The Governor of Ondo State, Rotimi Akeredolu, SAN, has charged women in the country to embrace politics “beyond the jamboree associated with their presence, which is usually singing and dancing at political functions.”
He pointed out that the socio-economic challenges and other issues facing the country also require the intervention of women.
The Governor said this in Lagos on Tuesday at the 21st National Women’s Conference of the Committee Of Wives Of Lagos State Officials (COWLSO) held at the Eko Hotel And Suites, Victoria Island.
This was disclosed by his Chief Press Secretary, Richard Olatunde, in a statement titled ‘Dont Leave The Politics Of This Country For Men, Gov Akeredolu Charges Women.’
According to the statement, “While pointing that the country is at a cross road, Arakunrin Akeredolu also called on women to fashion out specific ways of intervening in the worrisome security situation in the country, adding that the first set of mass kidnap in the nation was the Chibok girls in 2014.”
The statement quoted Akeredolu as saying, “Our country today is at a cross road. One thing appears missing to me in our conversation here. It is the issue of insecurity in Nigeria.
“Insecurity is limiting our National development. Insecurity is the cause of the poverty you are addressing today. With insecurity, governance is zero.
“We should look at specific ways women can intervene to change the narrative. Women are being kidnapped. The first set of mass kidnap in the country are chibok girls. We are here to change the world. I can assure you as women that you can change the world.”Akeredolu who delivered the key note address and declared the conference open as the Special Guest of Honour enjoined the wives of elected and appointed officials to use the rare privilege they have to influence their husbands in making favorable policies for women.
“He explained that the quality of the participation and favorable policies will go a long way in determining the growth of women in the society.
“The Governor urged that it is time to shift focus to the training of the girl child so as to meet the yearnings for gender-parity in the society,” the statement said.
The Governor was quoted as saying, “We must do more than what we were doing before. We must stop the obnoxious practice which limit the potential of the girl-child. We must resist the attempt by those who crave perpetual domination.
“You must work on the curriculum of our education. Our women must feel that their gender is free. We must not limit their freedom. I can see women salvaging this country. Being wives of elected or appointed political office holders is not enough. I believe that it is salutary to have spouses who are very supportive of their husbands in many ways.”
He urged women to always support one another, saying, “It has been discovered that women are enemies of themselves.
“Be light to other women. It has become imperative that wives of political office holders must be pillars of support. Do not compromise the integrity of your husband.”