…begins advocacy visit to political parties

Ahead of the 2020 Governorship election in Ondo State, the Nigeria Association of Women Journalists, NAWOJ, is advocating adequate females representation in political positions with the demand for a female Deputy Governor in the next dispensation in Ondo State.

The Executive Members of the Association in the state, led by its Chairperson, Mrs Doris Olumoko, kicked off the advocacy with a visit to the leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP at the Party’s Secretariat in Akure.

The NAWOJ Chairperson bemoaned the fact that there is no female legislator from Ondo State at the House of Representatives or Senate while the state house of Assembly has just one female member.

While commending President Muhammadu Buhari for appointing seven female ministers, the NAWOJ chairperson said, more still needs to be done to achieve the 35% female affirmative.

To begin this process in Ondo State and fill the wide gap for women, Mrs Olumoko said that the right time to act is now because politicians are busy with consultations, calculations permutations for next year’s governorship election in Ondo State.

She therefore appealed to the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP to seriously consider a female Deputy Governorship Candidate for the party to give women a pride of place.

Responding, Chairman PDP in Ondo state, Mr Clement Faboyede noted that Nigerian women should develop the attitude of supporting themselves and therefore commended NAWOJ for its various advocacy programmes adding that, there is need for a campaign against the use of girls as house helps.

The chairman assured that the PDP as a women friendly party will not only obey the 35% female affirmative, but will improve on it, saying that the Deputy Governorship slot for women is doable.

He said though the Party has about seventeen Governorship Aspirants already, so far, no agitation for Deputy Governor yet which will make it easier for the party leadership to source for a vibrant female Deputy Governorship Candidate.

The NAWOJ advocacy for women political representation continues with proposed visit to other major stakeholders.