By Labaran Tijani, Lokoja.
Ahead of August 29 All Progressive Congress(APC) party primary election in Kogi state, a frontline governorship ticket contender, Hon. Blessing Aisha Ekele has called on the party delegates to vote enmasse for her to pick the ticket of the party for November 16 state governorship election.
Ekele said she has what it takes to fix the state for the benefit of all.
The APC chieftain and gubernatorial hopeful disclosed this to journalists shortly after undergoing the screening exercise for gubernatorial aspirants under the platform of the party in Lokoja.
The APC woman leader who contested the House of Representatives primary election in Omala/Ankpa/Olamaboro constituency of Kogi state in last general election said she has to step up her ambition for the coveted position of number one citizen of state because she has the solution to the prevailing challenges bedevilling the state.
Hon Aisha Ekele, who filed out with 15 other party ticket contenders and was screened by the APC screening committee, argued that the time has come for the female folks to step in and handle the ship of the state to avoid being capsized in the hands of the male folks that have been ruling the state for years.
Taking solace in the age long axiom, “what men can do, women can even do better”, she stated that the dynamics of the present political engineering in the world have recognise the sense of female folks in the political administration of states, stressing, that period has come in the life of Kogi to test the potentials of female folks which advanced countries have exploited, and doing well.
While she said the state is endowed with human and material resources, but harnessing it to better the lot of the people of the state has been our challenge, she assured that if she secure the ticket of her party and get the mandate to rule the state, she will strive to utilize the human resources and develop the material endowment to the glory of the state.
“Come to think of it, the state is endowed with material and human resources. What we need to do is to tap into it to create foreign exchange or income, employment, in order to stem restiveness and violent extremism, thuggery, armed robbery and incident of kidnapping that have eaten deep into the fabric of the state,” she expressed.
The Magajia 1 of Yekenaije kingdom urged women in the state to see her as their own and vote for her in the Thursday party delegate election, assuring them that she will make sure their interest is protected in line with United Nation, or Maputo declaration on the right of women in the society.
While she felicitated with the new Minister of state in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, Hajjia Ramatu Tijani, on her appointment, Ekele said she has no doubt in her mind that she will make the state and women folks pround in her outings in the office.
She prayed to Almighty Allah to give her the wisdom and strength to handle the functions, as demanded by the new role and office.
It was gathered that Hon. Ekele whose entrance into the gubernatorial race has been causing sensation among the voters picked her intent form, along side the main gubernatorial form few week ago, submitted it last week, and she has been screened by the APC screening committee under the supervision of Senator Hope Uzodinma in Lokoja along with 15 others, including the incumbent governor of the state, Alhaji Yahaya Bello.
