Men, women to share positions equally if PDP wins, says Secondus
PEOPLES Democratic Party ( PDP), yesterday, promised that positions would be shared equally between men and women if it wins the 2023 presidential election.
National Chairman the party, Uche Secondus, who made the promise during inauguration of PDP Action Women Committee, also hinted that the party would continue to take issues affecting women ver y seriously.
PDP women had earlier lamented abandonment of the 35 percent affirmative action. They said that in spite of promises that the party would grant it to them, the leadership has not done so. Leader of the PDP National Woman, Hajia Mar yam Waziri, said: “We all agreed to be part of this committee during our summit last month. And this committee will serve as a lobby and mobilization committee towards the 2023 general elections.
“Women are all cr ying about their 35 percent affir - mative action. And during our last National W orking Committee ( NWC) meeting, before the commencement of congresses, I reminded the leadership of the party about the promise the party made to women during our 87th National Executive Committee ( NEC) meeting.
“Immediately I mentioned it, the national secretary was asked to do a memo and send to all state chapters, so that women can be given their 35 per cent affirmative action.
“But, unfortunately, three zones have concluded their congresses, still, the story remains the same. We still have only women leader instead of us to have, at least, four women in the zonal working committee. I have sent statement to all the women groups across the country, reminding them to all come out for their right.”
In his response, Secondus said: “The 35 per cent is already taken, but we believe that we must drive it to logical conclusion. We are also setting new guidelines that will give youths and women free forms and also give them some form of preference.
“We believe that if PDP form government in 2023, it will be 50- 50 between men and women because women have what is needed for national development.”
AMASKED witness, yesterday, gave detailed account of the robbery in Zenith Bank, Offa, Kwara State, on April 5, 2018. He spoke before a Kwara State High Court in Ilorin.
The suspects in the bank robbery – Ayoade Akinnibosun, Ibikunle Ogunleye, Adeola Abraham, Azeez Salawu and Niyi Ogundiran – were all present in the court.
Codenamed AA, the 8th prosecution witness, who said he was the chief security officer in the bank on the day of the robbery, narrated how the suspects stormed the bank, scared people away, including the four police officers attached to the bank.
He said that the hoodlums carted away many phones and accessories, including his, and helped people to withdraw money from the Automated Teller Machine ( ATM) which they took away.
The sad incident, according to him, happened about 4: 45p. m. when most staff of the bank had left.
“I was at my working place ( Zenith Bank) on April 5, 2018 in Offa. At that time, I was the chief security officer. Around 4: 45p. m., I was inside the banking hall when I heard gunshots and I went to the door to check what was happening.
“When the gunshots became intense, I took cover alongside a woman and her child within the banking hall. The robbers came in through the main entrance. At that time, most staff had left, except three senior staff and security guards. But everyone escaped, leaving the woman and I behind. The robbers opened fire on the door of the place we were hiding. Some bullets hit my hands, but the robbers couldn’t gain entrance because I had bolted the door from behind,” he narrated.
Confirming that five policemen on duty, including Isa Monday, were killed, AA said he did not see the face of any of the armed robbers.
Earlier, the trial Judge, Haleeman Salman, had ruled in favour of an application made orally by the prosecution counsel, Rotimi Jacobs ( SAN) to allow PW8 give evidence wearing a mask to protect his identity, despite opposition from the defence counsel, Mathias Emeribe.