Market women, others root for Jonathan’s re-election

Thousands of women from all walks of life, including market women, marched under the scorching sun and yet with smiles in Lagos Tuesday, clamouring for the re-election of President Goodluck Jonathan in the February 14, 2015 election.

The 15-women groups, including Transparency Action Group from the South West geo-political zone, flagged off the road show in Moshalashi, Surulere in Lagos, where they rolled out bands, marched along the ever- busy Ojuelegba Road/ Western Avenue axis singing praises of President Jonathan whose works they said has projected Nigerian women positively.

According to the women, Jonathan’s administration gave women 30 percent representation, which was the first of its Pointing to a group of women at the solidarity march, Monica Etido, a trader said: “We are women from Lagos State; this march is our own way of sup- porting the work of Jonathan.

Look back and think. Among all Nigerian presidents, only Jonathan has remembered women in the scheme of things. He can do more, if re-elected.” Etido urged citizens who have failed to give “honour to whom honour is due” to rethink.

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She regretted that as a result of tribalism and wickedness some Nigerians have refused to see Jonathan’s ability. Beatrice Okechukwu, coordinator, Kauna Women Support Group, said the “event was very successful”.

Okechukwu said it has to be so, pointing to all the people’s oriented programmes of President Jonathan, which she said are visible and a cardinal point of reference.“This is why we the women in South-West are pulling our support for the re-election of the incumbent president.

People seem to have forgotten quickly where we are coming from,” she said. A teacher, Kemi Oluwajana, said what gladdens her heart is that President has given the Nigerian women a voice.

Like Oliver Twist, Oluwajana who is confident Jonathan will be re-elected in the February polls, asked for more women to be given political positions. “Jonathan has given women voice.

We wouldn’t mind if he can increase it from 30 percent to 50 percent. He will do it, women are supporting Jonathan to finish, he has done well and continuity is the best thing for us,” she noted.