Rat Race Begins For Ondo Guber As Akeredolu’s SSG, Odu, Says Turn Of Woman To Rule Ondo

By Ayodele Oni

With 27 years experience in governance, the Secretary to Ondo State Government, Mrs Oladunni Odu has said that she stands best to succeed Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu in 2024.

Odu, who has been part of governance in the state, both military and civilian, pointed out that time is ripe for a female governor in Ondo state.

She was Commissioner for Education, Ondo State between 1995 and 1999, Commissioner for Women Affairs (January 1999 to May 1999), chairman, Universal Basic Education Commission, (SUBEB) September 2003 – February, 2009.

The government scribe, who spoke to media correspondent in Akure on Thursday, said women’s leadership qualities would bring about desired change and rapid development because of the family-centric blood that flows in them.

Odu, a trained lawyer, while stressing her unalloyed support to the incumbent Governor, said she remains the best person to build on the “Redeemed Agenda” legacies of Governor, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu (SAN), having been in and out of governance in the last 27 years.

The first female SSG in the state, who noted  that no woman has been elected as governor in the state since the return to democracy in 1999, expressed the confidence that she is the best fit for the governorship position after Akeredolu’s departure under the platform of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

“Let us test a woman. The trailblazing character of Ondo State will start from all of us to convince people, why they should look towards that direction.

“And you are not just talking about anyhow woman, but someone whom you have tried and tested. Somebody who has been around here, somebody who knows her onion, somebody who understands the system.

“Because I am bold to say that of all the people who have come out to be aspirants, non of them is as exposed to governance as myself. I have been around this place, in and out of governance in the last 27 years. So, I know what governance is.

“The men have done very well, I am not disputing that but all I am saying is that we should try women.”

The APC chieftain decried the situation, stressing that several women across generations are doing well and succeeding in their chosen careers.

“A mother, a wife, a sister who has the compassion of motherhood in her. A woman who can’t hear the cry of her baby and turn a deaf ear.

“Somebody who knows her onion, somebody who will lift the state higher, somebody who is accessible, somebody who will be your own person, somebody who will listen to your plights and somebody who will actually work for the good of Ondo state.

“I am so confident that having the first female governor will not be a difficult thing. It depends on the people and their mindsets, the way we talk to people.

“If you as Journalists who have gone far and wide and see what happens in other climes, you keep telling people that it’s high time we make a woman the governor of the state.”

While noting that the gender constitutes an important unit of electoral and political demography, the SSG hailed President Bola Tinubu for aligning with  the inclusiveness goal and the 35% affirmation agenda with the appointment of women in his cabinet.

Odu, a former chieftain of People’s Democratic Party (PDP) on whose ticket she earned some of her appointments, added that any society that promotes the dignity of women and gives them the opportunity to thrive will experience rapid development.