More Trouble For Governor Abiodun, As Women Stage Protest Over Commissioner Nominees List
By ABIODUN JIMOH, ABEOKUTA
More trouble for Governor Prince Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State as women in the state staged a protest to demand for more inclusion of women in the governor’s cabinet list forwarded to the state House of Assembly.
It could be recalled that governor Abiodun forwarded 18 names of commissioner nominees which had only two women to the house for confirmation last week Thursday, while the screening holds on Monday at the Assembly complex.
The protesters under the umbrella of Coalition for More Women in Governance in Ogun staged the protest at the Ogun Assembly expressed disappointment at the lists.
Speaking on behalf of the group, Dr. Abiola Akinyode remarked that women were very disappointed at the number of women listed as commissioner-nominees submitted to the House by goveenor Abiodun.
Akinyode stressed that there should be at least 35 percent of women in the list, adding that they would not accept the list unless something tangible is done to correct the abnormality.
She stated: “The Assembly had passed a resolution sometimes in October calling on the state government to give women 35 percent affirmative in governance. On 35 percent or more we stand.
‘That is why we are here. Governance must have peoples face and it must be inclusive. Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) talks about gender equality, and we want the governor to do the needful. You are not elected to be rubber stamp, but to represent the people well.”
In his response, Speaker of the Assembly, Rt. Hon. Olakunle Oluomo, represented by Hon. Oludaisi Elemide, Chairman, House Committee on Transportation hereby commended the group for the peaceful protest. He added that the House actually passed a resolution on 35 percent affirmative for women in governance. The speaker noted that the resolution was an advise to the Executive and not a law. “The message of the group will be conveyed to the governor as soon as possible. I want to tell you that not only commissioners make the cabinet, we have advisers, consultants and we have more women in this regard.”
He however advised the protesters to also take the protest to the governor’s office. “The assembly will also do the needful as regards there demands.”
