MY ADMINISTRATION WILL IMPLEMENT THE 35 PERCENT GENDER POLICY APPROVED BY LAW IN SUPPORT OF WOMEN
- APGA PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE, CHIEF PETER UMEADI
Presidential candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) is a high caliber legal luminary who was once the Chief Judge of Anambra State. In this exclusive interview, he spoke on the need for his government to empower women through implementing the gender policy as prescribed by the law. He also spoke on the country’s economy, security and other vital national issues. Enjoy reading this interesting session.
It’s a pleasure being with you sir,
Q: Can you briefly introduce yourself?
I am Peter Umeadi. I am the presidential candidate of All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA). I was the Chief Judge of Anambra State from 2011 to 2019 and I retired in 2019. In March 2019, I was appointed the visiting professor in Faculty of Law, University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus where am teaching law up till date.
Thereafter, I joined the All Progressives Grand Alliance in March 2019 at my ward, Onyi Ward 1 in Anambra State and I declared my intention to contest the office of the president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria at that event. On the 1st of June 2022, I became the presidential candidate of APGA to contest for the office of president of Nigeria on February 25, 2023.
Q: What are some of the projects, empowerment you’ve done before now and what next are you preparing for the girl child and the women at large?
Well…I have done quite a lot in my state as a judicial officer, especially as Chief Judge. One of the areas that I got interested in and got involved facilitation of the child rights act. I was opportune to be sent to seminars in Kaduna by my Chief Judge at that time, that was in 2008 trying to encourage states in the country to domesticate the child’s right act. And as am speaking with you now, only about five states have not domesticated that act. So, a lot of progress is going on in that aspect and it’s an area where am very much interested in because I believe the development of a child is the basis of developing any nation. Be that so, I intend to concentrate my work more on that and see that all the states in Nigeria domesticate that act and that, that act will be implemented to the fullest because when you talk about the child rights act, you are talking about issues of vulnerability of those who cannot fend for themselves. Of course, it is the duty of the state to do so. Then that vulnerability goes on in that stream with the child, with women and when it comes to that same gender issue with the girl child, I found out that my concentration is to benefit the girl child in particular viz-a-viz the boy child and see that they are treated at par and if we progress to a achieve the fact that every child ought to be in school up to 18 years, then we will continue to make sure that no girl child is dropped from school for any reason untill she attain the age of 18.
Q: Looking at your manifesto, you emphasize on the girl child act, what are you going to do to ensure the law is executed nationally?
Yes, thank you. We would uphold neccesary customs and practices that are progressive and dignifying. When you talk about laws, they are the foundations surrounding the society and if you know that women possess necessary skills and this are what we need to develop Nigeria with and if we agree that women are at par in terms of numbers with men in Nigeria going by the last census and then you find out that the right to dignity which is the foundation of all human rights should be respected in the interest of women and then men too, the aged, youths and children in all the laws. You can see the progression that Nigerian laws have taken in upholding the inheritance rights of women especially in this environment where these things were not there before. We are in age where women themselves will want to say, no we are not involved in this. Like when we want to talk about the hereditary, property sharing of the family. A woman has the right to say that this is not exactly what I want. If my father have lived a cosmopolitan life, then I would have been entitled to the property.
Generally, I would encourage that all persons who go through trainings, we would urge them to take the best that will serve a purpose and if the best man for the job is a woman, then, I will gladly put a woman there.
Q: The girl and women right law is one you intend to put into action, how do you ensure the enforcement of this law considering its importance?
Let me make it clear, I run on the rule of law, separation of powers and due process. Now the question you are asking duels more on separation of powers. If am elected as president of Nigeria, I will be running the executive arm of government. I will not interfere with the process of lawmaking, I will not interfer with the the process of adjudication upon the laws by the judiciary.
