Governor Liyel Imoke of Cross River State has said that he is hopeful that in no distant time a woman governor should emerge as governor of the state, just as he asked if it was impossible for a woman to leader the country as president.
He was explaining the reason he had to block many men from returning or coming to contest election as chairmen of local government council chairman in the September 21 election in the state, saying he did that deliberately in order to encourage the emergence of many more women to be part of decision making in the state having seen their political dexterity, greater commitment, increased strength and could significantly impact the state economy.
The governor spoke yesterday during the fund launch by his wife, Barrister Obioma Imoke under the aegis of her new project, called ‘Power Political Advancement for Women (PPA4W)’ project in support of the 75 female politicians contesting the council election on the platform of the ruling PDP where more than fifty million naira cash was raised on the spot. Senator Grace Folashade Jackson Bent from Adamawa State chaired the occasion.
Imoke asserted that, “I had to use psychology and strong political persuasions to block many men from coming back because I needed to bring up many more women to prominence in order for them to also be part of state decision making process”, he said.
“Women must deliberately be made to be part of the political process not only in this state but across the country. Men are not more intelligent than they are. In fact, I look forward to that time when I would see a woman standing as governor of this state. And who said, a Nigerian woman cannot lead this country as president?
“Women can make greater difference in politics. We want more women to come up and influence power and policies. I am convinced that their deeper involvement shall turn around this country, and in particular Cross River State. If we have them up to 50% in power they would make greater impact and positive development in micro-economics or socio-politics. In the Western Hemisphere, in South Africa even in some countries in Africa women occupy influential decision making positions. They can be better off in this country”, Imoke said.
He advised the potential council chairmen to see the people as the ‘infrastructure’ they would have to embarked upon as their main projects not necessarily roads and other kinds of social projects.
He urged them to enter into the field and do elaborate campaign and not to think that having been supported to emerge as PDP candidates that they have already won the election.
The fundraising held inside the Peregrino Hall near her husband’s official residence attracted myriad of business moguls, National Assembly and state House of Assembly members, past senators, ministers, politicians and professionals had in attendance most of the PDP candidates who are contesting the election.
Mrs Imoke disclosed that the (PPA4W) will handle the task of helping women politicians and allied programmes even beyond 2015, so that she would not necessarily come out soliciting funds on their behalf.
According to her, she became persuaded to help the female politicians not only in the country but particularly those in the state having seen the amount of encouragement her husband has given to the women and his strong wish that they come up to participate in the general politics of the state.
“I noted that in this dispensation that the governor became very interested in propping up large number of women in order for them to be part of the decision making in the state, most of them do not have the financial muscle to prosecute their electioneering campaign in order to succeed. This is the reason why I want to see how I, in my small way, can lend some supports to them, no matter how small”, she explained.
“Your donation will go a long way to support these women whom we have taken time to select almost the best that will not disappoint us. In order that the women do not gamble with this chance, we are presenting quality quantity that can hold their own and bring about desired growth and development. If they do not gamble with this opportunity, it would mean that many other women would similarly come up. We have therefore set a standard that they must not go below”, she said.
According to her, women in the state have now been politically liberated, commending the governor for having a good heart for the women.
Senator Grace Bent, representative of the Minister of Women Affairs, Mrs Bolatito and Senator Florence Ita-Giwa commended the initiative, and importantly, the husband for displaying much love and desire to see women emerge from the back seat of society, saying Cross River State has thus taken the lead in this regard.
Senator Bent was thrilled that women in the state were given so much opportunity to emerge as political leaders, adding that this has become unprecedented.
Noting that non-performance by many political office holders including the elected ones has threatened democracy in the country since many have become indolent, she therefore urged the Cross River women politicians to work doubly hard and leave remarkable legacies.
Former minister of Aviation, Mrs Kema Chikwe said there is political sophistication in the state and hoped that the political partnership would accelerate socio-economic development beyond the state.
“Cross River State has become a model for other states when it comes to giving women opportunity. I am really proud that you are even going beyond the 35 per cent affirmative action for women. At the end of the local government election, women and men are going to have almost equal numbers because in one local government you going to have a man either as chairman or vice.”
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