls face and to promote their empowerment and the fulfillment of their human rights .
The United Nations canvassed that adolescent girls have the right to a safe, educated and healthy life, not only during their critical formative years but also as they mature into women.
Senator Nnamani urged that the girl child needed to be protected, supported and encouraged, pointing out that like UN stated, “If girls are effectively supported during their adolescent years, they have the potential to change the world, both as the empowered girls , mothers, household heads and even political leaders”.
However in another development, Senator Nnamani, has cautioned the Peoples Democratic Party ( PDP) leadership that it is discouraging to ignore five of its Governors as it commenced presidential campaigns for the forthcoming 2023 elections.
He said it is sheer arrogance on the part of the party leadership to ignore a critical group of five sitting Governors.
Governors Nyesom Wike (Rivers), Samuel Ortom (Benue), Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Enugu), Seyi Makinde (Oyo) and Okezie Ikpeazu(Abia) and their supporters were conspicuously absent at the Atiku Abubakar/ Ifeanyi Okowa flagged off the PDP presidential campaigns in Uyo, Akwa Ibom state on Monday.
Senator Nnamani frowned at the development, saying that the party leadership should have done more in a give and take manner to carry the aggrieved party faithfuls along .
He said: “ Today, I go on record in total condemnation of the treatment of the five governors mostly from the southern states within the PDP. The Governors are our leaders and their humiliation rubs off on all of us”.
Senator Nnamani recalled that state Governors were not treated with ignominy during his days .
He cautioned against erecting parallel structures in the five Governors’ states, stressing that “politics is local and the folks from these affected states parading with the PDP leadership will not deliver their polling booths without the Governors.
“Without the involvement of the Governors that are our leaders, these mere cheer leaders and feel good political operatives cannot deliver.
“They can drag themselves from their home states to Abuja. Some are Abuja permanent residents. They dress the meetings and Colour the rallies, but that is what it is , political colour dressing “. NNL.
