The massive Alhaji Yinusa Akinola Memorial Hall at the headquarters of Oriade Local Council Development Area (LCDA) of Lagos State was filled to capacity.
Though the sun shone brightly out of the azure sky, exerting discomforting heat on those who converged on the council’s headquarter to witness the inauguration of the APC Women Forum and launch of their 2015 Calendar, the coolness of the hall calmed frayed nerves.
The six giant standing air conditioners and the 14 ceiling fans oscillating at their best aided the comforting state of the hall painted in cream colour and decorated in a most classy manner. But a close look at the ceiling painted in white revealed some huge strands of cobwebs which gave an embarrassing coating to the topmost wall and the ceiling.
Women from all walks of life attended the event coordinated by the Supervisor for Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation (WAPA), Hon. Charity Ogbulipetu and the Majority Leader of the Legislative Arm of the council, Hon. Princess Rita Arabome-Odofin.
The women were adorned in all-white lace attire and blue head gears, which made them look resplendent. Intermittent chants of their slogan “APC Women, Let’s Lead the Change” inundated the ears.
In her welcome address, Hon. Ogbulipetu expressed her happiness that gone were the days when women were only heard but not seen, even as she said the presence of women in politics has changed the political landscape as they brought vibrancy and equilibrium in the country’s political process.
Noting that over the years, women had been relegated to the background in Nigerian politics, she was quick to add that nowadays, they are participating more actively than in the yesteryear as a result of political re-awakening and awareness, even as she added that the feat has not been without some challenges.
Continuing, Hon. Ogbulipetu said: “Despite the challenges and difficulties experienced by women in politics, they have continued to be forces to reckon with as they refuse to give up their political ambitions. Hence, women have recorded huge successes in their political pursuits and realised their political objectives with limited support and resources at their disposal.”
She recalled that during the country’s pre-independence era, a couple of women political activists such as Mrs Margaret Ekpo, Mrs Janet Mokelu and Miss Young (all late) were members of the Eastern House of Assembly, adding that Mrs Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti though not a fully-fledged politician, was a force to reckon with in the politics of the Western Region while Hajia Gambo Sawaba waged a fierce battle for the political and cultural emancipation of women in the Northern Region.
She revealed that “many countries the world over, are making frenetic efforts to bridge the conspicuously yawning gap between men’s and women’s active participation in politics. Though the number of women in government and leadership positions has improved substantially in Nigeria, it is infinitesimal when compared with what obtains in developed democracies.”
Noting with pride that the role of APC women cannot be overemphasised, Hon. Ogbulipetu said women should be celebrated, because, she said, “any society in which women’s voices are stifled always has problems. It must be realised that the roles of women as home makers cannot be disregarded. Women should know their worth and work assiduously towards achieving political success where men have seemingly failed.”
Speaking earlier, the leader of the forum, Mrs Evelyn Kpodoh said never in the history of Oriade LCDA had an event such as this that witnessed a large convergence of APC women taken place, adding that “as we gather here to launch the first calendar produced by women of Oriade APC. With this, we are sending a strong message and signal to all our women that we monitor and recognise all great women that had contributed immensely to the development of our great party, which is the party to beat. I urge all our women to work harder to ensure that APC wins all elections at all levels in the 2015 general elections.”
In his speech, the chairman on the occasion, Alhaji T.A.B Adams said what Oriade APC women had accomplished was unprecedented, adding that other local government areas will emulate the strides of APC women of Oriade.
He urged the leadership of the forum not to relent in its efforts to make APC the party that will win the 2015 general elections, especially the presidential election.
Some of the dignitaries that attended the event were the Majority Leader of the Legislative Arm of Oriade LCDA, Hon. Princess Rita Arabome-Odofin; the Supervisor for Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Hon. Charity Ogbulitepu; Senior Lecturer at the Lagos State University, Dr Musa Ajisegiri, Chief of Staff of the LCDA, Adegboyega-Badmus B.K. Supervisor for Agriculture Hon. Bais Balogun; Vice-Chairman of the council, Hon. Gbolahan Dauda; Secretary to the council, Alhaji Kareem Olabanji Sunmola; the General Secretary Oriade APC, Mr Ambrose Ahmed; representative of Hon. (Mrs.) Akinlola-Hassan Ramotalai of Lagos State House of Assembly, Mr Tunde Musa and President National Council of Women Society Amuwo-Odofin Local Government Area, Mrs E.A. Francis, among others.
