As Nigerians repare for the 2023 general elections, Lagos state governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu and his Rivers state counterpart, Nyesome Wike, have described politics of ethnicity and religion as a way creating acrimony in the country.
Wike while speaking at an event in Lagos had called for the re-election of Sanwo-Olu, the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate whom he believed had performed creditably well to earn him a second term.
Also, the wife of the President, Muhammadu Buhari, Aisha assured that the voice of women would be heard loudly in the 2023 general elections.
They expressed their view at the opening ceremony of the 22nd annual National Women Conference organized by the Committee of Wives of Lagos State Officials (COWLSO) at the Eko Hotel in Lagos
The event had in attendance former Governor of Ekiti, Ayodele Fayose, First Ladies of Kwara and Ogun states, Olufolake Abdulrazak, Bamidele Abiodun respectively, Lagos Assembly Speaker, Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa and his wife, Falilat Obasa, Deputy Governor’s wife, Oluremi Hamzat, among others.
This year’s edition tagged “Spring Forth, Stand Out” which was a clarion call for women to reinvent themselves in the face of the new normal,and champion the growth and development of womenfolk.
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, was seriously criticised for the statement he made when meeting with members of Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) when he advised northerners to vote for him because he is one of them.
Wike who was a special guest of honour at the COWLSO said, “My friend, the Governor of Lagos state, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, who by the special grace of God will get a second term as governor of Lagos state invited me to come and I was happy to come but unknown to me, I don’t know he has other things in mind.
“I am very happy to participate in this conference. As e dey pain them now, e dey sweet us. I don’t honour invitation when I know there is nothing to learn, I honoured this invitation because I know I will learn.
“I don’t copy ethnicity, I like to copy good things. I don’t copy bad things. The Governor of Lagos state has done something for us to learn. For me, if you are in my party and you are not doing well, you won’t see me and if you are in another party and you are doing well, I will come.”
While eulogizing the idea of women for coming together annually to support the state governor, Wike stated, “It is important to note that women are not second class citizens. They are capable human beings with great skills. No society can develope if women are impeded in realizing their potentials.”
The Rivers state governor who believes that was part of the reasons why Lagos state continued to set the pace for other states in the country, adding that what he had learnt in Lagos as regards COWSOL would be replicated in Rivers state.
He therefore, donated N300 million naira to COWLSO, saying he is impressed by the projects the Committee had been able to undertake to boost development in the State.
Earlier in his speech, Sanwo-Olu said, “Without you women, there is nothing we can do. You are dependable. Don’t let anybody deceive you. They will come in sheep’s clothing. They will come with all sorts of promises and they don’t know what governance is all about.
“How can somebody in today’s age say Lagos is for Lagos. How can somebody says Lagos is for Aworis. It is myopic. Lagos is bigger than any one tribe.”
