Women Must Prepare and Fight for Political Power says Gov Wike

Governor Nyesom Ezen­wo Wike of Rivers State has charged women not to as­sume the weaker sex tag by rising to occupy their places in the nation’s po­litical landscape.
He said the men will bequeath power to them on a platter of gold.
The governor declared that no­body was stopping women from ex­celling in the political arena and as­serted that he would not support women for elective offices on the ba­sis of sentiments.

He said: "When it comes to pow­er, you have to struggle for it. If you are prepared for politics, you must equip yourself."
Governor Wike advised aspiring woman politicians not to be discour­aged by criticisms from the public.
He spoke at the Women’s Day event to commemorate the state’s Gold Jubilee celebration in Port Har­court.
Wike said: “For me, if I see a woman that is competent and has shown high capacity in doing the work, then I will help her. I do not support begging. If any woman shows interest in her competency to go to the National Assembly, I will support her.”
The governor spoke as former First Lady of Nigeria, Dame Patience Jonathan, declared that the governor had worked hard to empower Rivers’ women.
Mrs. Jonathan said that Rivers’ women would remain grateful to Wike for giving them political and professional leverage.
She said that the governor’s choice of female deputy governor and the appointment of the first fe­male Chief Judge and President of Customary Court of Appeal ensured that Rivers’ women took their pride of place in politics.
Also, the wife of the Rivers State Governor, Justice Eberechi Suzzette Nyesom Wike, described her hus­band as a “women-friendly governor who is implementing policies and programmes to uplift them.”
The governor announced that his administration would construct a Women Development Centre with adequate facilities.
Justice Nyesom-Wike said that the Women’s Day is set aside to hon­our women for their contributions to the creation and growth of the state.
In her guest lecture, wife of the first President of Nigeria, Prof. Uche Nnamdi Azikiwe, said that violence can only be reduced across the world when women assume leadership.
In the paper titled: "Status of Women and politics in Nigeria," Prof. Azikiwe said that the political mar­ginalisation being suffered by wom­en was man-made.
She urged women to unite and play significant roles in their respec­tive communities. She also called for urgent steps to address the dwin­dling fortunes of women in Nigeri­an politics.
The Chairman of the Rivers Golden Jubilee Committee, Chief Ferdinand Alabrabra, lauded the state women for their roles in the develop­ment of the state.
The Women’s Day of the Rivers Golden Jubilee Celebration witnessed Special Songs by New Rivers Vision Women Team, cuisine, art and craft competition, traditional dances and traditional fashion parade.
The highpoint of the event was the special recognition and presen­tation of gifts to Mrs. Jonathan, Prof. Uche Nnamdi Azikiwe, Ms. Ankio Briggs, the Deputy Governor Ipali­bo Harry Banigo, Mrs. Hannah Agu­ma and other women by the gover­nor’s wife.