Chuks Okocha in Abuja and Hammed Shittu in Ilorin
A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and former Presidential candidate, Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim, has described the signing into law of the gender equity bill by Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq of Kwara State, as a landmark achievement geared towards enhancing the policy of inclusiveness.
Also, a pro-democracy group in the state, Kwara Must Change, has lauded governor, and the Kwara State House of Assembly for the successful enactment of the gender composition bill in the state.
Olawepo-Hashim, a long time political ally of the governor, said in a statement titled ‘Kwara,a vote for gender equity’, that what the governor was doing and with the Kwara State Assembly on the Gender Equality Bill, showed that the appointment of a majority women cabinet by the governor was not a fluke but a deliberate policy of inclusiveness.
The statement read in part: “Yesterday, Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq of Kwara State signed the gender equity bill into law in an historic exercise that makes Kwara the first to do so. The bill makes it mandatory for both genders to be included in political appointments at all levels within a 35-65% ratio.
“I am elated by the quality of work the governor is doing and with the Kwara State Assembly on this Gender Equality Bill. It shows that the appointment of a majority women cabinet by Governor Abdulrazaq is not a fluke but a deliberate policy of inclusiveness.”
“I share Governor Abdulrazaq’s passion for gender equity. I had worked with great women leaders in the past such as Hajiya Laila Dogonyaro, Amina Muhamed of Bank of the North, Esther Audu, Salome Jankada, Justina Eze, Mrs Apezan, Barrister Olivia Agbajoh,etc, during the sitting of the Women and Youth Subcommittee of the Presidential policy Advisory Committee in 1999.
“This was to ensure that 35% of the cabinet of the government after military disengagement, were women apart from some other major gender equality initiatives,” he said, calling on other state governments to adopt the policy as exemplified by the Kwara governor.
On its part, Kwara Must Change said the enactment of the bill was a win for all, especially,“we at Kwara Must Change, being the organisation that championed advocacy for women inclusion in the state.”
In a statement by Mr. Abdulrazaq Hamzat, the group explained that, with the enactment of gender parity bill, kwara has created a shield against gender discrimination and never again should anyone be discriminated against on the basis of gender in the state.
