Mimiko lauds emergence of more female lawmakers in Ondo

GOVERNOR Olusegun Mimiko has attributed the emergence of three women in the election into the Ondo State House of Assembly in the April elections to gender-friendliness of the Labour Party (LP).According to a statement, Mimiko, who spoke in Akure, the state capital, yesterday while playing host to the three women who for the first time, won elections into the Assembly, enthused that the era of the only woman syndrome in the Assembly was gone.Under the present democratic dispensation, only one woman, Mrs. Cecelia Fayose (Ondo-West Constituency 1) was elected during the Adebayo Adefarati administration (1999-2003); in 2003, Mrs. Titi Akinmade (Ondo-West 1) made the House while in 2007, Mrs. Asake Olubitan (Ose) was elected.But under the LP, three female legislators, Kemi Adesanya (Akure-South Constituency1), Jumoke Akindele (Okitupupa Constituency1) and Fola Olasehinde (Ose), have emerged.Receiving the visitors, Mimiko described their election as a development designed by God.According to him, the women indicated their political ambition, went through the primaries and based on merit, won.He said: The only advantage they enjoyed was that they were exempted from paying nomination fees, LP was the platform that presented them and it was due to its avowed gender-friendly posture and the fact that it is a party for all, irrespective of gender.The LP provided the platform for women to launch into politics.  Nobody went to call women from their shops to contest in the elections. These women ventured into politics and won at the primaries on merit. We never lowered the standard because they were women.Mimiko implored women to take active participation in politics, stressing that only those involved in politics can be considered for political positions.His wife, Olukemi, lauded the state government for giving support to women. She advised them to work hard and be good representatives of the women in government, advising that the opportunity must not be misused since it is the beginning of womens active representation in politics.The governors wife charged the elected legislators to be diligent in their duties and create a fair playing ground to meet the needs of women in the state. She also advised them to be united.The LP Women Leader, Mrs. Yemi Mahmud, lauded Governor Mimiko and his wife for supporting the cause of women to be actively involved in politics.Adesanya, Akindele and Olasehinde, while thanking the governor and the state LP, pledged their support and assured that they would provide the desired support for the state and act as a fillip to launch the womenfolk into more political positions.
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