A governorship aspirant on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo, Funmilayo Adekojo, has said she was in the race to raise the standard of living of the people of the state.
Adekojo who disclosed this during the official declaration of her governorship ambition in Akure, the state capital, said her election as the next governor of the state will change the narrative for women in the state.
She stated that her coming on board as the state governor will also open opportunities for women in the country and send a signal to the world about Nigeria’s leadership maturity.
Adekojo carpeted most politicians, especially governors across the country, over their failure to deliver dividends of democracy to the electorates who voted them into power.
According to her, “The reason why I want to be the next governor of Ondo state come 2024 governorship election is for my people because I am a woman of the people and need to change the narrative
“If we notice what is happening right now in Ondo state, we give kudos to our men, they have done their best but this is the time for a woman to come in, and correct some things, and bring changes to our people and our dear state.
“We must do more than what we were doing before. We must stop the obnoxious practice which limits the potential of the girl-child. We must resist the attempt by those who crave perpetual domination.
“God has been using men, so it is time for we women to come into the politics and governance of Ondo state. I am here to save our people.
“I can see women salvaging this country. Being wives of elected or appointed political office holders is not enough. I believe that it is salutary to have spouses who are very supportive of their husbands in many ways.”
Speaking on the zoning of the governorship position, Adekojo, who hails from the Northern Senatorial District of the state said; “I know our people are not sentimental, there is something we call rotational zone, and if anybody wants to say the truth, our late Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu was the last person that finished the rotation.
“It was a complete circle, and in the history of Ondo state, when it is time to pick the zone, that will start the circle again, they make it so flexible and can come from any of the senatorial districts.
“So late former Akeredolu finished the circle, it is now open for anybody from any of the zones to pick it first. So I am going to pick it first again from my own zone, then when I finish it’s going to go round again until it’s circulated.
“Couple with the fact that we didn’t finish our term, death took him (Akeredolu) away from us, while someone from the Southern Senatorial District is there to finish the term so it means that we can pick it first from the Northern senatorial district and I know that our people will support us for the sake of the dead.
“Women are not supposed to remain at disadvantage forever, I am here to correct that thought, because why do men put us behind the scenes, this is because over the years men thought that we are always behind the scenes.
“But I know that I can become the next governor of Ondo state to showcase what a woman can do and this is the time, we are changing the story in the history of Nigeria. Our women must feel that their gender is free and we must not limit their freedom.“