Convener of the group and former secretary to the Nasarawa State Government, Dr. Zainab Ahmed, said the event was aimed at sensitizing women ahead of the scheduled 2023 general elections.
The Nasara Women for APC, has organised a one-day sensitisation programme for women across the Nasarawa North senatorial district, comprising Akwanga, Wamba and Nasarawa Eggon local government areas.
The sensitisation programme held at the Mbako Hall, in Akwanga, headquarters of Akwanga Local Government Area, on Tuesday.
Convener of the group and former secretary to the Nasarawa State Government, Dr. Zainab Ahmed, said the event was aimed at sensitizing women ahead of the scheduled 2023 general elections.
According to Dr. Ahmed, it has become necessary for women to take up the gauntlet and to mobilise fellow women towards educating and enlightening them towards the successful conduct of the 2023 general elections.
She particularly emphasized on the need for women to protect their voters cards from desperate politicians who may attempt to disenfranchised them.
She said this has even become necessary considering the crisis the engulfed the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the wake of the party’s primary elections, even as she noted that, the use of technology in the election makes it imperative for women to be mobilized to go out and vote.
Dr. Zainab Ahmed said, alongside with other women leaders across the state, she could not afford to fold her arms while women are relegated to the background politically, mostly as a result of their lukewarm attitude.
She disclosed that even the Nasara Women for APC was founded barely two months ago, the group has since constituted its structure down to the 147 electoral wards of the state.
“The Nasara Women for APC has a state coordinator, three zonal coordinators, as well as 147 coordinators across the 147 electoral wards of the state,” she stated.
Dr. Ahmed thanked the Nasarawa North coordinator of the group, Hajiya Rabi Musa Abdullahi, for her prompt response and for mobilising women who turned up in their numbers to attend the sensitisation programme.
In a remarks, state Chairman of the APC, Hon John Mamman, appreciated the women for coming together to support the party by sensitizing women on their electoral rights.
Represented at the event by the state Secretary of the party, Hon Aliyu Bello, the APC chairman, noted that a major challenge in the country’s democracy is the ignorance of the electoral process, especially amongst women.
He described the programme as timely, especially with the 2023 general elections is approaching, when unscrupulous politicians will employ strategies to confuse the voters.
“The efforts by the group is commendable and worthy of support. The sensitisation is not only about the APC but for the women to understand how to appreciate the dividends of democracy,” he said.
The APC chairman said Nasarawa State Governor, Engineer Abdullahi Sule, deserves a second term in office because of his tireless efforts towards sustaining and maintaining peace in the state.
He pointed out that with women always at the receiving end of communal crisis, women in Nasarawa State have no choice than to vote for Engineer Sule again, in order to continue to enjoy the prevailing peace.
He equally called on the women to appreciate all the development strides of the Governor, particularly his employment generation drive, which has paved the way for their children to be employed as demonstrated by the recent employment drive of the state government.
Hon Mamman announced a donation of two hundred thousand nair to support the group.
In a goodwill message, Akwanga Local Government Chairman, Hon Safiyanu Isa Andaha, said the Nasarawa North zone deserves and award for effectively mobilizing such large number of women to attend the event.
Hon Andaha said the high turn out by women is but a demonstration of the love the people have for both the APC and Engineer Sule who his their son.
The council chairman used the opportunity of the event to call on all those who felt aggrieved following the outcome of party’s primary elections, to forgive and forget, with a view to uniting the part.
He called on the people of the area to support the APC and ensure they work to deliver the party across all elective positions in the coming 2023 general elections.
On his part, royal father of the day, the Chun Mada, HRH Samson Gamu Yare, appreciated the women, particularly the convener for the initiative.
According to the Chun Mada, the Nasarawa North senatorial district has no option than to support Engineer Sule’s second term bid.
The royal father commended the women for their zeal and commitment to actively participate in politics.
The Chun Mada urged women to shun politicians who will recruit their children as political thugs ahead of the coming 2023 general elections.
In a welcome address, Nasarawa North Coordinator for Nasara Women for APC, Hajiya Rabi Musa Abdullahi, expressed hope that the event will afford women the opportunity to rob minds and exchange ideas on the way forward for the APC, particularly for the women of under the platform of the party.
The Nasarawa State First Lady, Hajiya Sillifat Abdullahi A. Sule, was represented at the event by her Chief Protocol Officer, Hajiya Hauwa A. Musa, where he called on the women to mobilise and to support the second term bid of her husband, as well as all other candidates of the party.
In a special address, Nasarawa State Governor, Engineer Abdullahi Sule, appreciated the women for coming together to support the APC.
Engineer Sule, who was represented at the event by his Senior Special Assistant on Women Affairs, Hon Elsie Monday, called on APC women in the state to endeavour to spread the gospel of the party across the length and breadth of the state.
