Where does Buhari stand on women issues?

As the world celebrates the International Day of Rural Women on 15 October, UN Women with the World Food Programme, Food and Agricultural Organisation and International Fund for Agricultural Development are launching a joint programme in Rome to empower poor rural women through economic integration and food security initiatives.”
Those re-assuring words were spoken in a video message by Michelle Bachelete, a top UN official emphasising how the economic empowerment of rural women could help lift them out of poverty.
On his part, Ban Ki-moon, UN Secretary-general stated on the same occasion: “As we approach the 2015 deadline for achieving the Millennium Development Goals, it is time to invest more in rural women, protect their rights, and improve their status. On this International Day, I call on all partners to support rural women, listen to their voices and ideas, and ensure that policies respond to their needs and demands.
Let us do everything we can to enable them to reach their potential for the benefit of all.”
In Nigeria, political leaders still live in denial over the need to focus on women issues. Many leaders in government and business are not
convinced that development affects men and women differently.
However, statistics published in a British Council 2012 Gender Report point to verifiable evidence that supports paying special attention
to women and other marginalized groups.
For example, 54 million women and girls are said to live in rural areas where access to social and economic infrastructure is relatively
more limited than urban locations in Nigeria.
About 60-79 percent of rural workforce are women and girls. In 2012, Nigeria ranked 118 out of 134 world worst in gender equity. Also, 10
percent of total revenue and income in Nigeria were shared among 90 percent of the population meaning that 90 percent of total revenue and income in Nigeria are held by 10 percent of population on the significant role women play in society, one notable international organisation once reported that in Africa, 100 percent of basic foodstuffs are processed by women.
“In Africa, it is women who meet 90 percent of household water and fuel needs while they also engage in off-farm activities to diversify
the livelihoods of their families”, the report added..
The ruling PDP has programmes and projects targeting women and marginalised groups. These include You Win (women exclusive), NAPEP, SMEDAN NDE, and the 2013 presidential five-ministry initiative.
Many of the foregoing projects have been criticised for ineffective implementation but how will the APC bearer respond the status of
these initiatives? Will women fare better under an APC government at the centre?
Both male and gender activists are full of expectations about what Buhari is offering women in a Buhari presidency.
Already, Nigerian women under the auspices of the 100 women initiative have voiced their grievances over recent political events in the country.
“ Nigerian women are unhappy on the different dynamics and outcome of the current primaries at the political party level, which has
played out to be totally against the wish and will of Nigerian Women, as they are being tactfully edged out and battered emotionally in the
party primary elections in each of the states…because of the perceived money politics, undue interference of political party leaders, intimidation and negative cajoling of women which has affected the outcome of women participation at the party level.
“Po l i t ical par t ies ne e d to demonstrate to Nigerian Women that they value their contributions to the sustainability of political parties
in Nigeria starting from this 2015 elections.
“It is sad that 20 years after the Beijing conference and, the wake of 2015 deadline for MDGs and all commitments government has made
at global and regional levels, women’s efforts and contributions to national development are still far from being appreciated and the results from the primaries have shown that clearly.
“This will further bring down the global rat ings of gender responsiveness in Nigeria, which in effect will affect Nigeria development
if not corrected now.”