By Yunusa Isa, Gombe
In its efforts to promote peace, religious tolerance, democracy and human rights in Gombe State, the Tekan Peace Desk has extended its advocacy campaign to wives of Gombe State legislators under its Faith for Peace Project.
Speaking to newsmen during the one day advocacy campaign organized for the lawmakers’ wives, the national coordinator Tekan Peace Desk Helen Philemon Haggai, said they decided to take the advocacy campaign to the wives knowing fully their influence in every family.
“We felt that it was necessary for us to engage the wives of the legislators of this particular great state, reason being that women are great advocates, and when you talk about lobbying, when there is a group of people that know how to lobby are women. You know we actually know how to talk to our men in the bed, we know how to talk to them in the kitchen and we soften their hearts so that they would be able to know how to take decisions”.
“If there is no legislation concerning the religion and belief in Gombe State, the women will play a great role, and that’s why we invited the women. We felt they need to advocate for these variables. We know religion in Nigeria plays a very vital role in every thing we do. A lot of people ride on the back of religion to perpetrate either good things or bad. And we felt that there was need come and engage with the women so that they would be great advocates for these four variables,” she added.
Helen expressed appreciation with the turnout, describing it as more win to the campaign.
On her part, one of the paper presenters Sa’adatu Ishaya who doubles as State Chairperson, Federation of Women Lawyers, said “By engaging the women on the peace talk, they can influence their husbands in promulgating laws that will promote peaceful coexistence in their localities communities, states and the country at large”.
Sa’adatu appealed to the executive arm to ensure full execution and implementation of laws on human rights, religious tolerance and peaceful coexistence.
Also speaking, the State Deputy Chairperson Federation of Women Lawyers, Naomi Abdu, appreciated the foresight of Tekan Peace Desk for the initiative, describing it as timely and purposeful.
One of the participants Marina Zubairu Ayala, wife to member representing Shongom Constituency at the State House of Assembly, said as mothers, women have important role to play in ensuring peace at homes, communities and nations.
She assured that they will intimate their husbands in ensuring the desired bills that promote peace, women inclusivity, human rights and religious tolerance are passed in Gombe State.
“In our own way, will assist , we will advise and we will support. All our aim is to move towards peace in the state. We will advocate in small and large groups, all our aim is to bring development to our communities, our state and Nigeria as a whole”, she assured.
The desk has simultaneously organized a capacity building session in advisory, coordination and mentorship for faith-based and community organizations, to attaining the set objectives of peaceful, prosperous and all inclusive society.
The Faith for Peace Project which is co-funded by Bread for the World and the European Union, is being executed in Gombe State for the past four years, through the Tekan Peace Desk in two local government areas of Kwami and Yamaltu Deba.