By Wilson Adekumola
The Vice President-elect, Kashim Shettima, has promised that the incoming administration of Asiwaju Bola Tinubu where he will be playing the roles of a Vice will observe the rule of law and gender-friendly.
According to the News Agency of Nigera, Mr Shettima made this promise on Saturday in Abuja at the reading session of a book written by a former Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority,, Hadiza Usman.
The title of the book is ‘Stepping on Toes, My Odyssey at the Nigerian Ports Authority’.
While hailing the author of the book, Shettima said that their administration will focus on gender issues.
He said, “She is an iron lady, I don’t think I have the courage to write such a book. Be that as it may, I am here in solidarity with our sister. We need to show empathy and support for our women.
“There is a popular saying among the people of Ghana that if you educate a man, you have educated an individual, if you educate a woman, you have educated a nation.
“Be rest assured that the incoming administration of Asiwaju Bola Tinubu will be gender-friendly.
“He was the first governor to appoint a female as his deputy; he is also the first person to appoint a woman as a Chief Judge of a state.”
He stated further that, “Be rest assured that we will observe the rule of law.”
The Vice President-elect also urged Nigerians to cultivate a sound reading culture.
Shettima said, “We need to read to know what is happening in the world, our reading culture in this part of the world is poor, people hardly read.
“At times, I buy books just to show solidarity with authors. I spend up to N500,000 at once just in solidarity with authors, I buy books and share them with friends and family members.
“People find it easy to spend a fortune to buy Apple wristwatches and so on but hardly do we buy books. We may not be authorities on everything but we should be knowledgeable about everything.”
Former Attorney-General of the Federation, Mohammed Adoke, also praised the author for doing a great job by sharing her side of the story.
Mr Adoke stressed that he could give an account of his own agony as he was also a victim of the same circumstances.
The author, Ms Usman had earlier explained her experience with the former minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, and other issues while heading the ports as the first woman to occupy that position.
She stated further that she decided to tell the story instead of keeping quite and be adjuged as the person who looted NPA.
“When you call out big people that have networks, automatically know that you will always come under verbal attacks everywhere.
“So, I decided that I had to tell that story rather than keep quiet and be fingered as the person who looted the NPA.
“I felt it was important that I put the records straight in the public space. I had to put this out there to encourage others; I love to read memoirs across the board.”
Source: NAN
