Different women groups, under the umbrella of Women United for Yahaya Bello, on Tuesday organised a rally to express support for the presidential ambition of Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State.
The women, from more than 600 groups across the six geopolitical zones of the country, at a solidarity walk in Abuja.
Iy was entitled: “One Million Women March for Yahaya Bello.”
They said that Bello had all it would take to be president in 2023.
The President, National Association of Women Entrepreneurs, Vera Ndanusa, told journalists that the turnout of women for the rally was an evidence that Bello supported women.
Ndanusa said: “The large turnout of women for the rally shows that whenever you empower a woman, you reap the benefits many times over.”
Ndanusa said that Nigerian women had made up their minds to support whoever had been supporting them.
She advised that it was not yet late for people in power to learn women empowerment from Bello, saying women empowerment should be top priority for the Nigerian Government.
On her part, the Iyaloja-General, South West, Chief Nike Akingboye, said that with the massive turnout, Nigerian women regardless of tribe or religion, had shown that they were really united behind their own.
Akingboye said: “Market women are in total support of the Governor and would mobilise massively for him if he declares for Presidency.”
Ace Nollywood actress, Binta Ayo-Mogaji, who led many other stars, said that the recent commendation of Bello by the Vice-President of Liberia, Jewel Taylor, was key indication of his supports for women.
Ayo-Mogaji urged women to come to support Bello, adding that Nigerian women must support that one governor that had shown them massive support.
Ayo-Mogaji, who said that the turnout for the rally was impressive, urged the Federal Government to pay more attention to the needs of women.
Former National President of the National Association of Women Journalists, Ifeayinwa Omowole, said that the 2023 elections would be determined by women.
Omowole said that the women were calling on Bello to run because they were tired of market demolition, wanted better medical facilities for women and children.
She said: “We believe that it is Bello that will do it for us because he is a governor that has carried women along in his appointment and the election of women as vice-chairman in all the local government of the state.
“We decided to support him because he is young, vibrant and supporting the course of women.”
Another Woman Leader, Sharon Akubo, described Bello’s administration as a government that had given women more inclusivity in governance.
Akubo expressed optimism that if Bello became Nigeria’s president, more women would be empowered and appointed as ministers, saying Nigeria would get to a time where women could even become president of the country.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that women from key sectors, including NGOs, Civil Society Organisations, religious, professional bodies, media, politics and entertainment, took part in the rally.
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