Kaduna women hail El-Rufai over female deputy, demand 40% affirmative action

From: Femi Oyelola, Kaduna

Groups of Kaduna women under the Women Mentoring and Leadership Initiative (WAMFOI), on Monday, lauded the Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai for choosing a woman as his deputy in the recently concluded election.
The women, who are members of different political parties, market associations and non-governmental organisations, also called on the governor to consider 40 percent affirmative action in his planned cabinet as he promised during campaign.
Addressing newsmen in Kaduna, a former member of House of Representatives and President of WANFOI, Hon Florence D. Aya, said, her organisation would continue to support government in nurturing and mentoring women for political and leadership participation.
Florence, who was also a former Chief Whip of Kaduna State House of Assembly said, unlike before, when women don’t support their fellow women in elections, they have beginning to see reasons to do that due to awareness by concerned women groups.
According to her, “FAMWOI congratulates Governor El-Rufai and most importantly, for being gender sensitive in chosen a woman as a running mate to serve as deputy governor.
“We also commend your effort at ensuring that, women played vital roles in the outgoing dispensation by appointing them as commissioners of some key ministries before the dissolution of the state cabinet.
“However, as a gender sensitive governor, we urge you to keep your promise of affirmative action on 40 percent women and people living with disabilities, especially, by giving appointment to women who did well but lost elections.
Sharing her personal experience, Comr Cecelia Musa, who contested the position of Chairmanship of Jema’a local government Council of Kaduna State under the platform of All Progressives Congress (APC) said, time has come for political parties to give women certain percentage of representation both within the party and elective and appointive positions.