ABUJA – A delegate to the 2014 National Conference, Chief Temitope Ajayi, has urged the President-elect, Maj.-Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (retd), to recognise women’s potential in nation-building and include many of them in his government.
Ajayi made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday in Abuja.
She congratulated Buhari for his doggedness, which resulted in his electoral victory, and said that he required the collective effort of all Nigerians, including women, to achieve the change he desired for the country.
“Any nation that puts the potential of women into consideration will excel because they are the engine room of the society.
“I therefore appeal to the president-elect to work with women in his government, to enable us achieve the change we have always clamoured for as a nation,’’ she said.
Ajayi, who represented the National Council for Women Societies (NCWS) at the national conference, lamented that only few women among those that contested in the just-concluded general elections, won.
[pro_ad_display_adzone id=”70560″]
She stressed that the only way to ensure that women were given the opportunity to contribute their quota to nation building was for them to be appointed into public offices.
“It is unfortunate that not many women won the positions they vied for in the general elections, but I must commend them for taking the bold step in spite of the challenges.
“ I congratulate those that made it and applaud their effort because it wasn’t easy.
“ They fought the men as if they were men. This shows that women are persistent and that when we believe in a thing, we go for it despite all odds.
“I commend Sen. Jumai Alhassan for the feat she achieved in the Taraba state governorship election.
“Though she was not declared winner, she fought courageously and Nigerian women are proud of her,’’ she said.
She called on the wife of the president-elect, Mrs Aisha Buhari, to emulate her predecessor, Dame Patience Jonathan, who ensured that women were actively involved in governance.
Ajayi also urged women not to relent in their effort to participate in governance.
She described as ‘’ironic’’, a situation where women who often formed the majority among voters during elections usually faced the challenge of winning during such exercises.
On the relative peace enjoyed by Nigerians after the elections, she attributed it to the magnanimity of President Goodluck Jonathan, who conceded victory to Buhari.
She said that Nigerians would remain grateful to him for averting violence in the country.
“He will forever be remembered for his magnanimity and the bloodshed he averted.
“He also made all Nigerians to realise that their votes count and that all Nigerians of voting age should have their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) to enable them perform their civic duties during elections,’’ she added. (NAN)
you may also like:
- Latest
- Trending
