The Convener of the National Opposition Movement Coalition (NOMC), codenamed the Alternative, Otunba Segun Showunmi has joined Nigerian women in celebrating the International Women’s Day (IWD), observed on March 8, recognising the invaluable role women have played in advancing the progress of the country since independence.
Showunmi saluted the hardwork and dedication of Nigerian women working tirelessly and achieving results in different fields of endeavour, from those sacrificing daily in the markets and farms to train the next generation of leaders, to those breaking limits in education, sports, medical field, arts, entertainment and even in politics, where they are still largely under-represented.
This year has its theme tagged “Accelerate action.”
Showunmi in a post on his social media platforms seen by Veracity Desk (veracitydesk.com) also used the auspicious occasion to salute the senator representing Kogi Central, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, for her courage amid her ongoing dispute with Senate President Godswill Akpabio as well as her questionable six months suspension.
The PDP chieftain and former governorship aspirant in Ogun State also chided the opposition parties in the Senate for doing nothing to protect Natasha at the upper chamber.
Below is Showunmi’s full message reproduced hereunder:
International Women’s Day 2025
When one reflects deeply on the struggles of women in our contemporary society, one is bound to ask how women suddenly became the weaker partners in the entire struggle.
Africans traditionally have the highest regard and place for the woman in our lives.
We have had military generals and war leaders as women if you doubt that, what did you think Queen Amina of Zaria was, we have had change makers as women, do you not remember Madam Tinubu, Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti and Magret Ekpo?
In our spiritual esoteric consciousness, women have a revered place amongst the special beings or what do you think Iyami Osorona and the African concept of witchcraft is, it is the veneration of the alpha female drilled into the consciousness of our spirituality.
How we began to adopt the rather strange concept of women as weak partners needing rescue beats me.
We are not duty bound to believe that other civilizations and their rather premature thoughts of the life form and its gradation are right when we have always had a far more honourable and well-settled idea of who, what and how revered and respected the woman is.
The earlier we unlearn this foreign idea that will only breed confusion the better.
I have watched with great disgust the Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan saga with mouth agape wondering what has become of us.
How did we get to this point where in a democracy opposition sits by mopping as one of theirs gets bullied to the point of a 6 month suspension with all of the extra in your face dictatorial bully tactics to intimidate aggressively in a misogynistic manner.
And the so called opposition sat there and did nothing.
Well for the benefit of those who still care about national reputation this is all shades of bad.
It will be interesting to see how the allegations will be treated, it will be interesting to see how the case in court will be adjudicated.
It will be telling of who we have become by the handling of the whole episode.
What we do will send a strong signal to how we make life easier for our girl child, what we do to their confidence and how we make the space safer for them.
It is such an irony that this happened at all, let alone so close to the women’s day.
Sen Natasha Hadiza Akpoti-Uduaghan, Happy International Women’s Day to you and to all women.
