Al-Hassan’s victory’ll encourage more women –Saraki

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Senator Gbemisola Saraki says last Saturday’s judgment of the Taraba State Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal which declared Aisha Al-Hassan as the duly elected governor of the state has dismissed the myth that a woman cannot become a governor in Nigeria.

Saraki said the judgment would encourage women to seek elective posts and remove the barrier which restricted women from vying for certain elective posts.

In a statement issued on Sunday to congratulate Al-Hassan, Saraki described the victory as a victory for all women in the country.

The tribunal had on Saturday nullified the election of Governor Darius Ishaku of the Peoples Democratic Party and declared the APC candidate, Al-Hassan, as the winner of the April 11, 2015 election.

By the verdict, Al-Hassan has become the first elected female governor in Nigeria.

Saraki said the victory has validated the claim that real change has come to stay in the country.

“I believe that this achievement should encourage women, especially the future generation of women, to vie for any position in public office without considering their gender a hindrance to their success. The country, Nigeria, belongs to us all and we must all play our part in its development,” Saraki said.

Saraki, who was elected to represent Kwara-Central senatorial district on the platform of the PDP in 2003, commended Al-Hassan’s resilience and the manner she protected the mandate given to her by the people of Taraba State.

The statement read, “The APC’s mantra of change is sweeping across Nigeria as the country is experiencing many unprecedented democratic firsts. This is yet another historic moment for Nigeria, particularly for the women and the advocates who have struggled over the years for equality in the political space. It is a milestone that will revolutionise our perception about women leadership and its prospect for true democracy.

“The victory is not only that of Senator Aisha Al-Hassan, the people of Taraba, or the APC but for all Nigerian women, political and non-political, Muslims and Christians at home and in the Diaspora, who have fought diligently over the years for equality in party politics and in government appointments.”

Source: Punch