Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq has set a record in giving voice to women by appointing them into key government positions as well as placing emphasis on basic education, healthcare, and general rural development, Special Adviser to the Governor on Women Affairs Hajia Fatimah Audu has said.
Speaking on the sideline of the rally attended by thousands of Kwara women in Ilorin on Tuesday, Hajia Audu said the Governor has become a model for political leaders in Nigeria and beyond in gender inclusion and simplicity and has earned himself the trust of womenfolk and Kwarans in general.
“We are here basically as women to collectively acknowledge what the Governor has done for us. We feel he has done enough to have another term in office.
Our Excellency has done very well, so we want to use good to pay good, especially we women and youths. For example, the Beijing Declaration only sought 35% affirmative action for women but our governor broke that record by giving well over 50% of cabinet posts to our women. So huge is this that the United Nations Women gave him the prestigious award of HeforShe. He has become a model in Nigeria and indeed across Africa. We have also seen him implementing programmes that are women-focused and generally pro-masses. Is it Owo Arugbo, Owo Isowo, his investments in basic education, health facilities, rural roads? He had done so well with little resources and we believe he deserves a second term, even if he has not declared his intention to run,” Hajia Audu said.
“He is a very hard working Governor. He is also very sympathetic to the cause of women, children and youths. This is very glaring. He does not leave any segment without attention.”
The Special Adviser, who is from Edu local government area of Kwara North, said the region has never had it so good in terms of key political appointments and attention to basic amenities that make life worth living for the people of the area.
“The Governor has done so many things in the Kwara North. Is it road, is it education, even talking of cabinet positions, we have never had it so good in the area of strategic political positions, including the slots of Speaker, Secretary to the State Government, and Head of Service at the same time. He did that for us,” she said.
