Chieftain of the People’s Democratic Party (PD) in Ekiti, Mrs Folasade Akinrinmola, has applauded the election of Namibia’s first female President, Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, describing the election as historic milestone.
Akinrinmola, a former PDP Women Leader in the State, in a congratulatory message, released to newsmen in Ado-Ekiti on Thursday, described the election as historic milestone that will pave the way for future generations of women leaders.
“Congratulations on your remarkable achievement and for being a role model for women globally, your victory remains a morale booster for women in politics in Nigeria,”She said.
She therefore charged women in politics in Nigeria not to relent in their quest for gender mainstreaming and to equip themselves with necessary tools and quality credentials to weather the storm.
The former Gbonyin Local Government Area Chairperson, said the victory of Nandi-Ndaitwah should ginger leaders of political parties in Nigeria to create more enabling environment for women to shrive in politics.
Akinrinmola, also congratulated Mrs Abimbola Oyetunde, who was elected as the first female Deputy National President of the Nigeria Union of JournalistsJournalists, who emerged as the first woman to occupy the position.
Akinrinmola, a former commissioner 11, Teaching Service Commission, also rejoiced with a journalist with Advocate Broadcasting Network (ADBN), Grace Ike, on her emergence as the first female chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Council 43 years after the council was birthed.
Grace was elected and sworn in on Wednesday.
Former member, School of Health Technology, Ijero, therefore advocated a deliberate policy by all existing political parties in Nigeria which shall ensure that any female aspirant, who emerges runner up in the party primaries involving men is giving automatic ticket to contest.
The 72-year-ols Nandi-Ndaitwah, representing the ruling SWAPO party, secured 57 percent of the vote, comfortably surpassing the required 50 percent threshold to win outrightly.
Her election extends SWAPO’s 34-year rule since Namibia’s independence from apartheid South Africa in 1990.
Nandi-Ndaitwah, currently serving as Namibia’s vice president, brings decades of experience as a veteran of the nation’s liberation struggle and a long-time government official.
She joined SWAPO in the 1960s and has held prominent roles, including foreign minister.
SWAPO also retained control of the National Assembly, winning 51 out of 96 seats. The opposition Independent Patriots for Change (IPC), led by Panduleni Itula, came second in the presidential race with 26percent of the vote and secured 20 parliamentary seats.
Notable female heads of state and government who paved the way for future generations included, Vigdís Finnbogadóttir, the first female president of Iceland¹; Benazir Bhutto, the first female prime minister of Pakistan; and Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, the first female president of Liberia.
