By Nsan Ndoma-Neji, Calabar
In her effort to put the house in order and move the women wing of the All Progressives Congress, APC, forward, the newly elected National Women Leader of the ruling APC, Dr Betta Edu, has pledged to work in one accord with the former Director General, Women Development Centre, WDC, Barr. Mary Ekpere, so as to raise the party to higher heights.
Edu made the pledge during a telephone conversation with our reporter in Calabar yesterday.
The newly elected APC Women Leader, who spoke shortly after the former former DG, WDC, Ekpere, played host to her after the convention, promising to run an open door policy where every woman would be carried along, nothwitstnding thier ages, ethic/religious background, and cultural affinity.
Edu, who is a former Commissioner for Health in Cross River State, commended Ekpere and other great Nigerian women leaders for finding her worthy of the job, promising not to betray the confidence reposed in her.
She said, “Of course to move the women wing of the party forward, you all know that a tree cannot make a forest, except other trees are available. Together we will take the party to it’s destination. Alone, I go no where.
“Let me sincerely congratulate all the Nigeria women who stood by me to the extent that some stepped down to pave way for my emergence.
“I shall do everything within my reach to ensure that every woman is carried along.
“Let me also thank another party stakeholder in Cross River State, High Chief Higgins Peters and other men of integrity for all the support.”
In her remarks, the former DG WDC lauded Edu for the stride, promising to work with Edu towards the development of the party.
Ekpere, who was a top contender for the position of APC National Women Leader at the national convention, but withdrew from the race in the interest of the party, said, “As a party person, interest of the party is bigger than my personal interest. We will work together, to take the party to greater heights.”
Speaking on the issue, a stalwart of the APC, Comrade Ebruku John Friday, who accompanied a major political stakeholder and chieftain of the APC in the state, High Chief Peters to the get together party in Abuja, while narrating the incident to our reporter in Calabar, said, “After Dr Edu arrived the venue of the dinner in company of High Chief Higgins Peters, they met Barr Ekpere-Ita and held closed door session together, where they discussed issues of mutual benefits geared towards strengthening their bonds and the unity of women in Cross River State in particular and Nigeria at large.
He said, “Barr. Ekpere-Etta used the event to formally congratulate her sister, Dr Betta Edu, on her victory as the APC National Women Leader.”
