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First Ladies, Women of Substance, Others Celebrate Legacy of Building Women
By Eric Elezuo
The intimidating crowd that surged into the convention center of the Eko Hotel and Suites Tuesday to celebrate the 2019 edition of Handmaidens Women in Leadership Series with the theme, Leading Women Building Legacies, was a testimony of the aggressive nature women have so far launched into the world of business, grabbing with both hands what were hitherto reserved for men.
Coordinating the avalanche of events on the day, Mrs Morin Desalu, gave due respect to as many special dignitaries that covered the length and breadth of the hall, with special reference to the Chief host, Pastor Siju Iluyomade.
Pastor Siju Iluyomade and Keynote speaker, Dr Olufunmilayo Olapade
Kicking off with splendid praise and worship session, which was supervised by the Voices of Zion, it event nosedived into the recitation of the two stanzas of the national anthem. The rendition was a beauty to behold as almost every soul in the centre participated, singing with fresh and renewed patriotism. It reestablished the blind faith with which women are known to approach any issue.
It was time for the special guests of honour’ to give their addresses, and the First Lady of Edo State, Mrs Betsy Obaseki, set the ball rolling.
In her speech, she encouraged Nigerians, especially women, to put in their best in developing Nigeria, prophesying that “soon, foreigners will be rushing to Nigeria the same way Nigerians are rushing to other countries”, adding that ‘it will happen in our time’.
Cross section of dignitaries
In her contribution, the First Lady of Ogun State, Mrs Bamidele Abiodun encouraged the women on the need to be self reliant and striving to academically and otherwise develop and invest in themselves through reading among other things.
She said: “I learnt everything I know, especially during childbirth and afterwards from reading books.”
She told women to make reading a habit, and endeavour to be a total mother.
In her short speech, the wife of the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mrs Salamatu Gbajabiamila highlighted that “women and anything about women is my passion”.
First Ladies of Ogun, Lagos and wife of Speaker of House of Reps
At this stage, the hall was enlivened with the sonorous voice of Enitan Adaba, who led all through a session of high worship. The session gave way to the inspirational speech of Mrs Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu, the First Lady of Lagos State.
Sanwo-Olu, who brought glad tidings from the state governor on his 54th birthday, highlighted that Lagos is committed to the welfare of the citizens, especially women.
With the representative of the first families of represented states done with their speeches, Pastor Iluyomade heartily delivered a welcome message where she cautioned that “greed can bring your legacy down” drawing inference from Proverbs 31 in the same she preached gender equality.
The highlight of the event was the keynote address delivered by a seasoned Chicago based Oncologist, Mrs (Dr) Olufunmilayo Olapade.
Olapade, among many of her admonitions, lashed out at the government of Nigeria for not providing the required amenities or enabling environment for doctors to perform optimally.
She also charged the First Ladies to take up the banner of ensuring that drugs are made available in various hospitals to make it easy for patients to get at affordable price.
Pastor Iluyomade
The address was followed with the presentation of Born to Aspire awards to three deserving women, and they are veteran actress, Joke Sylva, Osayi Alile and Morin Desalu. The chief host, Pastor Iluyomade was also presented with the Original Born to Aspire award.
The event was rounded off with a panel discussion. The panel comprising 10 successful professionals and anchored by Osayi Alile, CEO, Aspire Coronation Trust Foundation, deliberated on How to Build to Last.
Other members of the panel we’re Bolanle Austen-Peters, TY Bello, Adesuwa Onyenokwe, Prof. Sade Ogunsola, Prof. Enase Okonedo, Funke Bucknor Obruthe, Cecilia Akintomide, Kofo Akinkugbe, Dorathy Atoke, and Achenyo Idachaba-Obaro.
Other dignitaries that attended the event included Mrs Bolaji Momodu, Mrs Quincy Akindele and a host of others.
Source: Reuters
Arise Television anchor, Rufai Oseni, has alleged that there may be attempts to prevent key opposition figures, including Peter Obi and Atiku Abubakar, from appearing on the ballot for the 2027 general elections.
