….Nigeria yearns for our intervention, my eyes are on Ondo state
…by Adetola Adigun.
Anytime a major election is around the corner anywhere in the world one of the first things that attract my attention is the women who are showing interest; how qualified they are for the office they are seeking in terms of experience, exposure and intelligence, as well as their chances of winning. I am not a feminist but I am conscious of the fact that my gender is heavily challenged politically, especially in Africa.
In my dear country, Nigeria, I must admit that in the last few years some of the women who presented themselves for election to be Member, House of Reps, Senator or Governor were actually not qualified but even those who were qualified got pushed aside. IT SADDENS ME.
Therefore I am forced to ask the very probing question; ARE WOMEN POLITICALLY JINXED?
My research analysis has given quite a number of results and I wish to share the most prominent of them with you;
…. Nigerian men are too insecure to allow a woman be in power no matter how qualified
… Political parties only pay lip service to women being relevant in governance, and can only tolerate a woman as spare tyre
….. Nigerian women hate to have their fellow women in front
…….many of the women who seek office are not intellectually prepared for the task
…….many of the women who seek office do not have the financial capacity to pursue such goals
This research result is really troubling you would agree because the problem is multidimensional.
So as the off cycle 2024 Governorship election in Ondo state beckons there is the need to speak up, especially as political parties prepare to pick their flagbearers.
I wish all the political parties well as they make their choices, and I pray that the best person in each party will win.
I am very much interested in Ondo state because it is my state of origin, even though i am married to a fantastic gentleman from another state.
Let me take this opportunity to commiserate with the state and its people over the loss of Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, and pray that God will grant him eternal rest and give his family the fortitude to bear the loss.
Back to the election issue,
All eyes will be on the ruling APC for four reasons.
*The power of incumbency is important in political contest all over the world.
*APC has the most experienced politicians in Ondo state today
*APC won the last presidential election with massive votes from Ondo state; meaning the party is popular in the state
*In the last 7 years late Governor Akeredolu really helped the party grow as leader of the party in the state and because of his government’s performance.
It will therefore be silly for anyone to think that APC will be a pushover in the 2024 polls. No it will not be, whether there is a crisis in the party or not
It therefore becomes critically important to be interested in the party’s aspirants, knowing fully well that whoever the party presents may just be the next Governor of the Sunshine State.
I am really excited because this time around, out of the main contenders a woman stands shoulder high above all the men
Her name is Oladunni Odu; a Masters’ degree holder in Law, a tested women activist, a decent and experienced politician, a royal who has brought dignity to royalty, a woman who holds the omoluabi values dearly, a philanthropist, and a distinguished administrator.
Her biggest strength is that of all the aspirants she is the most experienced in governance and politics, having served the state in many capacities and at many times. she is very intelligent and a dogged fighter though her looks give an impression that she is timid
I have studied her from afar and I dare say she has the capacity to leave a fantastic legacy of good governance and lay a huge foundation for greater women relevance in governance in Ondo state and even Nigeria.
A major advantage for her should be the numerical strength of women, and I hope this time the women will not just speak about their desire for more women to play very prominent roles in governance but they will demonstrate it with their support for a COMPETENT fellow woman.
My charge to Mama ODU is to go for the seat with all her God-given gifts, because she has the capacity and she is the most qualified of all the serious candidates
Women like her are doing great things all over the world. She needs to be counted.
It will be nice for my state to make HISTORY by producing the FIRST ELECTED FEMALE GOVERNOR IN NIGERIA because the state has a woman who truly fits the bill, after all we claim to be the most enlightened people in Nigeria.
Very soon the North will produce an elected female Governor and we, in the so-called progressive south will be ashamed of ourselves.
My eyes are on Kogi and Adamawa.
I know that President Bola Tinubu is very particular about competence and excellence in leadership, and as leader of the party in Nigeria, he will not allow a woman to be pushed aside simply because of gender
My charge to women is ARISE!!!!! OUR TIME HAS COME, HISTORY BECKONS, WE MUST NOT WASTE THIS OPPORTUNITY because the coming Ondo governorship election presents a great opportunity to open our door to greatness.
Let’s show the men that we can lead, yet be submissive.
God bless Ondo state.
