When Noelen Hezer of UNIFEM, a United Nation Organization providing voluntary funds for women, averred the strategic importance of women participation in politics, everyone nodded in total agreement. She said “the recognition that woman’s quality and rights are central to achieving economic and social priorities is very important. It can’t be wished away.”
Undeniably, women are underrepresented globally as leaders and decision makers, sadly, Africa women top the list of this discrimination for cultural purposes, despite vehement campaigns for achieving equal representation of women in governance.
Women are always treated as “as an infection you can’t cure but only endure” that’s why they always occupy rear seats in governance.
Achieving gender parity in political life is far off. Even in the Ministries, women main target is that of Enviroment women or social affairs or at best Ministries of States, only 21 % according to UN records are women government ministers .
Narrow it down to Oyo state, since its creation in 1976, the highest positions women had occupied are that of SSG, speaker, or commissioners.
When David Jembewon took mantle of governance of the State in July 1976 till today, there haven’t be any woman deputy Governor on the broad, both military and civilians.
Hurray, for gender sensitivity, we now have a party governorship aspirant as deputy for balancing. We are talking of a promising daughter of a prominent progressive leader in Ogbomosho land, Chief Afilu Ayandele
The woman, a polyglot, an academic echelon and born politician, Professor Ayandele Abiodun Ayanfemi (The triple A ) is regarded in some quarters as a proverbial dragonfly.
Professor Ayandele Abiodun Ayanfemi is the Accord deputy Governor candidate who combines her natural talent with academic excellence. She possesses a Bachelor of Technology in Biology, a masters in Microbiology and a doctor of Microbiology degree in both LAUTECH and University of Ibadan respectively.
She was at a time part-time Commissioner, Oyo State Local Government Service Commission 2011-2019 and a Matron, Red Cross Society, LAUTECH Chapter where she remarkably evidenced her milk of kindness and humanitarian disposition.
She is likened to damselfish because of her beauty and a dragonfly whose entrance is an indicator of goodluck and prosperity. She is because of her diligence and athirst for service delivery.
Adelabu Adebayo, like Satre, has chosen the best for himself and for others by extension.
“When you have a determined woman, there is no ceiling too high to break”. Women folks in Oyo state are very pleased with this good news to have their own Shirley Chisholm in government.
Welcome to the game, the beautiful and self assured amazon.
Watch out for the concluding part on why her entrance will change the game in political turf.
Adeleke Omoniyi, a social commentator, writes in from Bodija, Ibadan, Oyo state.
