‘Bisi Fayemi, Architect of Ekiti Women’s Political Emancipation’

By Gbenga Sodeinde in Ado Ekiti

The Ekiti State Deputy Governor, Chief (Mrs) Monisade Afuye, has described the immediate past First Lady, Erelu Bisi Fayemi, as a strong backer and vanguard of women’s political emancipation in the state.

 Afuye said history had etched Mrs Fayemi in gold for laying a rocky foundation for the waging of relentless wars against all forms of inequality syndrome in the state, thereby creating a leveler for all genders and equal opportunities for jobs, inheritance and other benefits.

The Deputy Governor said this in her congratulatory message to Bisi Fayemi on her 60^th birthday yesterday.

Saluting Mrs Fayemi’s unflagging bravery to dismantle the long-standing monster of patriarchy in Ekiti, thereby raising the subjugated voices of women in politics ,leadership and governance, Mrs Afuye, said several initiatives conceptualised by the former first lady brought about the current  freedom being enjoyed by womenfolk in the polity.

She stated that the Gender Based Violence Prohibition Law, 2012 initiated by Mrs. Fayemi and signed into law by the administration of Governor Kayode Fayemi gave a leverage for the  breaking of  the chains that fettered the hands of female gender and make them subservient to men in all spheres.

 Afuye added that  Mrs Fayemi’s fierce disposition, gave rise to the adoption of 35 per cent affirmative action for women in politics and governance by the state government, which catapulted the women’s fortunes to a higher pedestal and make them forces to be reckoned with.

The deputy governor added that Mrs Fayemi’s giant strides in politics and governance in Ekiti have been positively impactful on the people, saying posterity will continue to judge her fairly as a globally respected mentor, feminist, role model and humanist.

She said: “Though, Bisi Fayemi’s journey to the political terrain might be accidental going by veracious accounts she had rendered at many fora, but let me emphasize and say proudly that the journey was highly profitable to the good people of Ekiti State and Nigeria in general.

“Before her foray into politics, Erelu Bisi Fayemi had been having a flourishing career in gender advocacy world with her joining good-spirited gender advocates and humanists for the formation of the prestigious and respectable African Women Development Fund(AWDF) in London.

“Before bowing out of the AWDF in 2010 when her husband won an election through judicial verdict of the 10th October, 2010 as one of the Directors, the body had empowered over 800 women across 42 countries in African continent and delivered them from the pangs of poverty.

“This lofty achievement  indicated that Erelu had been in exalted leadership position that benefited mankind before becoming the state’s first lady.

“The most interesting aspect of her life was that, Erelu Bisi Fayemi and these Patriots did some of these landmark empowerments through personal resources and monies solicited from individuals and corporate bodies, and not from governments.

“Let me say this without any doubt that Erelu’s coming to Ekiti State as a first lady was a tremendous blessing to our people in diverse ways. This woman of substance was instrumental to the elevation of women in political and leadership positions in Ekiti. I am a loud testimony to this good gesture.”

The deputy governor posited that it was through Mrs Fayemi’s concerted efforts with other like-minds, that ensured women had four representatives in the House of Assembly in the general election conducted in 2011, when Governor  Fayemi was in the saddle of governance.

“It was through her influence and love for feminism that the same feat was achieved in 2019 after the reelection of her husband in 2018.

“During this time, she fought hard to ensure that women had a representative in the National Assembly, which she achieved with the adoption of Hon Wumi Ogunlola as a House of Representatives candidate of the All Progressives Congress.

“The current Ekiti State House of Assembly that was inaugurated a few days ago has six women as representatives of various constituencies. This feat was achieved through the instrumentality of our God-Sent mother, Erelu Bisi Fayemi.

“During her time as a First lady, Erelu initiated many programmes to protect the rights of the vulnerable and less privileged in the society.

“The Child’s Rights Law of 2010, the Gender Based Violence Prohibition Law, 2012 and the Equal Oportunities Law, 2012, were a few of the initiatives propelled by Erelu to fight the problems of sexual molestation , social oppression, neglect and suffering among genders in our dear state.

“I can go on highlighting the strong legacies Erelu left in our dear state. In fact, she has indeed engraved her name with indelible ink in the hearts of our people,” she stated.