Dafinone Women’s mobilization, Uvwie chapter kickstart door-to-door campaign for APC

..Mobilize women to drive gender justice for political inclusion

By Princes Ogbemudia,

The Uvwie Women’s Coordinator of the Ede Dafinone Campaign Organization, Mrs. Vera Ifaka over the week kick-started the door-to-door campaign with a meeting at Chief Okito’s residence, Effurun in Uvwie Local Government Area of Delta State.

Addressing the wards, unit coordinators, woman canvassers and grassroots mobilizers, she urges women to effectively engage in politics by showing commitment to the task of mobilizing support for Chief Ede Dafinone running for senate in the Delta Central Senatorial District of the State.

Mrs Ifaka reiterated the fact that women have a major role to play in electing who governs them, she, therefore tasked them to get involved in politics, as such they can seek a greater role in gender justice, demand inclusive in decisions making, and empowering of women to eradicate poverty, hunger and inequality.

She charged Delta women to leave their comfort zone and take up the task of canvassing for the All Progressives Congress Candidates because the party have chosen credible candidates that can deliver on its promises.

Women in the meeting were challenged to reach out to their friends, neighbours, market women and members of the public to vote for the APC in order to achieve party’s 5/5 target

Ifaka challenged women to interact and engage political officeholders to make their needs known and to also influence government policy framework as it affects women and their children.

According to her, “it is increasingly unavoidable for women to stay away from politics because of our cultural orientation in Africa, Men have taken charge to naturally lead women. Albeit, this has relegated women to the background. Women have not shown adequate concern for politics and governance. Women’s participation in politics has been very weak and consequently insignificant to demand more responsibilities and opportunities. Once involvement is lacking, commitment to the course of organizing social resources is also similarly affected.

“There are concerns that women are larger in our population but the impact of the allocation of resources to women is grossly inadequate for the needs of women.

“The rationale for this meeting is to draw attention to why women are not getting involved in politics. The two major concerns are ignorance and fear. The first point holds prominence because ignorance justifies the lack of interest in politics.

“Politics is the centre of social existence. Staying away from politics is like removing oxygen from a person’s body. Women who are not interested in politics are not seen, or heard of and consequently are ignored.

The second point is fear. It is usually fear of the unknown. Most of these fears are imaginary and supported by ignorance of what politics is all about.

Our task here today is focused on the mobilization of women to get involved and show commitment to political activities. The essence is to be part of those taking decisions for our collective well-being and happiness.

“The concern here is to measure up to the responsibility of setting agenda for the political and governance sphere to consider issues relating to gender equality as a critical issue of development.

“In this instance, women’s mobilization in the electoral process is to be part of the critical social agent that will make choices for leadership. Women should be concerned about who leads the state and our nation. What role should women play in allowing their numbers to be felt by the choice of leadership our society produces?

We have come to deal here today with the twin issue of ignorance and fear constraining women from participating and benefiting from the electoral process. And with enlightenment ignorance and fear will be dealt with.

We have gathered here as women mobilizers to persuade women to get involved in making the right choices for leadership, and we want to be seen and heard clearly.

The Ede Dafinone Campaign Organization has largely focused its campaigns on delivering APC 5/5. Our presentation here has taken note of this context. Our job here is to mobilize women for the APC 5/5 agenda.

The task is how we can get women to use their large numbers to change our society by getting involved in making the right decisions when it comes to electing leaders.

“If we have not benefitted from politics and governance before, it is because we were not sufficiently committed to take the right choice for leadership and consequently to be seen and heard.

We shall mobilize women for APC and our force is to strengthen the quest for gender equality and social justice. We are equal partners in the realm of the state. We need to effectively engage and interact with the political process and construct the way forward for our society. We must also be actively committed to the process of our party in making it win the election and provide good governance.

Mrs Rose Sombi, further stressed the need for all party members and bodies within the rank and file of the APC to be united for the purpose of winning the 2023 election.

According to her, “the 5/5 mandate of the APC is to vote Bola Ahmed Tinubu for President, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege for Delta State Governor, Chief Ede Dafinone for Senate (Delta Central Senatorial District), Hon. Henry Baro for House of Representatives (Okpe, Sapele and Uvwie Federal Constituency) and Barr. Edafe Emakpor for Delta State House of Assembly (Uvwie constituency).

On his part, Shepard Akaighe, the APC Ward 2 Chairman of Uvwie Local government Area, Chairman of Asiwaju Political Forum and Secretary of the Election planning and Strategic Directorate ED’23 who was a guest speaker at the symposium encouraged the APC women to be actively involved in canvassing vote for the party.

Speaking also, Hon. Ese Ejaita urged the women to stand up to the task of working for the party, the APC, she prayed that the resources and efforts invested in this enterprise will yield victory for the APC.

At the meeting was largely attended by the APC Uvwie ward and units’ coordinators ED’23, leaders and party faithful who were: Mrs Rose Sombi Igwebue ( Assistant Coordinator Uvwie LCC ED’23), Shepard Victor Akaighe (election Planning and Strategy directorate ED’23), Hon. Ejaita Ese Itu (LGA Organising Secretary), Mrs Grace Awinoje (ward 10 women’s leader), Mrs Rita Niamogha (ward 1 women’s leader), Mrs victory Onokurefe (Assistant women’s leader ward 8) Mrs Patricia Ochuko Eruvwegu (assistant women’s leader ward 4), Gladys Daniel (women’s leader ward 9), Mr Benedict Chijioke (Uvwie media team) amongst others.