Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has urged women to build the world the desire themselves and not rely on help from anyone else – apparently referring to the dominance of men across most spheres of human endeavour.
The former President said this on Thursday in Lagos, at the 14th annual lecture of the Women in Management, Business and Public Service (WimBiz).
The 2018 edition of the lecture drew from the global theme ‘Pressing for Progress’, with a sub thematic focus on ‘Women in Politics and Nation Building”.
“To you women, do not allow any body to build your world for you. Build your world for yourself. Yes, women need encouragement but they must do enough for themselves,” Obasanjo said.
Obasanjo who made references to Hilary Clinton’s failed attempt to clinch America’s presidency, also advised women to be mindful that being a woman alone may not be enough to achieve political ends.
“If only womanhood was enough to get Mrs Hilary Clinton would have made it to the White House but she had a man (Donald Trump) who did what he could do to get to power.
” I don’t want or expect women to climb palm trees to harvest bunch of palm fruits. If anybody says he wants to see my mother climb palm trees, I will take a second look at that person but women must do what it takes to succeed in Nigerian political space.”
He also debunked the misconception that women subjugation is fuelled by culture and tradition, insisting that such tendencies can only be blamed on chauvinism and selfishness of men.
The former president called on the government at all levels to ensure adequate measures are put in place to guarantee the quality participation of women in politics.
Speaking on his Coalition for Nigeria Movement (CNM), Obasanjo said the group has so far registered over three million members a sit sustains mobilisation of Nigerians ahead of 2019.
