Be vigilant and accountable for your children on election day — NOA DG tells women

Pregnant women, the elderly and persons living with disabilities have been advised to leave the polling areas immediately after exercising their electoral right of voting for candidates of their choice on the Election Day.

The advice was given by the Oyo State Director, National Orientation Agency (NOA), Princess Dolapo Dosunmu, during an advocacy visit to her office by Women Radio 91.7 and United Nations (UN) Women who were on a two-day visit to Oyo State, to sensitise the electorate on a violence-free election.

Dosunmu, who  charged women to be vigilant and accountable for their children on election day, so they won’t be involved in violent display or be used as political thugs, said, the agency is currently sensitising citizens, politicians and security agencies on voter education, and the need to shun electoral violence and malpractices.

Also, the Oyo State Commissioner  for  Women Affairs, Community development, Social Welfare and Poverty Alleviation, Mrs Atinuke Osunkoya, has urged all women in Oyo State to go out on Saturday and vote for candidates of their choice without fear of intimidation and harassment from any quarter.

According to her, the #NoToViolenceAgainstWomen advocacy is beneficial to women and commended Women Radio 91.7 FM for the initiative.

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She added that the Oyo State government is continually educating the people on how to diligently perform their civil rights and the need to shun various vices that could result to election violence.

Also, while speaking at the palace of the Olubadan of Ibadanland, the Managing Director of Women Radio, Toun Okewale Sonaiya, appealed to Oba Saliu Akanmu Olasupo Adetunji, to admonish women to come out and vote and for men to create an enabling, peaceful and non-violent environment to allow their wives, daughters, mothers and sisters to go out enmasse to vote.

In his response, the Olubadan of Ibadanland said the 2019 elections will be peaceful and that all will go well for a better Nigeria. The Oba also prayed for Nigeria.

On his own, the Chief Imam of Ibadanland, Sheikh Alhaji Abdul- Ganiyy Abubakri Agbotomokekere said women should not shy away from voting but must avoid election violence. He assured Women Radio that messages of peace will be preached across mosques.

The programme officer, Adetoun Adebogun, stressed the need to allow and encourage eligible women to vote for better representation in governance and to better the lives of women, youths and family.