2015: Why we need a female governor in Abia
ABy Balarabe Alkassim
group called Bauchi Youth Political Awareness (BYPA) has requested for justice over alleged misconduct during the last ward, local government and state congresses conducted by the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Bauchi State.
The group stated that several petitions over the electoral malpractices were sent to the national headquarters of the party in order to draw their attention to the injustice during the congresses.
A press statement signed by the coordinator of the BYPA, Saminu Ahmed Lee, said if serious action was not taken to address the Bauchi crises by the party leadership, the hope of the APC to win the upcoming elections might be jeopardized.
The group alleged that state congress committee executives appointed contestants for several posts, adding that the award of the contract for the printing and supply of the ballots papers to one of the aspirants during the state congress compromised the integrity of the process and created suspicion.
The group called on the national leaders of the party to verify the claims and ensure justice was done to the aggrieved aspirants.
ABy Abbas Jimoh
female governor is now needed than ever before in Abia State due to the failure of successive governments run by males to appropriately address the socio-economic challenges facing the state, the Abia Solidarity Group for Democracy (ASGD) has said.
National Coordinator of the group Engr. Peter Elema told reporters yesterday in Abuja that it was necessary for Governor Theodore Orji to concentrate on delivering dividends of democracy instead of focusing on the zoning arrangement for his successor at the detriment of the state’s development.
“As part of our avowed commitment to guide and consolidate democracy and ensure adequate development in our state, we wish to reiterate our firm resolves to ensure the enthronement of a responsible leadership in the state in the next dispensation.
“We therefore advocate for a woman governor as a positive alternative to the persistent leadership failure by our men folk who seem to be busier fending for their families and cronies at the expense of the people of Abia state. While we also encourage more women to participate, we particularly wish to commend the guts of Senator Nkechi Nwaogu for declaring her interest to contest for governor in the state under the PDP and wish to enjoin all Abia citizens, home and in diaspora, to support her quest,” Elema said.
He said the zoning arrangement was a deliberate attempt to exclude the likes of Senator Nwaogu from participating at the PDP’s primaries despite her quality representation of the Abia Central in the Senate.
He said the two-time senator had fought for economic and social justice through her positions as the former Chairman Senate Committee on Banking, Insurance and other Financial Institutions and the current Chairman, Senate Committee on Gas Resources.