The Woman leaders of the All Progressives Congress(APC), have made a case for the girl child rights especially in the areas of education and inclusiveness, in the in-coming government of President -Elect, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari.
Speaking when the women paid a visit to Buhari in Abuja Wednesday, the party’s Woman leader, Hajia Ramatu Ali, said,”We are happy to say that after 16 years of being in the opposition, crying for succour, crying for change, at last, it is here.
“As mothers of this nation, our joy knew no bound. We campaigned and convinced the women of this nation that this is the only way forward, to bring succour to the down trodden and sincerely cater for our needs. We believe in you because of your integrity and the epitome of sincerity and good governance who will deliver us from maadministration”.
She added that “We have made promises across the states to Nigerian women that if you are elected, serious issues of women, girls child right, education and and so many others such as inclusiveness will be looked into. We had challenges though because they were afraid that the women will not be carried along. Beside that, everybody was confident that insurgency will be brought to an end and that every other thing will be put in place, the restoration of our family values and the Nigerian dignity both home and abroad.
“Our prayer sir is that we will not be put to shame and we believe that it is only when included in the helm of affairs that we will be able to carry out some of these promises because he who wear the shoe knows where it pinches most.
“We have a transition committee that was constituted to carry out so many activities leading to the inauguration of the new government. But from the formation of the committees, the women leaders of this great party that worked hard to make sure that the change come to pass were not considered. None of the across the state and even at the national level were considered to be included in the committees.
“Even though we are happy, they were not even consulted, even though many of the women were eligible. Some of the women appointed are women that we don’t know so well and we don’t even hear their names and some of them were even opposed to our project GMB, but today, they are most favored. Some of us have certificates and decided to keep the, aside and work for this change. We even had calls from the ruling party, but refused to go because we believe in this course and believed in you.
“But those women dine and wine with the government for 16 years and suddenly, they are now the technocrats. If you check their papers, you discover that they are not even better, but because they believe in the corruption.
“We know that these records will come to you and as a father, when they come to you, we believe that you will look at the with compassion and you will have us at heart that women there are believe in you and stood by you.
“We are praying for your and will never rest until you deliver this nation from the decadence we found ourselves and from that time, women shall cry no more. Issues concerning the girl child, women’s right will be addressed and those policies in place shall be implemented, while those not in place will be appropriated. During your days you insisted that women be carried along in places of representation”
Responding, Gen. Buhari said “I have listened to the marathon speech by the National Women Leader.i believe that the success of the APC will be associated with her. I am happy that you recalled that the first opportunity I had to lead this country under a different system, there was a policy by the federal government that at every level of government, there must be at least one woman in government. I have certainly taken into account the importance of women in the society.
“Beside, I have to thank you very much for your votes. The finger print on the card reader did not show whether majority of the votes were from ladies or from gentlemen. But I know that there are many supporters among the women group all over the country.
Looking at the human aspect, if you watch the people coming from Sambissa forest under the Boko Haram and others that escaped, you will discover that they are women and children and the women are left to take care of the children.
“The men have either been killed or have escaped. So, really, government attention in looking after women and children will have to be practical because they have been left with the responsibility of bringing up the children at the critical stage of their live. If they lack the parental care, they lack the education, then, they are going to be a liability to the nation because they will grow up without strong religious affiliation which is very important for the society. If they are educated, their ambition to have a decent life will be realised. This will again affect the security of the nation and this is our number one problem.
“I have heard the complains of the Women leader that they were not adequately represented in the transition committee. Noted. But I believe that there are a couple of women in the committees. I don’t know them personally and I did not ask them to be party based. I think they are technocrats in their various field. This was something that was done in a hurry and somebody had to look at the papers and you will be surprised that those who recommended them have never met some of them in person. That is how impartial we have tried to be. So please don’t start blaming me for marginalizing you because I have not yet arrived until I am sworn in”