The joint members of the defunct APC Women Campaign Council have demanded for greater representation of women in President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s appointments.
The group, comprising of pivotal persons who contributed to the President’s emergence in the 2023 presidential election, expressed disappointment and sadness for being ignored in recent appointments.
The spokesperson, Elizabeth Ofuani Otunbalogun, highlighted the significant role women played in the President’s victory, citing the 8.8 million votes from women that contributed to his win.
Despite this, the group noted that only 12% of appointments made by the President since May 2023 have been women, falling short of the 35% goal promised in his inaugural speech.
The group demanded that the President correct this anomaly by appointing more women to fill the 18% deficit and ensure greater gender inclusivity in future appointments.
They emphasized that women from the defunct APC Women Campaign Council have the requisite expertise to contribute to national development.
“We cannot allow any abandonment of these women. These class of Nigerians availed themselves through various groups and associations to galvanise the support for the actualisation of President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Vice President Kashim Shettima’s aspirations, which today has come to fruition by the blessings of the Almighty God.
“Why must these women not be appointed? We worked for the APC, we went all out for the party and the presidential candidate. What is our sin? How did we do wrong to warrant this level of being ignored.
“We are asking these questions because our research team has made very scary findings on the level of abandonment suffered by the members of the defunct APC woman campaign council.
“After enjoying the support of the defunct APC woman campaign council under the auspices of Tinubu/Shettima APC woman campaign it is disheartening to note that one year and four months down the line, the President and the Party is carrying on as if the people who were pivotal in retaining the party in Power who provided electoral victory for our President and his Vice amount to nothing.
“The women from various ethnic nationalities cutting across all divides ensured that by the power of their thumb prints, the President is today, overseeing the affairs of the nation and ably supported by the Vice President.
“However, it appears that the President has been hijacked by people who do not appreciate the role of defunct APC woman campaign council in presenting the visionary of renewed Hope Agenda.
“Our women who are across the country are members of over 33, 000 groups. We are not happy with the way things are going. Especially as Baba has taken action that seemingly jeopardizes inclusivity.
“We have to cry out. The defunct APC woman campaign council has the requisite expertise in our women and in all fields, they abound amongst our women to salvage this country, Mr. President, access them, appoint and deploy them for national benefit.