The presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, has promised to give 40 per cent of his cabinet positions to women and youths if elected President in the 2023 general elections.
While emphasising the importance of women and youths in national development, he raised concern over the high cost of living in the country, blaming it on the failure of the Federal Government-led All Progressives Congress to effectively manage the nation’s economy.
Atiku, represented by a former chairman of the Senate Committee on the Federal Capital Territory and spokesman of his campaign organisation, Dino Melaye, expressed the view during the inauguration of the Atiku-Okowa Vanguard Nigeria on Saturday in Abuja.
At the event, the wife of the PDP presidential candidate, Titi Abubakar, appealed to Nigerian women and youths for support, saying her husband is well prepared to rescue the nation and bring it back to working ways.
“If my husband is elected, I will do more for the Nigerian children and women. Atiku has promised women and youths 40 per cent in the cabinet; he is a man of his word and he will do it but it is you alone that can make it happen.”
“I am appealing to you, our women and youths not to sell your conscience and your tomorrow but rather stand for the right thing, and your tomorrow will be better because Atiku will bring back Nigeria’s lost glory,” she stated.
The ceremony was attended by dignitaries including the wife of a former President of the Senate, Mrs Helen Mark, and the Director of Support Groups, Atiku Campaign Organisation, Fabiyi Oladimeji.
Melaye said, “While women are asking for 35 per cent, Atiku is offering 40 per cent and let me assure you that this will be implemented to the letter when we come on board.
“I used to fly economy from Abuja to Lagos for N18,000 but it’s now over N100,000. We used to buy Diesel at N150 per litre but now it is N800 per litre; a dollar used to exchange for N210 and now it’s N700 and still rising.
“Bola Tinubu, Peter Obi and others are prepared to be President but Atiku is adequately prepared for the task of rescuing, uniting and rebuilding the nation.
“Obi is an upcoming President, his future is bright and age is on his side, but we need a father figure who can unite the country.”
The chairman on the occasion and former Senate President, Anyim Pius Anyim, represented by the Ebonyi State PDP governorship candidate, Obinna Ogba, said political awareness had escalated with the advent of social media.
The keynote Speaker at the event and National Secretary of PDP, Samuel Anyanwu, said, “The attendance here today is a clear testimony that our presidential candidate is very popular and accepted by a majority of Nigerians.
“Nigerians are looking up to the PDP for the immediate rescue from the lacklustre leadership of the APC and sued for collective action of Nigerians to ensure that the masses of the country are liberated.
“This group is therefore a welcoming effort in our quest to rescue and rebuild Nigeria from the maladministration of the APC,” Anyanwu stated.
The National President of the group, Oby Nwaogu, said the group first debuted in 2018 and was revalidated in 2022 to educate and inform Nigerians about the sterling leadership qualities of Atiku and his running mate, Ifeanyi Okowa.
