Jonathan’s wife seeks top positions for women

WIFE of President Goodluck Jonathan, Patience, has challenged Nigerian women to aspire to the leadership of the nation’s governance by contesting for top positions in the 2015 national elections. The President’s wife spoke in Ibadan, Oyo State, while inaugurating the state secretariat of Women for Change and Development Initiative. She said the WCDI was committed to achieving improvement in the economic well-being of the nation’s urban and rural women as well as the less-privileged in the society. She said, “This organisation provides an important platform where women can collectively strategise and chart a way forward for themselves and the nation. One way we have tried to impact on the lives of our women is by championing the implementation of the national gender policy on the 35 per cent representation of women in governance. Continue...
This is to ensure that Nigerians, especially those at the grassroots, are carried along in the Transformation Agenda of President Goodluck Jonathan. “Let me remind you that politics is around the corner. This offers women another opportunity to aspire to leadership positions and support fellow women in authority. Without women taking active part in decision-making, the goal of equity, development and peace cannot be achieved.
“I want to encourage women to seek political posts and vote wisely in the coming elections. Let us be united not only to vote credible candidates into office but also to contest for elective positions. You are allowed to contest, go to the grassroots and take part in politics. Come out en masse and register and vote women into top positions. Your watchword should be peace because that is what we need in Nigeria today.”
Present at the event were the programme host and Minister of State for Federal Capital Territory, Jumoke Akinjide; wife of Oyo State Governor Abiola Ajimobi, Florence; wife of Ondo State Governor Olusegun Mimiko, Olukemi; wife of the former Oyo State Governor Adebayo Alao-Akala, Kemi; and wife of another ex-governor of the state, Rashidi Ladoja, Mutiat. Also present were the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Millennium Development Goal, Dr. Precious Kalamba Gbeneol; and the National Coordinator, WCDI, Rabi Ibrahim.