‘It won’t kill us’ — Ben Kalu seeks support for reserved seats for women

Benjamin Kalu, deputy speaker of the house of representatives, says women can be trusted to handle the affairs of the nation beyond the current status.

Kalu spoke on Wednesday in Abuja after a film screening event hosted by the Australian High Commission to celebrate the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

The film, ‘Freeman’, told the story Cathy Freeman, former Australian sprinter who excelled in the 400-metre dash and in 2000 became the first Australian Aboriginal person to win an individual Olympic gold medal.

Her personal best of 48.63 seconds currently ranks her as the ninth-fastest woman of all time.

Kalu said Freeman’s achievements highlighted how courage, focus, strength, and resilience from women can have an impact.

The film also showed how the sporting events improved relations between the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples of Australia and the rest of the population.

The deputy speaker said the reconciliation holds a valuable lesson for Nigeria.

“The ability to accommodate one another, the ability to believe that though we are different, we are the same, that our diversity is our beauty. It’s not a disadvantage. 
It’s a strength, because everyone has something to bring to the table,” he said.

‘WE CAN GIVE WOMEN A CHANCE’

Pointing to the reserved seat bill, Kalu said the draft law is centred on inclusiveness “so that we can celebrate the power of women beyond sports, beyond family management but in the governance space”.

“
If we believe and trusted women to do what they did or what she (Freeman) did as a woman, we can also trust women to handle affairs of the governance of our country, beyond what it is at the moment.”

The bill does not reserve any of the existing seats or constituencies for women, instead it proposes the creation of additional seats exclusively for women in the state and national assemblies.

Specifically, it calls for 37 new senate seats—one for each state and the federal capital territory (FCT)—and 37 additional house of representatives seats.

Kalu urged Nigerians to throw in more support for the draft law.

“
It’s not too much, but it will help us shore up our percentage from what it is now which is less than 4 percent to at least 10 percent. It won’t kill us as Nigerians. 
It won’t stop us as Nigerians. So we need you as our allies and our friends and those who are in this room,” he said.

“Honourable members who are in this room, you’ve seen the strength of a woman if you create a little space, which is not a threat to us.

“The details of that bill is that ‘we are not coming to contest with the men in their positions to reduce their position’.

”We are saying a separate seat for women both in the house of reps, both in the senate and the house of assembly, and together begin to show that women are there to add value to our administration, not to threaten our positions. We can do it in Nigeria. 
We can give women a chance.”

The bill is set for its third reading in October 2025.