By Wole Adedeji, Ilorin
Kwara women have once again praised the Kwara State governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, for his generosities in appointing the female gender into his government.
The women, in Ilorin, the state capital, said that the governor had set a record in giving voice to women, by appointing them into key government positions.
Special Adviser to the governor on Women Affairs, Hajia Fatima Audu, who said this, also commended her principal for placing much emphasis on basic education, healthcare, and general rural development.
Speaking at a rally, the second of its type, attended by thousands of Kwara women, Hajiya Audu said that the fovernor had become a model for political leaders in Nigeria and even beyond, in gender inclusion and simplicity, which had earned him the trust of womenfolk and Kwarans in general.
She said, “We are here basically as women to collectively acknowledge what the governor has done for us. We feel he has done enough to have another term in office. His Excellency has done very well, so we want to use good to pay good, especially we women and youths.
“For example, the Beijing Declaration only sought 35 per cent affirmative action for women, but our governor broke that record by giving well over 50 work cent of cabinet posts to our women. So huge is this that the United Nations Women gave him the prestigious award of ‘HeforShe.: He has become a model in Nigeria and indeed across Africa.
“We have also seen him implementing programmes that are women-focused and generally pro-masses. Is it Owo Arugbo, Owo Isowo, his investments in basic education, health facilities, rural roads?
“He had done so well with little resources and we believe he deserves a second term, even if he has not declared his intention to run.”
The Special Adviser, who is from Edu Local Government Area in the Kwara North se.natorial district, said that the region had never had it so good in terms of key political appointments and attention to basic amenities that make life worth living for the people of the area.
She added, “The governor has done so many things in Kwara North. Is it road, is it education, even talking of cabinet positions, we have never had it so good in the area of strategic political positions, including the slots of Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Secretary to the State Government, SSG, and Head of Service, HoS, at the same time. He did that for us.”
The governor had, since he assumed office, been receiving accolades for being gender sensitive and being the only one respecting the ‘Beijing Declaration’ to the letter.
