..advocates abolition of woman leader position, says it’s patronising
Wife of the Governor of Ondo State, Chief Betty Anyanwu-Akeredolu, has condemned female-like positions allocated to women in political structure and every other public organisations, describing such as patronising.
She particularly frowned at the position of women leaders that are common in Nigerian political system and called for an abolition of such.
Mrs Akeredolu advocated this while addressing national leadership of the Not Too Young To Run who were on a courtesy visit to her at Rotunda hall of the government house ground, Alagbaka Akure, the State Capital, on Thursday.
Discouraging the ladies who are part of the group from taking up the position of woman leader where there are other active and sensitive positions to occupy, the Ondo First Lady noted that the office of a woman leader was not functioning as it didn’t make the list of those who occupy decision making tables.
She charged the young women in politics to be bold and courageous in contributing to issues that bother about the development of any group they found themselves, rather than allowing decisions to be taken without their contributions.
Her words: “The problem has always been CULTURE; the way we are raised like my own generation and I expect something different in your generation. That’s why I’m against this patronising positions they gave women in party or political structures.
“It is a wake up call for all of you because you are indeed young and we expect something different”.
The Ondo First Lady charged the young minds, especially the males to think differently and anew, far beyond what they grew up to know in terms of how their fathers treated their mothers like a second class citizen.
She challenged the young women to destructure the Partiarchial tradition that relegated women in public organisations in Africa, saying “We are all given equal opportunities to contribute our quota”.
She emphasised the need for women’s deliberate determination to support their fellow woman vying for a position of authority, while encouraging them to be determined to develop and improve upon themselves in their pursuit to occupy public positions.
Earlier in his address, the national Coordinator of the group, Hon. Ogundairo Samuel lauded Her Excellency for being a pillar of support for the Governor which was evident in all her empowerment initiatives.
He said: ” Your antecedents and exploits as the First Lady of Ondo State has already become the stuff of legend particularly in the area of BeMore and BRECAN. You have gone and beyond the call of duty to help bridge the gap between the government and the masses of this state in many different ways.
“You have indeed been a shining light to many who would otherwise have been bereft of hope and any sense of social justice”.
He informed the First Lady that the Not Too Young To Run group believed and advocated that good governance should be the norm within the government circles and the public service, hence, the reason they came together to change the narrative by forming the group.
Mary Agidi
Special Assistant to the Governor on Media (Office of the First Lady)
August 4, 2022
📸 Gbenga Fasakin
JATS Online News 