South-East Women Pledge To Appoint Yahaya Bello As President

Thousands of women from around Nigeria descended to Umuahia, the capital of Abia State, for a solidarity walk in favor of Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State, whom they claimed they would back with their numbers to succeed President Muhammadu Buhari. "One Million Women March for Yahaya Bello 2" was the theme of the walk.

Women from over 700 organizations, including Non-Governmental Organizations, Civil Society Organizations, religious and professional bodies, women in media, politics, Nollywood, market women, and top female entrepreneurs, united under the banner of Women United for Yahaya Bello, WUYABEL. They stated that Bello had showed sufficient competence in critical areas of administration to make him the greatest candidate for the post, and that he was the only Governor in Nigeria who had given women a voice in government. They resisted the sweltering heat and marched through Umuahia's streets, singing solidarity songs and holding banners with messages such as "If Yahaya Bello can do it in Kogi, he can do it for Nigeria," "Yahaya Bello is our choice," and "Yahaya Bello, our hero," among others.

Following the solidarity walk, the ladies assembled at the Abia Hotel field for a rally, vowing to mobilize strongly for the Kogi Governor's victory in the 2023 elections. Mrs. Josephine Orauno, Vice President, Nigerian Women Arise for Nigeria, NIWAFON, South-East, who represented the Global President, Dr. Hannatu Adeeko, said women were more united than ever to support that one Governor who had demonstrated to the others the true significance of women in administration.

"That Governor is Governor Yahaya Adoza Bello," she explained. This is why we have assembled here to inform him that he has the strong support of South East women, and indeed, the women of Nigeria, in his bid for the higher office of president. Previously, I was not actively involved in electoral procedures, but this time, we would go all out for Yahaya Bello."

"I've heard that some of these events are stage-managed. They should wait to see if it is organic. "With what we would do for Yahaya Bello, I mean Nigerian ladies, other Governors, and leaders will no longer joke about giving women what they deserve," she insisted. Ogechi Obilonu, a prominent Nollywood actress who accompanied other South East Nollywood female stars to the event, including Phil Daniels, Amaka Offor, and Faith Ononiwu, said she had heard a lot about the Kogi Governor and asked women to support him in exchange for his belief in women.

"We will support everyone who supports us." His huge advances in Kogi are due to the fact that he has bright women in the proper locations. "He can do the same thing at the national level," - she remarked.

Lolo Josephine Chukwu, Zonal Woman Leader of the All Progressives Congress in Abia Central, who also led other party women in the zone to the gathering, agreed with all the speakers and urged Nigerian women to rally with Governor Bello. The Governor of Kogi State is a prominent candidate for the presidency in 2023.