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Ondo State Governor, Olusegun Mimiko, yesterday
called on Nigerian women to rebuild the country, first by building a
strong homefront and by employing activism.

Mr Mimiko, speaking in Lagos at the 10th annual
National Women Conference, organised by the Committee of Wives of Lagos
State Officials (COWLSO), identified poor upbringing and deficient
personality esteem as the psychological reason why political office
holders abuse their offices and steal public funds. The theme of the
conference is ‘Celebrating the Passionate Woman.’ He said the existing
value system and family structure in the country cannot imbue the young
with the requirement for prudent management of public funds. “The
building of a country starts with a family,” he said. “It is only in
this part of the world that leaders will steal more than three or four
generations need. This is very unfortunate. Such leader indeed has
personality problems and defective background. They steal more than
what three or four generation can spend. And the consequence brings
about sufferings for several millions.”

The role of women

He credited his election victory, partly, to the
protest staged by half-naked Ondo State women in 2007 on the
Benin-Akure Road, and posited that women must take on activism role and
stand against all forms of social injustice and electoral frauds which
he said are responsible for the “untold hardships” Nigerians are
suffering. “If women can protest naked, this country will shake,” he
said. “And there will be desired change we pray to witness. Change will
not come in this country until women fully get involved in political
activism.” Mr Mimiko also praised the country’s judicial system for
favourably determining the petition he filed against “the usurper of
the mandate my people gave me.”

In his goodwill message, Babatunde Fashola, the Lagos State
Governor, admired the passion of Lagos women which has produced, not
only “loving wives and devoted mothers” but also key positions, like
the deputy governor, secretary to the state government, deputy speaker
of the legislative house, chief judge, and commissioners, in the
state’s public service. “It is only passion that one finds in women
that can propel such commitment to public causes and still leave them
with a reserve of energy and commitment for them to remain loving
wives,” he said. “Truly, if there is yet a glass ceiling to be
shattered, Lagos women have broken many, and are sending the clearest
possible message that whatever may remain is certainly attainable.”