By Nsan Ndoma-Neji, Calabar

A group of women operating in Nigeria under the umbrella of Mothers on Planet Earth International Organisation on Friday in Calabar advocated for women inclusion in the political process of Cross River State or they would withdraw their support from the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, governorship candidate.

Seeking women inclusiveness in every political process in the country, the group charged the Cross River State PDP governorship candidate, Sanator Sandy Ojang Onor, to pick a woman as his deputy governorship candidate ahead of the 2023 general elections if he wants women support.

The group, operating in collaboration with Wopin and Miku, decried women exclusion from all the political exercises, saying that women and youths have been so marginalized in leadership processes,

They called on Senator Onor, the PDP gubernatorial candidate in Cross River State, not to take any one as his deputy but pick a lady to deputize him if he so desires women’s support in the forthcoming gubernatorial elections scheduled for next year.

The group emphasized that it is only when their voice is represented in the PDP candidate’s administration that he would be seen to be credible and seen to be accepted by all despite the differences that exist in religion and language.

At the campaign headquarters of Sandy Onor’s campaign organisation in Marian Street, Calabar, a mammoth crowd, led by Caterpillar Movement, and a former member of the Cross River State House of Assembly for Etung state constituency, Hon. Innocent Okey, and received by the Director General, DG, Caterpillar Movement, Cecil Ita, President, Planet Earth, South South zonal Director, Women for Peace in Nigeria, Dr. Queen Eunice Okey, lamented what she said that the entire women group described as marginalization of women in leadership positions in public space, saying, “Women are not usually involved in issues of governance in Nigeria.

She blamed the men for ursupation of power and allowing women to always follow while the men took the lead in leadership positions.

She said, “This is why there is need to carry along women and youths in leadership,” decrying the neglect of women in Nigeria’s political system.

Also stressing on the issue, the founder and president, Women for Peace in Nigeria, Dr. Marriam Abdulahi, stated, “Bone to bone is not ideal, but when you make it bone to flesh, the equation becomes balanced.”

Also speaking, Okey, who stressed on the need for women to be carried along, stated that with women, victory is assured for Onor.

He said, “We are here in solidarity for the PDP governorship candidate Professor Sandy Ojang Onor, whom we feel is the only man with requisite capacity to fix the economy of the state.

“Professor Onor is the only one who can bring back the lost glory of Cross River State. Winning to us is a technique.

“For that to happen, women have to be carried along. Before you talk of APC, there was PDP. We don’t fear faces but content. We in the PDP carry the content.”

In his reaction, the DG, Caterpillar Movement, Ita, who spoke on behalf of Senator Onor assured the group of his principal’s willingness to heed to the message brought by the women group.

He said, “I shall relay every iota of your message sent through me to my principal. I trust my boss, none of this piece of information would be given to the dogs. He would certainly heed.”

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