Rivers State governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, has declared that most socio-economic and educational problems linger in the country because Nigerians elect people who cannot solve problems.
Governor Wike made the declaration at the signing into law three bills passed by the State House of Assembly at the Executive Chamber of Government House in Port Harcourt on Thursday.
The three laws are the Rivers State Prohibition of the Curtailment of Women’s Right to Share in Family Property Law No. 2 of 2022, Rivers State Compulsory Treatment and Care of Victims of Gunshots Law No. 3 of 2022, and the Rivers State Pension Reform (amendment) Law No. 4 of 2022.
Speaking on the law to prohibit the curtailment of women’s right to share in family property law, Wike expressed displeasure at how most cultures, particularly in Rivers State, did not encourage what engendered growth among the people.
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He wondered why women were prevented from sharing in the inheritance of their families when they were often the most useful members of the society in comparism to most male children.
Wike asserted that the law was important to the development of the state because it would enable its people to actualise their potentials, as women would be allowed by law to inherit their entitlements.
“I don’t know why it’s a taboo; because you’re a girl, because of this is a woman, you’re not entitled to inherit what belongs to your father.
“It is not you who decides whether you will have a girl or you’ll have a boy, it is God. So, put yourself in their shoes today where, by the mercy of God you have three children and they’re all girls and you struggle in life to see what you can keep for your children.
“Tomorrow, one of their uncles comes, and says, my friend, girls don’t inherit their father’s property. With all your efforts in life, somebody comes to discriminate against them, why? We have even found out that women are more useful to us than even the men.
“The day, you’re getting old and dying you’ll know that you need more daughters than men. They will leave their husbands house and come to take care of you.”
Governor Wike urged women not to be afraid of any threat from members of their families concerning inheritance.
He asked them to stand up for their rights and challenge any discrimination against them in court, using the law in order to access their entitlements.
Speaking on the pension reform law, Governor Wike said, when pensioners protest, it is because they do not quite understand the good intentions of government.
He explained that because of paucity of funds, government must prioritise its spending in order to have funds for the provision of services, projects and also pay workers’ wages.
