Aisha Buhari, Gbajabiamila, govs insist women critical to quest for development

Speaker, House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, wife of President Muhammadu Buhari, Aisha Buhari, Governors of Lagos, Kwara and Ogun states, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Abdulrahman Adbulrasak and Dapo Abiodun respectively have said that Nigeria’s quest for true development and a better society will be a mirage if women are not critical elements of the process.

They said this yesterday in Lagos at the opening ceremony of the 2019 National Women’s Conference of the Committee of Wives of Lagos State Officials (COWLSO).

Aside stating that women are an integral part of the success of any nation as they are necessary partners in nation-building, Gbajabiamila said the aspiration of having 30 per cent women representation in government would not come to reality except certain constitutional impediments are removed.

He identified federal character clause in the constitution as one of them.

He nonetheless promised to help in actualising the goal of having 30 per cent women in government.

The wife of the president on her part said that the wives of political office holders had become louder in calling for change, empowering people and ensuring positive impact.

She told the participants of the conference that as women, they have a duty to raise better Nigerians, adding that many Nigerians, especially women, need their voice to be protected.

Sanwo-Olu, who implored women to help in propagating the act of recycling that the state is championing, said: “A lot of the success of the implementation of this agenda will depend on you, and the level of support that you extend to the vision.”

Sanwo-Olu’s wife said women must strategically position themselves to take full benefit of the programmes of government, saying: “To unlearn means to do away with habits that are outdated and as well jettison practices that are against public good and public safety.

“Women must learn to think outside the box and even go a step further to think without the box to fit into the modern society.”

While Abiodun said concerted efforts must be made to ensure Nigeria’s culture lays emphasis on learning, re-learning and unlearning, Abdulrazak charged women to work collectively to help each other.