Daily Independent Online.
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Tuesday, August 24, 2004.
Ekpo
challenges women to produce President
By Bassey Inyang
Correspondent,
Calabar
Mrs Margaret Ekpo, one of the surviving Nigerian
nationalists, has in Calabar, the Cross River State capital, challenged women
in the country to work towards producing the future president of the country.
Ekpo noted that at least a state governor should emerge from
the womenfold by 2007, while they should strive to produce a female president
in the future elections.
The foremost female activist made this remark at an early
morning ceremony to mark her 90th birthday anniversary. She said experience had
shown that women could be better leaders if given the opportunity to serve.
However, she maintained that the desire to get women into
leadership positions in the country should not be misconstrued for the desire
to dominate men or contest for positions with them.
To achieve this, Ekpo said women must be united and honest
in their dealings, stressing that when they go out to campaign, they will be
accepted by the electorate.
The nationalist stated that the women of today must work
hard and live by the truth, if they intend to change the country for the
better.
Going down memory lane, Ekpo said she contested for a seat
in the Eastern House of Assembly in Aba, against seven men from the town.
She said victory came her way because the electorate
believed in her despite the fact that she was not from the town.
Besides, Ekpo noted that because there were no tribal and
ethnic sentiments in the country and the polity, six of her opponents even lost
their deposits.
Special prayers were also offered for her at the Holy
Trinity Cathedral, Calabar, while messages of goodwill were also sent to her
and members of her family.
President Olusegun Obasanjo and his wife, Stella, gave the
nationalist a 406 Peugeot car as her birthday gift.
