Dame Patience Jonathan Appeals to Women to keep Her Husband in Power
The First Lady of Nigeria, Patience Jonathan, has urged women in the country to ensure President Goodluck Jonathan’s re-election in 2015.
Dame Jonathan, who was represented by the Minister of Water Resources, Sarah Ochekpe, at a two-day National Conference on Women and Elections organized by UNDP in collaboration with the Federal Ministry for Women Affairs, in Abuja on Monday, said that only her husband cares about women’s rights among the aspirants.
She encouraged the women to actively participate in the election by competing with their male counterparts in elective positions.
“I want to, once again, urge you to continue to give support to our dear President, who has shown that he is not only gender sensitive but believes in the power and capacity of women to bring about change in the society.
”He has been doing his best to promote the interest of women in Nigeria. It is now time for us to show him our appreciation for all he has been doing as he seeks re-election.”
She also applauded the fact that more Nigerian families were investing in girls’ education, saying the development will make women to be politically and economically independent.
“It is gratifying that more families are today investing in girls’ education and there are pointers to the fact that in the nearest future, more women will be politically and economically independent.
”However, there is the need to create the enabling environment to enhance women active participation in all areas of development. We must as women begin to aggressively unite, network and build alliances across gender divide in order to secure meaningful change.
“Let the voices of women be heard loudly because we have the right to be heard and we have the right to participate fully in the socio-economic and political life of our various communities.
“I see this as another genuine effort to ensure that women do not only participate but compete favorably with their male counterparts in politics. This is particularly so when one considers the fact that the pace of advocacy around the world and women empowerment and gender equality is increasing rapidly. This trend has brought about global attention on issues of special interest that promote women rights.
“At the same time, it encourages the full participation by women in social, political and economic processes so that they can contribute to the development of their communities. It is for this reason that Nigeria has been canvassing vigorously for the implementation of the National Gender Policy on 35 percent Affirmative Action in line with the approval given by the Federal Executive Council in 2006.”
