COWLSO 2021: Akeredolu tasks women on active participation in politics

Ondo State Governor, Arakunrin Rotimi Akeredolu, on Tuesday, in Lagos called for more active participation of women in politics, saying men had failed to find solutions to numerous problems bedevilling the country.

Akeredolu made this call while speaking as the Special Guest of Honour at the hybrid 2021 Conference of the Committee of Wives of Lagos State Officials (COWLSO), held at the Eko Hotel and Suites, Victoria Island with the theme “Awake.”

The governor said: “Men have never led this country properly,” emphasising that men needed women in order to address urgent needs of the nation, noted that the history of Nigeria would not be complete without the role of women who had contributed to her progress.

Governor Akeredolu recalled that history was replete with heroic deeds of Nigerian women, saying they must continue to be appreciated as there was no reasonable society that can push women to the back seat and expect to make progress.

“The history of Nigeria is replete with heroic deeds of women. We have had women who had contributed to the progress of this country. We must continue to appreciate them.

“There is no reasonable society that can push women to the back seat and expect to make progress. If the country must move forward, women must lead us to progress,” he said.

Akeredolu, while affirming that women were good leaders, said there was a need for those who are politically conscious amongst them not to leave politics for men alone as they had never led this country properly.

“I am ready to follow women, we must be ready. Women are good leaders. There is a need for women who are politically conscious not to leave politics for men alone; they have never led this country properly.

“You must embrace politics. You must go beyond the jamboree of being the best political singer at rallies. You can’t be singing at political rallies, you must do something else,” the governor said.

The governor, therefore, called on men to work with women politically, even as he urged wives of political office holders to avoid using their conduct to tarnish the integrity of their husbands, adding they should influence their husbands positively in government policies.

“Don’t limit freedom of women. Being wives of political office holders is just not enough. It’s statutory to have spouses who are supportive of their husbands. It’s important these rare privileges you have is used to influence government policies.

“Influence your husbands for a change and benefits of the country. With insecurity at zero level, we need to look at specific ways women can Intervene to change the narratives,” Akeredolu said.

Speaking further, Akeredolu lamented that women “are enemies of themselves,” calling on First Ladies and wives of other political office holders to be “light to other women.”

“Wives of political office holders must be pillar of supports. You must shun counsel of the wicked that could divide the country. You must not compromise the integrity of your husbands through your conducts,” he counselled.

The Wife of the President, Aishat Buhari, represented by Senior Special Assistant (SSA) on Admin and Women Affairs to the President, Dr Rukayyat Gurin, in her message, urged women to use their roles for the greater benefits of the society, even as she also urged men to support their wives.

“Lagos has set the pace for women. This conference demonstrates how powerful Lagos women have been in supporting their husbands. This conference would positively impart women in Lagos and Nigeria in general.

“I would encourage our husbands to support their wives and collectively achieve greater heights. It’s important not to forget our past. I strongly believe we have our husbands’ support. We need more assistance to move together positively,” she said.

Lagos State governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, emphasised the importance of women in society especially in the home, urging women to be alert to their responsibilities, and not allow themselves to be pushed to the background.

“‘Awake’ is a clarion call to the 21st-century women to become fully alert to her responsibilities as a pillar, enabler, and catalyst within the family, in the workplace, the Civic space, and the larger society. It is a rallying cry to women, young and old, to be bold, assertive and fearless in the quest for a truly just, equitable and inclusive society,” the governor said.

“In a world where the needs and perspectives of women are often pushed to the backburner, and where the violence of all kinds, physical, sexual, mental and psychological, are routinely deployed against them, the need for such a forceful wake-up call can never be over-emphasised,” he added.

Sanwo-Olu equally urged men to be mindful of the manner they treat women, warning that their words and actions might unconsciously hold women back “or make their journeys through life more difficult than it should be.”

The governor further said the state was already awakened, promising his administration would continue to “ensure women take their rightful position in the greater agenda that we have.”

He thanked COWLSO for supporting his administration especially in areas such as education and health.

Chairman of COWLSO and First Lady of Lagos State, Dr. (Mrs) Claudiana Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu, in her opening speech, urged women to stand and contribute positively to society, noting that the recent security challenges facing the country such as kidnapping, terrorism and banditry should be seen as a wake-up call for women to prepare themselves for the future.

“It’s time to assert ourselves and contribute positively to our society. Don’t be laid back. No matter where you find yourselves, always remember that you have something to bring to the table. We all have a role to play whether you are a grandma, a career woman, housewife, an entrepreneur, a student or a farmer,” she said.

Dr Sanwo-Olu further said COWLSO, over the years, had offered women the opportunity to “unlearn, learn and relearn in order to align them with modern realities and also prepare them ahead of challenges of life.”

Highlights of the opening day of the event were the presentation of the 2021 Inspiration Woman Awards to some members.

Some of them were Mrs Muheeba Wonuola Folami, Mrs Foluke Abdul-Rasaq, Iyalode of Lagos, and Chief(Mrs) Bintu Fatima Tinubu.

Award was also presented to Nigerian female footballer, Asisat Oshoala, as the 2021 Inspirational Youth.

This year’s event was attended by First Ladies of Osun, Ondo, Kwara, Ogun and Ekiti states, while former Lagos State First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu was represented by Mrs Salawu Bashua.

COWLSO was founded in 1974 by late Dame Obafunmilayo Johnson, the wife of late Brigadier-General Mobolaji Johnson, the first Military Governor of Lagos State. The body was revived by Senator Oluremi Tinubu in 1999 when she was the First Lady of Lagos State.

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