OYO State African Democratic Congress (ADC) governorship candidate, Senator Olufemi Lanlehin, has described women as dependable allies whose support a politician can bank on, any day, any time.
Lanlehin, while answering questions at the Splash FM/Lagelu FM governorship debate held on Tuesday, at the University of Ibadan’s International Conference Centre, insisted that when sworn in as Oyo State governor come 29 May 2019, women would be given pride of place.
“Women are dependable allies, once they support you, you can bank on it. They’re always committed to worthy causes.
“To that end, our government will give them a pride of place. We shall provide opportunities for women to excel, and provide them with significant appointments in our government,” Lanlehin said.
Calling on women to participate more in governance, for as he said, “they’re brilliant and hardworking, always putting in their best in whatever is committed to them,” Lanlehin intimated the audience that fairness, equity and justice will be the hallmark of his administration.
Lanlehin, who participated in the debate alongside Chief Bayo Adelabu of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP’s) Seyi Makinde, Abundant Nigeria Renewal Party’s (ANRP’s) Olalekan Ayorinde, Sarafadeen Alli of the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP), and Bolanle Sarumi-Aliyu of the National Interest Party (NIP), reminded the audience that his vast experiences garnered across the three arms of government places him ahead of other governorship contestants.
Though former Oyo State governor, Chief Adebayo Alao-Akala was absent, organisers of the event announced he had sent in word that he had travelled.
On local government autonomy, Lanlehin promised full autonomy for local governments, as well as the conduct of free, fair and credible elections at that level, to ensure that third tier of government, described as closest to the people, is headed by those voted for by the people themselves.
The Oyo State ADC governorship candidate who said he supported mentorship and decried godfatherism added, “I’ve always learnt at the feet of giants, both professionally and politically.
“In my profession, I learnt under Chief Gani Fawehinmi, while politically, I learnt under Chief Bola Ige and Alh Lam Adesina,” Lanlehin maintained.
Responding to a question on his movements across political parties, Lanlehin maintained that he had always moved from the ruling party to the opposition, and not for once the other way, as a mark of principle, rather than for filthy lucre.
“When I left the Alliance for Democracy (AD), it was the ruling party. When I left PDP, it was also the ruling party. I left defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) for Accord when ACN was the ruling party.
“Once, we give advice and share sensible opinion and it is thrown out, I take my leave because, for me, politics must essentially be service-oriented,” Lanlehin added.
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