Governor Nyesom Wike of River State has blamed President Muhammadu Buhari for the rejection of gender bills by the National Assembly.
On Tuesday, members of the National Assembly threw out five bills promoting the interest of women during the constitutional amendment process.
According to Wike, Buhari’s lack of interest in allowing for affirmative action for women in political administration in the country was responsible for the rejection of the women-related bills.
He made this known on Friday at the inauguration of Ahoada -Odiemerenyi-Ihugbogo-Odieke road project in Ahoada-East Local Government Area of the state.
Wike pointed out that the Buhari-led government has failed to harness the potential of women in the advancement of the nation, saying that the rejection of the bills is a major setback for the country’s growing democracy.
The Rivers governor said the rejection of the bills shows that the lawmakers have no regard for the wife of the President and Vice President, Aisha Buhari and Dolapo Osinbajo, who came to looby them.
He said: “Look at what happened in the National Assembly. I watched it and I laughed when I saw our wives, and women were disgraced. It has never happened anywhere.
“I saw wives of the president and vice president go to the plenary session of the National Assembly to lobby them, to please help them.
“They (National Assembly) promised them. The party (APC) promised them. The same party that promised them failed them.
“APC controls the National Assembly. If Mr. President was in support of this, there is no way they will disgrace women in the National Assembly. Such shameful thing.”
