Society Gists

An assurance has been given that the women in Lagos State would deliver the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos State, Mr. Babajide Sanwoolu as the next governor of the state in the 2019 general elections.

Addressing a selected group of journalists in Ikeja, Lagos on Tuesday, the Women Leader of the Lagos State chapter of the APC, Hon. Jumoke Okoya-Thomas added that the coast was clear for Mr. Sanwoolu to assume coveted office through the support of the women.

Okoya-Thomas pointed out that the women were aware that the APC had better agenda for the women and the state in general in the coming years and that the party was noted for fulfilling its promises.

The Women Leader revealed that she would not rest on her oars to ensure that Mr. Sanwoolu was given the needed support by the women, who she said constituted about 70% of the voters in the state.

According to her, this explains why women have always been more in all political rallies, especially in the state, adding that all categories of women have been fully mobilised to work for the success of the party in the state.

“We the women don’t believe in violence, but we are always there to support the party. This would not be different, and I am happy that I was given this opportunity to be the APC Women Leader in Lagos State at this material time.

“I have spoken with Mr. Sanwoolu during our several meetings and he assured me that he would run an all-inclusive, which would give more chances to the women once he wins the election.

“There is no doubt that the women have more challenges in our society, but I will use my office as the women leader to ameliorate these, which is why we have perfected strategies to ensure that women come out enmasse to vote for Mr. Babajide Sanwoolu of the APC during the governorship election of March 2, 2019,” she said.

The Women Leader reiterated that the APC was the party to beat, both at the state and at the general levels, saying that people should not be deceived by those, who come to them with empty promises.

Her words: “Lagos cannot afford to go back to Egypt. The progressives have turned the fortunes of the state around since 1999, when Asiwaju Bola Tinubu became the Governor of the Centre of Excellence.

“Later, Asiwaju Tinubu handed over to Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola, who also tried his best and his achievements are for the records. “After that, the incumbent Governor Akinwunmi Ambode took over in 2015 with his people-oriented programmes.

“We are all witnesses to the achievements of Governor Ambode. I want to assure you that Mr. Babajide Sanwoolu would continue with the master plan and even do it better.

“That is why I have taken it upon myself to work with the women in the party and other women in the state because they are critical stakeholders in the whole matter.

“Women play multiple roles as wives, mothers, market women, traders, mobilisers, daughters and home keepers. So they have a lot at stake and they cannot afford to allow charlatans take over the leadership of the state.”

Okoya-Thomas revealed that a programme was underway to meet with professionals and career women, who she said could not afford to sit on the fence at this time, “when a man with a sincere heart to protect the interest of the women in person of Mr. Babajide Sanwoolu is being presented by the APC as the next Governor of Lagos State.”