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We Don’t Want Inclusion For Women In Governance – Patience Jonathan, Douye Diri Clash.
Former First Lady of Nigeria, Patience Jonathan, has urged lawmakers to provide legislative backing for the 35 percent affirmative action for women in governance.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
She made the call during the Pan Niger Delta Forum Women Conference in Yenagoa, responding to Bayelsa State Governor Douye Diri’s remarks that women should not receive special treatment in politics.
Governor Diri had advocated for the full inclusion of women in political processes rather than the creation of special seats. He said,
“I met with the Deputy British High Commissioner during her visit to Bayelsa last week, and we discussed women’s participation in politics. She supports the idea of special seats in the National Assembly as a temporary measure, which I partially agree with, but I largely believe it is unnecessary.
“The goal is not to treat our women as second-class citizens. In countries like Britain and the United States, women have no special seats—they participate fully in politics, and nobody talks about them being disadvantaged. Nigeria can adopt a similar system.
“Our women are intelligent, active in politics, and successful across professions. They serve as professors, doctors, engineers, and lawyers, even in the Niger Delta. My own daughter recently earned a Ph.D. in law at age 26. Women must demand their freedom and refuse second-class treatment.
“In Bayelsa, I have worked to include more women in governance at the state executive level and in the House of Assembly. In 2023, I expected five women to succeed in elections, but only two did. I understand the challenges, including sometimes women competing against each other. My message to Niger Delta women is that I will always support and encourage you.”
However, Mrs. Jonathan emphasized that there must be a law mandating special seats for women to ensure lasting inclusion.
She stated, “Inclusion alone is insufficient—it may appear as if the government is doing women a favour. Any administration could reverse it tomorrow. That is why the Special Seats Bill, currently before the National Assembly, is critical.
“In developed countries, systems that guarantee women’s participation work smoothly. In Nigeria, we must often negotiate at roundtable discussions before being considered. In countries like Angola, the 35 percent quota is guaranteed.
“Nigerian women, regardless of party, must unite and speak with one voice. In political parties, 35 percent of leadership positions should be reserved for women, because parties control access to power. If women are excluded from the foundation, they cannot shape the future.”
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has revealed that his push for an opposition coalition was initially rejected by members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
Atiku made the disclosure during an interview on Arise Television on Wednesday, where he reflected on events following the PDP’s defeat in the 2023 presidential election. According to him, he warned party leaders after the election that the PDP could struggle politically without forming alliances with other opposition forces. “To be honest, I was one of the major initiators of this coalition. After the PDP lost the last election, I told the party clearly that I did not see a future for the PDP without a coalition,” he said. Atiku said his advice was rejected at the time, despite his conviction that Nigeria’s political history had shown the importance of alliances. “They disagreed with me then. I have studied Nigeria’s political transition over the years and saw how previous alliances worked, so it was not difficult for me to foresee this,” he stated. The former vice president added that his support for coalition politics was also influenced by his desire to encourage the emergence of younger leaders he believes are vital to Nigeria’s future. “I saw some of these younger politicians as the future leaders of this country, and I felt it was my duty to point that out,” he said. However, Atiku claimed the resistance he encountered within the party was driven more by personal feelings than by disagreement over the substance of his proposal. “They disagreed with me simply because they did not want to see my face, not because of what I was suggesting,” he said. Atiku added that recent political developments have now vindicated his position on the need for a broad opposition alliance ahead of future elections.
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has said the African Democratic Congress (ADC) will first pursue a consensus arrangement before considering a primary election for its 2027 presidential ticket.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
Atiku made this known during an interview on Arise Television on Wednesday while discussing the party’s leadership and strategy ahead of the next general election.
He said he is open to backing a consensus candidate if that becomes the party’s collective decision, stressing that such support should not be interpreted as stepping aside.
“It is not about stepping aside, but whether I am willing to support, and yes, I will,” Atiku said.
According to him, the ADC’s first priority is to build internal unity and reach an agreement among stakeholders before considering a competitive primary process.
“Our first option will be to work out a consensus. If that doesn’t happen, then of course we will explore other options. And yes, I will support whoever eventually emerges,” he stated.
Atiku also expressed confidence in the political experience within the party, saying he believes a consensus is achievable and may make a full-scale primary contest unnecessary.
“That remains our preferred path. We will go for primaries if consensus fails, but I honestly do not expect it to get to that stage because we are dealing with mature and experienced politicians,” he added.
His comments come amid growing political consultations and coalition talks as parties begin to position themselves ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has said the opposition coalition under the African Democratic Congress (ADC) has significantly strengthened his chances of winning the 2027 presidential election.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
Atiku made the remarks during an interview on Arise Television’s Prime Time programme on Wednesday. Speaking on what makes his latest presidential bid different from previous attempts, Atiku said the ADC coalition brings together key political figures from across major parties, including the APC, PDP and Labour Party. He described the alliance as a broader and more strategic political arrangement ahead of the 2027 general elections. According to him, the coalition has created a stronger platform that improves his prospects. “Now, we have a broader coalition — a combination of APC, PDP and LP — which gives me a better chance of becoming president in 2027,” he said. Atiku also noted that the coalition reflects both experience and generational inclusion, which he said shows a clear succession plan. “You see people of my generation, and you see younger people coming behind us, so you can clearly see a succession pattern,” he added. Meanwhile, Atiku described former President Goodluck Jonathan as a decent but inexperienced leader. According to him, Jonathan’s lack of experience contributed to shortcomings in governance and played a role in his defeat in the 2015 presidential election. “I know Goodluck Jonathan very well. He is a decent young man, but he was also inexperienced, and that contributed to his failure in managing the affairs of the country,” Atiku said. He made the remarks while stressing the need for experienced and capable leadership in Nigeria.
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