A member of the House of Representatives, Hon Wumi Olubunmi Ogunlola , representing Ekiti Central constituency II has decried the low level of women representation in the National Assembly.
Ogunlola revealed that there are only 10 female members of the House out of the 360, lamenting that there are not more than six female senators out of the 109.
She urged women to always come out to fill both executive and legislative positions, saying, “I expect my sisters to come out and aspire to positions of authority. As a lawyer and democrat I know that it is our legitimate right to seek this. You have every right to become a legislator, a governor and a president.
“Although it goes beyond just seeking positions, you must also make yourself relevant; people will rate you according to your activities and usefulness in the society and they will also determine the assignment that will be entrusted into your hands.”
The female lawmaker made this revelation Sunday during a thanksgiving service in her honour in Emmanuel Anglican Church, Ijero Ekiti.
The programme was attended by top government functionaries, the first lady of Ekiti state, Erelu Bisi Fayemi, former deputy governor of the state, Prof. Modupe Adelabu, notable Ekiti traditional rulers and members of the National Assembly.
Lord Bishop of Ekiti Diocese, Rt. Revd V. A. Adepoju, during his sermon, charged those in government to have the fear of God by keeping faith with the pact they had with the electorate. He said the mandate given to political leaders is to protect the interest of the people and that they can only succeed if they keep faith with this assignment.
“I know that the government cannot meet all the demands of the electorate; however, it must be seen that you have done your best as faithful servants. This is the only factor that will determine your success as leader with the people’s mandate,” he said.
Speaking with newsmen, Hon. Ogunlola promised to make the electorates the focus of his tenure in office, the law maker who was a member of Ekiti state Assembly said she was humbled by the decision of the people to entrust her with their mandate.
She said: “I was a member of the state Assembly and now I have been given a position of higher authority and I am more than ready to justify their trust in me. I owe the present position to God and my people and I must not let them down.”
