By Folorunsho Ojo, Akure
Only female governorship aspirant in Ondo state on the platform of All Progressive Congress (APC) Engr Funmilayo Waheed Adekojo has faulted the Zoning arrangements of the APC in the state ,saying that it has failed the political arrangements of the state.
She disclosed this at the NUJ press center Alagbaka Akure on Friday during a press conference to declare her intentions in contesting the governorship primary from Arigidi Akoko in the Northern Senatorial District of the state.
It will be recalled the the 2024 governorship elections in Ondo State has been zoned to the Southern Senatorial District of Ondo state.
She said “Without mincing words,this concept of rotation has regretably , become a hindrance to progress.One of its errors ,is that it prioritises political permutations over meritocracy and competence.”
The governorship aspirant, said that rather than allowing the most qualified candidate to emerge through a competitive electoral process, political parties impose candidate based solely on their geographic origin, letting the good people of Ondo state entrust governance to individual who may lack the requisite skills and vision needed to propel development effectively.
According to her, another negative effects of the zoning policy is the perpetuation of ethnic divisions within the state,by emphasising ethnic and geographical identity over share goals and aspirations.
Engr,Adekojo disclosed that what should be a major focus of APC to elect party flag bearer is outstanding and visionary individual with a proven track record of excellence and integrity in both public and private sector.
She was of the opinion,that the governorship ticket should not be given as compensation or based on arbitrary zoning arrangements but on an assurance of the capacity of the candidate to provide visionary and inclusive governance that will help in wealth creation , agriculture,rural and human capital development.
She lamented that women has not been given the platform to show case their talents and contribute towards the development and transformation of Ondo state and Nigeria.
Adekojo said for now, Ondo State desperately needs more women in government, especially to occupy the number one seat in the state
The female governorship hopeful disclosed that since the creation of the Sunshine state in 1976,no woman had had opportunity to govern the state as those who had tried ,had their dreams thwarted during party primaries and since then,men have continue to be in the driving seat of governance and occupying the number one seat.
My desire to swim in the mulky water of Ondo state politics geared towards occupping the Alagbaka seat if elected as the party’s flag bearer and bring the desire transformation and development that had eluded the state since creation.
” For women democracy, is moving backward, the dwindling number of women in politics in Nigeria is alarming, for instance, since Nigeria re- established democracy in 1999, the ninth National Assembly in Nigeria showed a decline in female representation in political offices to the point where today it ranks among the bottom 10 per cent of countries in the world”.
She noted that , female representation in parliament is about 6 per cent nation wide.The country has Seven females senators , 11 House of Representatives members,three deputy governors,and seven women appointed as minsters.
