Women back Patience Goodluck on woman deputy chair for PDP

The Women for True Democracy (WTD), on Sunday expressed full support for the move by the First Lady, Patience Jonathan, for a woman to become the deputy chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

The WTD, a women wing of the PDP made up of professionals and politicians, said for the PDP to remain relevant in the political space it should reserve the position of the Deputy National Chairman and the National Organising Secretary for a woman.

The President of WTD, Ngozi Onyewuchi, who made this known at the end of the group’s meeting in Abuja, said the PDP must support the transformational agenda of President Goodluck Jonathan by reserving some positions to the women.

“The President needs to be supported in achieving the government’s transformational agenda. He has appointed some women to manage some key sectors of the economy and they are all performing creditably and marvellously.

“We have a woman as the Minister of Finance and Coordinator of the economy, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala. There are also Mrs. Deziani Maduekwe, Minister of Petroleum; Princess Stella Oduah, Minister of Aviation; Chief Olajumoke Akinjide, Minister of State for Federal Capital Territory Ministry; Hajiya Zainab Maina, Women Affairs Minister and Prof. Ruqqayat Ahmed Rufai, Minister of Education.

“We also have special advisers and special assistants to Mr. President who are women. Why then should the women be left out of PDP,” said Mrs. Onyewuchi.

She stated that the meeting agreed to send a delegation to meet with the Women Affairs Minister and the President for women to be given opportunity to serve in the Party.

“It is amazing that since 1999 to day, the Party has been dominated by the men. Women should be given opportunities to hold positions in the Party.

“We are fully in support of the efforts of our First Lady/Wide of the President for women to be given opportunity to serve the Party. We have supported the Party,” she further said.