Thirty-one women have been selected as coordinators of the Patience Umo Eno Support Group, to be known as Iban Patience Umo Eno, across the 31 local government areas to drive the gender-inclusive structure approved by the leader of the People’s Democratic Party and Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Pastor Umo Eno.
Addressing female stakeholders drawn from all the local government areas at Government House Uyo, the governor’s wife, Pastor Patience Eno, thanked them for their support, steadfastness and commitment to the ARISE agenda of the state government, which in turn has attracted a larger space for the women in the polity.
The First Lady, who commended her husband for creating more positions in leadership for women to occupy in their various local government councils, described as unprecedented and unparalleled the Governor’s directive to the PDP for an increase in the number of female chairmen, vice chairmen and councillors, a development that has further endeared him to the people.
“I want to thank my dear husband for the kind of governor he has been since inception. What he is doing for the people and the state amazes me. If he has done all these things in one year, you can imagine what the remaining seven years will bring. On your behalf, I especially thank Pastor Umo Bassey Eno for what he has done for the women. The calls I have received since the meeting where he made the pronouncement in favour of Akwa Ibom women have been massive.
“Now that political activities have intensified, be mindful of where you go and what you do. Be careful with your associations so you don’t get into trouble. It is also pertinent that Akwa Ibom women unite and choose credible women in their various wards and local government areas to present themselves for participation in the forthcoming congresses and local government elections,” the First Lady said.
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Pastor Patience Eno also listed some terms of reference for her local government coordinators: “You are not to work in isolation. You are to convene a meeting of other stakeholders in your local government areas to look for qualified women to serve as councillors and chairmen. Such women, who should meet the criteria of the zoning arrangement, should show commitment and live up to expectations. They must show work to justify those slots. We must be very careful about who we choose to represent us. In specific terms, we must be sure of their character and integrity.”
A former Deputy Speaker in the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, Princess Felicia Bassey, the wife of the Paramount Ruler of Eket, Obonganwan Mandu Abia, the Commissioner for Women Affairs, Dr. Ini Adiakpan, and the Presidents of the Senatorial District Women Forums pledged their commitment to galvanise activities in their respective wards and local government areas to make the process of selecting women for political positions easier.
