TheCable

The Nigerian Women Arise for Nigeria (NIWAFON), a socio-political group, has commended Yahaya Bello, Kogi governor, for appointing Hafsat Abiola-Costello as the director-general of his presidential campaign organisation.

TheCable had reported the appointment of Hafsat, daughter of the late MKO Abiola, as the director-general of Bello’s 2023 campaign organisation.

Bello, a presidential aspirant of the All Progressives Congress (APC), had formally declared his intention to run for president on Saturday at Eagle Square, Abuja.

In a statement on Tuesday, Ummu Abubakar, United States coordinator of NIWAFON, said the Kogi governor has set a record as the first presidential aspirant to appoint a female campaign DG in the history of Nigeria.

The group, made up of over 600 women groups across different professions and geo-political zones, said it was a well deserved appointment.

Abubakar noted that the appointment has strengthened Bello’s record in terms of women inclusion.

“It is highly commendable that the governor chose to have females in strategic positions in his campaign organisation. Not only do we have the highly intelligent Hafsat Abiola, Founder of the Kudirat Initiative for Democracy, as DG; the Director, Media and Publicity of the Campaign, Yemi Kolapo, is also a woman,” Abubakar said.

“Governor Bello has made a perfect choice in Hafsat because she has seen a lot of battles and is determined to ensure that democracy wins in Nigeria.

“We will not describe Hafsat Abiola’s appointment as one that goes to her alone, but would visualise it as an appointment for all women, and we must all work hard to ensure her success.

“This, no doubt, showcases the commitment of Governor Bello to ensuring the participation of women in the country’s democratic processes. He has taken women inclusion to the next level after the many firsts recorded in Kogi state.”

Abubakar said the organisation had kept track of leaders who had exercised commitment to women inclusion in politics, noting that Bello has showcased the limitless possibilities that women could wrought if given the opportunity to lead.

She added that NIWAFON would continue to speak the truth and enlighten everyone on the need to give women a rightful place in the society.