Ugoeze (Dr.) Vivian (Sunshine) Obi, Ochiora Nwayi Chukwu na Wara Oji, the political Women leader of Ohanaeze Ndi Igbo Lagos State. The group officially unveiled and presented the executives of Ohanaeze Political Women wing by the president of Ohanaeze, Chief Solomon Ogbonna Aguene. Dr. Vivian Obi spoke to The Unique Model publisher, Felix Mbata.
Excerpts:
Can we meet you, your names?
My names are Ugoeze (Dr.) Vivian (Sunshine) Obi, Ochiora Nwayi Chukwu na Wara Oji, the political Women leader of Ohanaeze Ndi Igbo Lagos State. Thank you.
How will you describe what happened today?
Today, we officially unveiled and presented the executives of Ohanaeze Political Women wing, cut across the 20 Local Governments and 37 LCDAs. So it’s our official way of coming out as Igbo Women in Lagos State and Political Women structured in every grass root, thank you.
Apart from the unveiling, there was a medical outreach that Ohanaeze Ndi Igbo Women benefited from, how come such advantage?
Yes, the medical outreach is a side attraction to what we are doing in commemoration of the awareness of breast cancer, we have decided to join our Optimal Specialist Hospital, who sponsored Igbo women in Lagos State for free medical facility today and as part of our programme it’s our own way of ensuring that our team is prepared, protected and to project women has come to pass and we thank God that the programme has been successful, everybody is happy.
What are the criteria for selecting the women inaugurated today?
Yes, the criteria for fixing political coordinators and state executives is the grass root machineries, they are of the grass root, they are mobilizers, they are progressives, that have decided to support the Lagos State Government. So these are the criteria / purpose so we want to keep a tempo of women because with women we will have a lot of population and we want women to mobilise more, we don’t want to start at the end, we want to start now and to continue building and that is why, we fixed in grass root mobilisers as coordinators.
What is your advice to them, to prevent them from relenting?
Yes, the advice to the women that have been inaugurated today and presented officially is they should not relent, and they shouldn’t be weary because of the political tempo. By the special grace of God, women are highly empowered in the government of the president and I know it will get to the Southeast Women, it will also get to us, we are working, they should not relent, they should continue what they are doing. The government is working, the state and federal are working, and I know soon, and very soon, South East Women in Politics will also be empowered to be part of the system.
You are not the only person that made today’s programme remarkable, what role did President of Ohanaeze Lagos State, Chief Solomon Ogbonna Aguene and Chief Solomon Chukwu (Solochuks ) play towards the huge success?
Today, the president of Ohanaeze Lagos State, Chief Aguene has shown an exemplary leadership as a Pillar to ensure that the women are empowered, the women are known, the women have the backing of the leaders, kudos to him, and also to my chairman, High Chief Solomon Chukwu, he has been supporting and they are great Pillars for women, I will say God will continue to bless them in Jesus Christ.
We cannot talk Politics in Lagos state without recognizing Sanwo-Olu, how do you rate his performance?
Ah! Mr. Jide Sanwo-Olu, a political giant that has made strides in Lagos state. Sanwo-Olu has been a man for the succor, a man for the grass root, a man for the development, a man making sure that the party is moving forward. So he is a great man. He is doing well; we gave him an assuring vote, for his re-election and you know he is going to do much more. So, Sanwo- Olu Kudos.
Are you having another gathering after today?
Yes, we are going to kick start our political tour, we are going to four local governments where we are going to present the Pillars and all supporters of APC and ensure that our Igbo women are brought together. We are touring, wait for us in your local government, you will see Ohanaeze Political Forum moving, so we are going to tour, and we are going to do empowerment, we have partners, we are already empowered with Lagos state and soon it is going to be a massive project.
Adding more colours to what happened today is the marking of birthday by President of Ohanaeze Ndi Igbo Lagos State, what is your wish for him?
In fact, today is a remarkable day for us, because it’s today that our president added another year, and it’s a very special occasion that gives us aura of enjoyment, we want to say congratulations to him, we wish our president long life and prosperity. More money in his pocket, in fact, he will continue to move from grace to grace in Jesus Christ name.