APC women vow to resist abuse, intimidation of women by party leaders in Lagos

As the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), prepares for primaries across the states ahead of the 2019 elections, the Lagos Island Ward C I Women Leader and founder, Igbalaani Asiwaju Tinubu for Life, Mrs Wuraola Williams, has called for caution against actions of some party leaders to intimidate women seeking elective positions.

Williams made the call at the Widows’ Empowerment and Award Presentation ceremony she hosted Tuesday in support of widows in her ward with cash and food items.

She said any attempt by party leader to oppress women seeking election would be resisted.

Williams, who demanded total compliance from party leaders at ward levels and beyond in adopting direct primaries as ordered by the national leader Bola Tinubu, noted that women are subjected to different abuses before they can be given tickets to run for elective positions.

She also decried instances of women being physically assaulted by some “desperate male counterparts” who see women seeking elective positions as major threats, adding that such abuse would not be condoned.

“We shall vehemently resist any form of abuse on women,” Williams stressed.

“Most of these party leaders have been taking advantage of us. They will demand for sex, some of them even went as far as beating some of us because we are contesting and mobilising against them.

“This is not what Asiwaju, our father taught us. These are bad eggs in the party; their actions are against the practice of our great party and leader Tinubu.

They just want to sabotage Asiwaju’s efforts, and they will not succeed. This will not be tolerated again.”

William noted that many of the party leaders allegedly engaging in anti-party activities are not good representations in their various constituencies.

She said many of them who are occupying elective positions are self-centred, hence have failed to meet the needs of their constituents.
Williams further charged the women to come out en masse and contest any position of their choice, adding that the needed support would be given to them.

In her submission, an aspirant for the Lagos State House of Assembly, Lagos Island Constituency I, Mrs Deborah Ibijoke Rufai, promised to make good representation for the people.

She added that abuse of women in politics must not be condoned, calling for equal opportunity with their male counterpart.

Rufai, who sought the support of Williams and her group, said her decision to run for the position was informed by the need to touch the lives of the people, especially women, noting that the plights of women, especially widows, have not adequately been addressed.

“I want to bring succour to my people. The need of women, especially widows and the aged, in our community has not been met by our current representative. And this is what I am going to the State Assembly to do.

“I want to bring meaningful representation to our people, especially the women, because women are the majority who vote in elections.

“You will agree with me that the touch of women in anything we do is always unique compared to that of men.”

Speaking on engaging the people if elected, Rufai said: “I’ll be holding quarterly meetings with my constituents to know what their needs are. A lot of enlightenment and empowerment programmes will be held, amongst other things.”

She commended Williams for her gesture in touching lives, describing the Igbalaani leader as a woman of integrity and compassion, calling on other women to emulate her efforts.

In his remark, chairman of the occasion, Prince Wale Ojora, applauded Williams for her humanitarian service, saying, “Out of the little she has, Williams still shares with the widows and this is not the first time; she has been doing this often. Many cannot do that. This gesture is really commendable.”