Anthonia Duru
Following outcry over gender imbalance in the list of Ogun state commissioners nominees by Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State by a coalition of women groups, a women group in Ogun state chapter of the All Progressive Congress (APC), has debunked the insinuation that the Governor Abiodun led government is gender insensitive.
According to a press statement issued by the group on Monday and signed by Mrs. Toyin Koyi, the group maintains that , “Governor Dapo Abiodun has not neglected women in his Administration”
The statement which listed nine women who are currently occupying different political seats and appointments in the State explains that, ” it became imperative to state it categorically that with the number of women serving in the present administration, Governor Dapo Abiodun has shown a good example by his love and commitment towards women by appointing women into the administration and he is still going to do more. The case of some groups of women crying foul on the number of women commissioner-nominees by HE Prince Dapo Abiodun, MFR as not amounting to 40% promise made by HE is as a result of mis-information . The act of these groups is like a mourner crying more than the bereaved. This is laughable and is obviously borne out of sheer selfishness and a desire to reap where they did not sow like party faithfuls and loyalists who remain committed through thick and thin pre, during and Post election with His Excellency.”
According to the statement,Governor Abiodun who had promised before his election and during his inauguration to give 40% appointment to women in his adminstration has done excellently well for women in the state.
While commending the commisoners-nominee list it reads, “the caliber of seasoned technocrats and professionals who filled the Commissioners-nominees list isn’t just worth the wait but impressive and commendable most especially on the part of party elders that had put the interest of the State and her indigenes as a whole first rather going for aggrandisement.”
While condemning the protesting groups who took to the streets of Abeokuta on Monday to protest 11.1% women representation in Governor Abiodun’s cabinet, Ogun APC professional women described the protest as “unwarranted”, and one which was organised to attract unnecessary attentions by the organiser.
Every group is urged to invest precious time in adding more value to the society by organizing value added programs to the women folds rather than set up unwarranted protests to attract unnecessary attentions.
imbalance
