Yesterday, Wednesday, January 31, 2022, women from the All Progressive Congress (APC) gathered in Benin City for a summit in support of Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, the party’s presidential candidate.

The theme of the summit ‘Role of women in the upcoming 2023 elections was espoused and emphasized by the various resource persons.

The Voice of Edo Women Forum, Tinubu Mandate Foundation, Tinubu Women and Children Foundation, Tinubu Vanguard, Asiwaju Ahmed Tinubu Support Group, APC Progressive Women Forum, Edo Girls Arise, and New Benin Fashion Designers are among the organizations represented at the summit.
The Igbo, Hausa, and Yoruba communities, as well as the Community Awareness and Development Network, Uhunmwonde Women Forum, Action Women for Tinubu, Ward 6, and many others were also in attendance

In her opening remarks, APC deputy national treasurer Hon Omorede Osifo Marshal thanked the women for attending despite the short notice, reminding them that the goal is for Tinubu to win in 2023.

The first resource person, APC national women leader, Dr Beta Edu represented by Hon Olubunmi Oriniowo, APC National Ex-officio South-West zone spoke on the mobilization of people towards voting for Tinubu. According to her, Tinubu is a detribalised Nigerian adding that there is no better person than Tinubu to do the job. She urged women to go out and tell other women about the need to vote for Tinubu in 2023.

The second resource person, APC National Ex-officio North Central Mrs Opawoye Oluwatoyin Olubunmi emphasised that Tinubu is up to the task to lead Nigeria. She stressed the theme of the program which is the role of women in the 2023 elections. She urged the women to support other candidates of the APC as they also support Tinubu with their votes. Olubunmi noted that Tinubu can’t do it alone.

In his opening remarks, the summit’s chairman, Hon Patrick Obahiahbon, stated the reasons for honoring the summit. According to Obahiagbon, the summit is a step toward carrying the message of the APC and Tinubu to the grassroots, with women from all walks of life present, and it will also help speak about Tinubu’s achievements.

He said of Tinubu, “When Rome was burning, where were those in the political field today?” When MKO was assassinated and the people’s voice was silenced by the military, it was only one man who took it upon himself to pursue pro-democracy force. He also emphasized Tinubu’s involvement in NADECO. He went on to say that Tinubu is a man who understands what democracy is all about and that he stands head and shoulders above the rest.

Obahiagbon also mentioned Tinubu’s work in Lagos, comparing the state of the city before and after he became Governor. He gave examples of how Lagos was like a slum, which he helped turn around, and how the IGR was low before the Jagaban boosted it.

Tinubu, according to Obahiagbon, is passionate about women, children, and the marginalized, and he is also a detribalized Nigerian. He urged women to serve as political foot soldiers and witnesses for the Jagaban.

Efosa Iyamu, another speaker, emphasized that Tinubu has and can work with anyone from any tribe. He charged the women with spreading the word about Jagaban wherever they were. He also shared his personal encounter with Tinubu.

Other speakers at the summit included Prince AB Ahmad, founder of Tinubu Transformation Agenda (TITAN), Tinubu Women and Children Foundation (TWCF), and Mrs Oluwakemi Areola, Special Assistant to the Honourable Minister of Youth and Sports Development, who both emphasized the summit’s theme.

In her address, Mother of the Day, Hon Lydia Ize-Iyamu, represented by Mrs Jubril, stated that women are the amplifiers of any candidate’s voice in any election. Women, she believes, play critical roles in their homes and workplaces. She emphasized that the role of women in any election cannot be overstated, and that women are the guaranteed voters in any election, rain or shine. She urged Tinubu to give women 35 percent or more of the seats in his government if he is elected president.