Kwara women hold rally in support of Governor AbdulRazaq’s re-election

Thousands of women in Kwara state, led by female government cabinet members and ruling APC candidates, took to the streets on Saturday to show their support for the re-election of Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq. The rally was organized as part of the activities to commemorate International Women’s Day in the state.

Starting from Queen Elizabeth Secondary School in Ilorin, the state capital, the rally criss-crossed major streets in the metropolis, with the participants displaying various banners that celebrated the strides of the governor in gender mainstreaming and other programmes designed to protect women’s interests. Party faithfuls, as well as women and youth support groups, also attended the rally.

Commissioner for Finance, Florence Olasumbo Oyeyemi, speaking to newsmen on the sidelines of the event, said that the rally was an after-event of the celebration of International Women’s Day. She further added that all the women in Kwara came together to celebrate Governor AbdulRazaq for deepening gender parity in governance and politics. Oyeyemi highlighted that Kwara APC had just produced the highest number of women contesting for elective positions in Nigeria, which she traced to the gender inclusion policy of the Governor.

“As you can see, we have all our candidates here. The state has the highest women representation as party candidates who are contesting for House of Assembly seats. This is an opportunity to come out and celebrate His Excellency’s achievements for his gender inclusion in governance to ensure that women are doing it right. We are sure that women of Kwara State will reciprocate this gesture at the polls,” Oyeyemi said.

Speaking at the rally, Arinola Lawal, the House of Assembly candidate for Ilorin East Constituency, thanked Governor AbdulRazaq for giving women a chance to contribute their quota to society. She said, “I want to say a big thank you to His Excellency AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq for giving women the chance to contribute their quotas to the society. This is a walk for women all over the world that what a man can do a woman can do better.”

Another House of Assembly candidate, Rukayat Shittu, expressed hope that she and other APC candidates would come out victorious in the next Saturday polls. She said, “The AbdulRazaq government has been youth and women-friendly, giving people of my age bracket the space to bid for elective positions. We hope and pray that we and other candidates of the party would come out victorious in the next Saturday polls.”

The rally was also attended by other dignitaries, including the Commissioner for Women Affairs, Hajiya Hassana Ahmed; Water Resources Mopelola Bashir-Abdulmalik; Special Duties Bosede Olaitan Buraimoh; Education Sa’adatu Modibbo Kawu; Environment Remilekun Banigbe; Clerk of the State House of Assembly Hajia Halimat Jumai Kperogi; and House of Assembly candidate for Owode/Onire constituency, Rukayat Shittu.