Governor Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State has called for more active participation of women in the politics, saying men have failed to lead the country successfully.
Akeredolu, who was a Special Guest of Honour at the annual Conference of the Committee of Wives of Lagos State Officials (COWLSO), stated that men need women to address the urgent needs of the nation.
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The 2021 COWLSO, themed ‘Awake’ held at the Eko Hotels and Suites, Victoria Island in Lagos.
According to the governor, men have never led Nigeria properly, hence, the need for women to wake up and be active in politics.
“The history of Nigeria is replete with heroic deeds of women who had contributed to the progress of our country and we must continue to appreciate them as no reasonable society would push women to the back seat and expect to make progress. If Nigeria must move forward, women must lead us to progress,” he said.
While he stressed that women are good leaders; he urged those who are politically conscious never to leave politics for men alone but embrace politics; reiterating that men have never led this country well.
He further encouraged them to go beyond jamboree of being best political singers at rallies but participate actively in politics.
Akeredolu, therefore, called on men to work with women while he encouraged the wives of political office holders to influence their husbands positively in government policies for the benefit of the entire nation.
“Women must intervene in the issue of insecurity so as to change the narratives,” he said.
First Lady Aisha Buhari, who was represented by the Senior Special Assistant (SSA) on Admin. and Women Affairs to the President, Dr. Rukayyat Gurin, in her message encouraged women to use their roles for the greater benefits of the society while she urged the men to support their wives.
Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, who also graced the occasion, said men can do virtually nothing without women.
He said it was important for women to be awake and alive to their responsibilities, especially the emerging realities of the 21st century.
The governor appreciated COWLSO for the various humanitarian initiatives in critical sectors, especially the donation of 5,000 transistor radios to support continuous learning by students during the lock down occasioned by COVID-19 pandemic, as well as various interventions in health, sexual and gender-based violence.
Earlier, in her opening remarks, COWLSO Chairman and Lagos State First Lady, Dr. Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu, paid glowing tributes to the founding mothers of COWLSO, especially the late Dame Obafunmilayo Johnson, wife of the first Military Governor of the State, who founded the Committee in 1974, and Senator Oluremi Tinubu who initiated the National Women’s Conference in the year 2000 during the tenure of her husband, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu as Governor of the State, as well as her predecessors.
The event was attended by dignitaries including the Wife of the Speaker, House of Representatives, Hajia Salamutu Gbajabiamila; Senior Special Assistant to the President on Sustainable Development Goals, Mrs Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire; Wives of the governors of Ogun, Ekiti, Kwara, Osun, Ondo and Kebbi, among others.
