The Wife of Edo Governor, Mrs Betsy Obaseki, has advised wives of elected and re-elected state governors to drive positive change in their various states.

Obaseki gave the advice during a presentation on: “Achieving Impact” at the day two of the governors spouses’ summit organised Nigeria Governors Wives’ Forum (NGWF) in Abuja on Friday.

She said that being a governor’s wife is a privilege and those who God grants such must use it to make positive impacts on the society and the people, not to oppress them.

“Even though our position is not constitutional, there is an image and natural power the office has because our husbands support for us to do things.

“So, naturally as wives of governors we have the power to drive change in the states.

“As we sit here as governors wives there was something we created as a result of what we saw during COVID-19 when there was an increase in the number of rapes, which birthed Nigeria Governors wives Campaign Against Gender Based Violence.

“We came together as governors’ wives, we took it to the minster of women affairs, we also took it to the president and the he declared a state of emergency that every state should domesticate VIOLENCE AGAINST PERSONS (PROHIBITION) ACT, 2015 in their states.

“And members of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum also resolved that it would make their wives chairpersons of Gender Based Committee in the states.

“As at that time we had only 13 states that have domesticated the act, the law which was enacted many years ago by the Federal Government before we became wives of governors but now almost all the states have done so,” she said.

She advised her colleagues especially the incoming ones to identify challenges in their states, key into them, identify stakeholders to partner with, be innovative and be passionate about their visions.

She also advised them to rise above tokenism for impact, but be determined to do something that would outlive the tenure of their husbands.

Obaseki said that “when God puts you in a position, He expects you to use that privilege to affect your neighbours, communities, your state and your nation as governors’ wives.

“He would demand a report from you the day you face Him.

“Don’t enter this position and think it is about the funfair and the physical, let’s go spiritual because God will demand account of what we do.

“There are many Nigerian women God would have made governors’ wives but He chooses us. So we must be serious about it. Don’t go there and sit back and do nothing,” Obaseki advised.

Also speaking on the same topic, the Wife of Kebbi State Governor, Mrs Zainab Bagudu, also advised wives of incoming governors to use their positions to impact on their states.

Bagudu advised them to be responsive and get involved in different programmes going on in their states.

“You can focus on the issues of women empowerment, children education and violence against women and children among others.

“Education is a big issue. My state and many others are doing a lot in that regard. You need to know how you can come in and drive the needed change in your states,” she said.

The Wife of Lagos State Governor, Ibijoke Sanwoolu, said though it was the governors that were elected, their wives are also needed by the people to be of positive influence.

Sanwoolu advised them to be the listening ears to their husbands.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria