The wife of the governor of Osun state and Chairman, Southern Governors Wives’ Forum, Mrs Kafayat Oyetola has urged all relevant stakeholders in the fight against the menace of drug abuse to be alert to their responsibilities.
Mrs Oyetola who commended the commitment of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in leading a nationwide crusade in this regard equally announced the readiness of the Southern Governors Wives Forum under her leadership not to leave any stone unturned to sensitize the public on all inherent dangers associated with drug abuse.
Mrs Oyetola stated this in Benin,the Edo state capital during a meeting of the Southern Governors wives forum meeting hosted by the first lady of Edo state, Mrs Betsy Obaseki.
The meeting which held at the Edo State Government House, Benin City, had in attendance all the first ladies drawn from the Southern states of Edo ,Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Abia, Ogun, Ekiti, Delta, Lagos and Oyo with the Osun state first lady ,Mrs Kafayat Oyetola as the Chairman .
In her remarks ,Mrs Oyetola expressed total displeasure against the menace of drug abuse which she noted has done great havoc to people especially ,the youths , who are in most cases caught in the web of drug abuses .
The Osun first lady as a mother and chairman of Southern Governors Wives forum challenged her colleagues from other states to go all out in their different states to champion the crusade of giving a total knock to the menace of drug abuse and other social vices prevalent in the society.
She added that it is a collective responsibility of all and sundry to rise up to the many challenges posed by the dangers of drug abuse .
While noting that it is not and should not be limited to the Southern states alone ,Mrs Oyetola used the occasion to commend her fellow First ladies throughout Nigeria, who ,in spite of their differences in political parties buried political sentiments but instead choses to embark on aggressive programmes and campaigns against drug abuse as well as other programs like
the eradication of Gender based Violence , child trafficking , under aged marriage, education and empowerment programmes among others which have yielded positive results with the support of the Nigerian Governors Forum (NGF)
Though a strictly female affairs,Mrs Oyetola did not forget to seize the opportunity to laud the governor of Edo state, Mr Godwin Obaseki for the massive transformation in all sectors which his administration has given to the people of Edo state since he became the governor.
Speaking during the meeting, the wife of Ekiti state governor who is also the President, Nigerian Governors’ wives’ Forum ,
Erelu Bisi Fayemi , thanked the Governor of Edo state Mr Godwin Obaseki and his wife,Betsy ,for the warm reception accorded the Forum in the state .
Erelu Fayemi particularly appreciated the Obaseki led administration for its total support to fight the menace of Gender Based Violence to a stand still in Edo state .
She urged other states in the federation to emulate the Edo example by providing the needed political will to exterminate Gender Based Violence and other anti social behaviors in the society.
Earlier In her speech, the host first lady, Mrs. Betsy Obaseki, appreciated the Nigeria Governors Wives Forum for showing the interest and capacity backed with all the required wherewithal to promote unity in the country.
Addressing the Forum while welcoming them , Governor of Edo State, Mr. Godwin Obaseki stated that his government will continue to demonstrate the political will to support and protect young boys and girls against violences of all kinds with a declaration to also continue to support the efforts and agenda of the Nigeria Governors Wives Forum.
Mr Obaseki added that protection of rights of all citizens is central to his administration through which he noted his government has committed lots of both human and material resources.
The governor , however, appealed to members of the Forum on the need to continue to support all efforts at checking Gender Based Violence and other vices in the country.