Oseni’s remark followed a Federal High Court judgment ordering the de-registration of some political parties.
Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court in Abuja, on Monday, ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to deregister the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Accord Party (AP), Action Peoples’ Party (APP), Zenith Labour Party (ZLP), and Action Alliance Party (AAP) over alleged constitutional breaches.
The judgment arose from a lawsuit filed by the Incorporated Trustees of the National Forum of Former Legislators (NFFL), which argued that the affected parties failed to meet constitutional and statutory electoral performance requirements necessary for continued recognition as political parties.
Justice Lifu subsequently barred INEC from recognising the affected parties, accepting nominations from them or permitting them to participate in activities related to the 2027 general elections.
The ruling, if upheld, could affect the political ambitions of several politicians, including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, who is the ADC presidential flag-bearer, and Osun State governor Ademola Adeleke, who is seeking re-election on the platform of the Accord Party.
But speaking on Arise TV’s Morning Show on Tuesday, Oseni described the court ruling as a “test” of public reaction, warning that more actions could follow ahead of the next general election.
According to him, opposition parties such as the African Democratic Congress, ADC, and the Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, should be cautious, claiming that efforts could be made to stop major figures from participating in the election.
Oseni argued that the judgment was part of a broader process aimed at shaping the political landscape ahead of 2027.
He maintained that the ruling came despite some of the affected parties having recorded electoral victories in recent elections.
He warned that Nigerians must remain vigilant to safeguard the country’s democracy, stressing the need for judicial reforms alongside efforts to tackle insecurity.
Oseni said: “NDC, ADC should be careful because there will be attempt, and this is me predicting now, to ensure that Obi, Atiku and other big contenders are not on the ballot.
“This that you saw yesterday is just a test. This is not the real place where the whole thing is going. This is me predicting now.
“You know before you have a show you test the microphone. They want to see the reactions of Nigerians. More is still coming.
“You can see how they carry a judgement when ADC won two House of Representatives seats in Kogi, one Kogi House of Assembly seat, APP one chairmanship seat in Jigawa, Zenith Labour party won several seats in Abia, but they still went ahead and issued judgement for deregistration after the Court of Appeal, a higher court, said it should stay on that.
“If we want to deal with this judicial rascality, can I tell you something? The judge that gave this judgment, nothing will happen to him. Nothing on this earth. They are just coming.
“And who is leading this group? Gbajabiamila. Have you forgotten what Gbajabiamila said on Hon Ajibade’s birthday? So they are just coming. This one is just a test. The next one they will do is the NDC.
“With the way they’re going, if Nigerians don’t shine their eyes when they will finally have this election, you will not have the major contenders in the ballot. This thing they have just done is to test reactions from Nigerians.
“I saw this thing coming. You know we are going into an election in which Atiku Abubakar is the only major candidate from the North. It’s not like the last one you have Kwankwaso that can split the Kano votes. And you have Peter Obi and general consensus that a lot of people are in abject penury, insecurity is raging hard.
“This is the beginning of many things. They are just testing the microphone. It’s engineered. More is coming. Nigerians, it is you that will save your democracy. Judicial reforms have become so important as insecurity in Nigeria.”
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, has picked former Rivers State Governor and former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, as his running mate.
Announcing the decision, ADC National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, said Amaechi’s emergence followed broad consultations within the party and reflected his strong performance as runner-up in the party’s presidential primaries as well as his track records of service to his state and the country.
According to the ADC, Amaechi’s extensive experience across both the legislative and executive arms of government, as former Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, two-term Governor of Rivers State, and former Minister of Transportation, makes him uniquely qualified to complement Atiku’s leadership, strengthen the party’s national appeal, and bolster its campaign to offer Nigerians an experienced and credible alternative ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
The party said the choice of Amaechi underscores its commitment to presenting a leadership team with proven governance experience and national appeal as it prepares for the 2027 presidential contest.
ThisDay
