Speakership race: Princess Onoha begs male contestants to step down for her

A female Aspirant for the office of Speaker, House of Representatives Princess Mariam Onuoha representing Isiala Mbano/Okigwe/Onuimo Federal Constituency of Imo State has drummed support for a state of emergency to be declared on the dwindling participation of women in politics in the country

The Aspirant who was recently re-elected on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) made the call in Abuja on Wednesday when she declared her intention to run for the office of Speaker of the 10th Assembly during a World Press Conference.

At the event she urged her male counterparts to step down for her.

She lamented that over 55 percent of valid votes casts were by women yet they are always at the receiving end.

“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 on 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 represent 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 specie.

“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.

She expressed the believe that Nigeria is at the threshold of history pointing out that the incoming Government has heard loud and clear, the current hues, cries and aspirations of the Nigerian youths.

“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 & 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.”