COWLSO’s Matron, Oluremi Tinubu, Lagos State Governor, Babatunde Fashola , Ondo State Governor, Olusegun Mimiko, Lagos First Lady, Emmanuela Fashola, and Lagos deputy Governor, Sarah Sosan at the event.
Ondo State Governor, Olusegun Mimiko, yesterday called on Nigerian women to rebuild the country, first by building a strong homefront and by employing activism.
Mr Mimiko, speaking in Lagos at the 10th annual National Women Conference, organised by the Committee of Wives of Lagos State Officials (COWLSO), identified poor upbringing and deficient personality esteem as the psychological reason why political office holders abuse their offices and steal public funds. The theme of the conference is ‘Celebrating the Passionate Woman.’ He said the existing value system and family structure in the country cannot imbue the young with the requirement for prudent management of public funds. “The building of a country starts with a family,” he said. “It is only in this part of the world that leaders will steal more than three or four generations need. This is very unfortunate. Such leader indeed has personality problems and defective background. They steal more than what three or four generation can spend. And the consequence brings about sufferings for several millions.”
The role of women
He credited his election victory, partly, to the protest staged by half-naked Ondo State women in 2007 on the Benin-Akure Road, and posited that women must take on activism role and stand against all forms of social injustice and electoral frauds which he said are responsible for the “untold hardships” Nigerians are suffering. “If women can protest naked, this country will shake,” he said. “And there will be desired change we pray to witness. Change will not come in this country until women fully get involved in political activism.” Mr Mimiko also praised the country’s judicial system for favourably determining the petition he filed against “the usurper of the mandate my people gave me.”
In his goodwill message, Babatunde Fashola, the Lagos State Governor, admired the passion of Lagos women which has produced, not only “loving wives and devoted mothers” but also key positions, like the deputy governor, secretary to the state government, deputy speaker of the legislative house, chief judge, and commissioners, in the state’s public service. “It is only passion that one finds in women that can propel such commitment to public causes and still leave them with a reserve of energy and commitment for them to remain loving wives,” he said. “Truly, if there is yet a glass ceiling to be shattered, Lagos women have broken many, and are sending the clearest possible message that whatever may remain is certainly attainable.”
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