The Peoples Democratic Party
(PDP) Presidential Candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has pledged to give women a
strong representation in his government, if elected in 2019.
Abubakar made the pledge during
an interactive session with Nigerian Women on Wednesday in Abuja.
The former Vice President said
that he decided to have his first interaction with women because the PDP had
never refused to advance or protect the interest of women.
“This is the first interactive
session we are having with any group and this is to underline the importance of
women as far as our party is concerned.
“Since you are about 50 per cent
of our population, our representatives at all levels must reflect this
population.
“Some will argue that gender
equality is a deal that cannot be achieved overnight, I disagree.
“We can achieve it. The PDP
almost achieved it until the government of the All Progressives Congress (APC)
took over power.
“I stand before you here today
and I want you to hold me accountable. I will commit to a strong representation
of women in our PDP government and also recall that when I was the Vice
President, I demonstrated this belief.
“I brought some of the brightest
women into our government. Therefore, gender should not be a barrier.
“In terms of quantity and quality,
women will play a lead role in our administration,” Abubakar said.
Abubakar, while answering
questions, promised to put in place a financial programme targeted at
empowering women to tackle poverty as well as establish a sustainable financial
inclusion system that would address discrimination against women.
“For those of you who might have
come from the same state with me, some years ago, I decided to set up a
microfinance bank.
“I brought management experts
from Bangladesh because Bangladesh is the best country in the management of
micro finance.
“I gave them instructions to make
sure that 80 per cent of the loans go to women and today that bank is one of
the best micro finance banks in the country.
“We have moved out more than 45,
000 people out of poverty in my area. If you want to fight poverty, empower
women.
“I am not talking politics, I am
sentimentally and emotionally attached to womanhood,” he stated.
Abubakar also pledged to improve
the country’s transportation system by improving the infrastructure including
good roads, railway and airport to reduce accidents
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