Women in Cross River state have demanded 50% inclusiveness in the next government. The women in the state said it would be important to have many women from the state as commissioners and ministers. The demand was made by the first lady of Cross River state on behalf of the women.
Some women in Cross Rivers state have demanded 50% affirmative action from the next government at all levels across states in Nigeria.
The women who made their demand during the visit of Jennifer Douglas-Abubakar, the wife of the presidential candidate for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar to Cross River state.
In continuation of Atiku’s wife’s series of town hall meeting across states in Nigeria, the first lady of Cross River state Linda Ayade said, although the women would pull out 50% of the total votes, it would be necessary that they get 50% inclusiveness when the government is formed.
Linda who spoke on behalf of the women in the state said it would be important to have many women from the state as commissioners and ministers.
“When we say this state is for PDP 100%, be assured that more than 50% of them are women. We are warriors and we want to assure you that we shall go out there and win the trophy,” Linda said.
“In Cross River, no woman no vote. We shall prove to Nigerians that Cross River state has political weight.
“As we pull our weight and pull 50% in Cross River, we also demand that in this state, the women affirmative be increased to 50%.
“We are going to pull 50%. We’ll contribute 50%, we’ll get 50%. We want some of you here to become commissioners, political office holders,” she added.
In her reaction, Jennifer said the programs and policies mapped out for Nigerian women by her husband would not be possible if the women did not mobilise massively for his victory.
“Atiku will not do anything for you if you do not vote for him to get to Aso Rock. You have to work hard for him to be voted into office. Go and collect your PVCs.
“It is going to be a defining election. It is done. When the sun rises tomorrow, we will send Atiku to Aso Rock,” Jennifer said. Jennifer who was accompanied by Margaret Obi, wife of the PDP vice presidential candidate, told the crowd that, the Atiku and Obi team had a better policy on job creation, restructuring, education and other areas of concern in the country.
Also Senator Florence Ita-Giwa, former special adviser to President Olusegun Obasanjo on National Assembly matters said she had to return to PDP for the sake of Atiku Abubakar.
“I served Atiku as Adviser for 4 years. Even me as Adviser, I can make a good President, not to talk of a man who works 24 hours.
“We want human being to be president, not somebody who is not reachable or can not communicate,” Ita-Giwa said. In his remark, the governor of the state Ben Ayade assured Mrs. Abubakar of total support for the PDP candidates in the forthcoming elections. He also urged women in the state to, “come out on Friday to receive Alhaji Atiku Abubakar”, who will be visiting the state for presidential campaign.
Mrs. Abubakar also visited the Obong of Calabar’s palace, where the entire traditional council gave blessings to the aspiration of her husband.Meanwhile, LEGIT.NG previously reported that Atiku had said he would end the lingering strike by university lecturers in the country, from his first day at work. Atiku made the pledge on Sunday evening at the Silverbird Man of the Year event which took place in Lagos. Legit.ng gathers that the former vice president referred to the ongoing ASUU strike as “disgraceful”; and hence, will receive his first attention as president if voted into office in the February 16 presidential election.