‘WE WILL DIVE AND SWIM WITH YOU’ – Uyo women tell Chairman’s wife

…As First Lady hosts women leaders, reels out women-friendly programmes

…To set up ‘Think Tank’ for women affairs

Women leaders in Uyo have assured the First Lady of Uyo Local Government Area, Deaconess Idaresit Imoh Okon of their strong support and unflinching loyalty throughout her reign as the First Lady of Uyo Local Government, saying that they are ready to dive and swim with her to make sure that she succeeds in all her programmes for Uyo women.

The women leaders numbering over one hundred led by the duo of the wife of the Uyo Political Leader, Mrs. Taiwo Val Attah and the wife of the Chairman of UCCDA, Mrs. Inemesit Enobong Uwah gave the assurance on Monday 29th January, 2017 when the Uyo Chairman’s wife hosted them in her residence for the first time since her emergence as the First Lady of Uyo Local Government.

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In a one-on-one interaction with the Chairman’s wife, the physically exited women extolled the First Lady for the Love she has for women of Uyo, stressing that it was the first time a serving Local Government Chairman’s wife played host to Uyo women and therefore described the meeting as a sign of a good and new beginning.

In their separate speeches, the women leaders said the role of women in politics cannot be ignored by the wave of hand and also thanked the First Lady for not turning her back on women after her husband’s victory.

They further applauded the performance of Elder Imoh Okon within his short period of stay in office, noting that the coming of the Chairman as the Chief Executive Officer of Uyo Local Government is timely and carefully planned by God. They listed sanitization and restructuring of Akpan Andem Market, reduced market levies, inclusion of women in appointments as well as successful hosting of Uyo Economic and Political Summit as laudable achievements which have affected Uyo women positively.

While promising to corporate and stand with the Chairman’s wife in actualizing her dream of a new and greater Uyo, the women leaders appealed to the First Lady to place the welfare of women in her heart and to also carry Uyo women along in both the Local and State government matters, emphasizing that such will draw more support from the women to her and the Governor’s wife. They particularly advised the First Lady against listening to blackmailers and gossipers whom they said will be coming to her for personal and selfish reasons, warning that unity, peace and love among Uyo women will be jeopardized once she throws her door open for them.

They also pledged to support and mobilize women across the four clans of Uyo to queue behind the wife of the state Governor, Deaconess Martha Udom Emmanuel and the Peoples Democratic Party in the second term bid of the Governor, especially as the 2019 election draws closer.

Earlier, addressing the women, the First Lady who said she personally invited the women for familiarization and a one-on-one chat thanked them for the support given to her husband, the Executive Chairman of Uyo Local Government Council, Elder (Hon.) Imoh Okon before and after his assumption of office barely two months ago. She described the women’s support as one of the strong factors behind the success of her husband in the last Local Government election and prayed God to bless and reward them accordingly.

Further, Idaresit Imoh Okon said her cardinal plan is to enhance the wellbeing of Uyo women through women friendly  programmes, empowerment and inclusion in both politics and governance from the Local Government Level to the State level, saying that hers will be an open door leadership devoid of sentiment and gossip.

According to her, topping her agenda for the women are: support and empowerment schemes, girl-child education campaign, anti-women right campaign, adult education, support to less privilege,  complementing the free and compulsory education of the state government and massive mobilization of women for Deaconess Martha Udom Emmanuel.

Commending the women leaders for turning up to the meeting, the Chairman’s wife said she will be meeting with women on quarterly basis in order to maintain the close relationship and further announced that she will set up a Think Tank team among the women leaders to interpret her vision for the women and brings about implementation.

Among the women leaders who attended the meeting were, the wife of the Vice Chairman, Mrs. Enobong Udeme Ukai, Special Assistant to the Governor on Marketing, Mrs. Lydia Udoh, former Transition Chairman, Dr. Grace Ekpo, Secretary of Uyo Local Government Council, Lady Stella Udoh, Uyo Chapter President of National Council of Women Society, Mrs. Nyong Emmanuel Emah, Ekaette Ebong Bassey, Obongoawan Mfon Udo Ukpo, Councilors representing ward 5 and 8, Hon. Kufre Mfon and Hon. Imabong respectively.

High point of the meeting was prayer for Uyo and Akwa Ibom State.

© NDANTI  EKUH