Kano State Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso shunned President Goodluck
Jonathan on Friday in Abuja, during an award/gala night organised by the
National Council of Women Societies in collaboration with the Office of the
First Lady.
Jonathan on Friday in Abuja, during an award/gala night organised by the
National Council of Women Societies in collaboration with the Office of the
First Lady.
Kwankwaso,
who was one of the five northern governors that had met with political leaders
on the crisis in the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, played a hide-and-seek
with Jonathan, Sambo and the party’s National Chairman, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur,
at the event.
who was one of the five northern governors that had met with political leaders
on the crisis in the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, played a hide-and-seek
with Jonathan, Sambo and the party’s National Chairman, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur,
at the event.
He
refused to join other governors, who were on the same table with him when they
all moved to the President’s table to exchange pleasantries with him; his wife,
Patience; Sambo and his wife, Amina.
refused to join other governors, who were on the same table with him when they
all moved to the President’s table to exchange pleasantries with him; his wife,
Patience; Sambo and his wife, Amina.
Tukur
and the Chairman of the PDP Governors Forum, Godswill Akpabio, were on the
table beside that of the President.
and the Chairman of the PDP Governors Forum, Godswill Akpabio, were on the
table beside that of the President.
The
governors, who went to pay homage included Olusegun Mimiko (Ondo); Peter
Obi (Anambra); Adams Oshiomhole (Edo); Theodore Orji (Abia); Jonah Jang
(Plateau); and Idris Wada (Kogi).
governors, who went to pay homage included Olusegun Mimiko (Ondo); Peter
Obi (Anambra); Adams Oshiomhole (Edo); Theodore Orji (Abia); Jonah Jang
(Plateau); and Idris Wada (Kogi).
Others
were the acting governor of Taraba, Garba Umar, and the deputy governor of
Bayelsa, John Jonah.
were the acting governor of Taraba, Garba Umar, and the deputy governor of
Bayelsa, John Jonah.
Only
Kwankwaso and his deputy, Abdullahi Ganduje, remained on their seats.
Kwankwaso and his deputy, Abdullahi Ganduje, remained on their seats.
The
governor also refused to recognise the presence of the President during the
presentation of awards to the governors.
governor also refused to recognise the presence of the President during the
presentation of awards to the governors.
All
the governors who received awards, on stepping down from the podium, moved to
the President for a handshake before returning to their seats.
the governors who received awards, on stepping down from the podium, moved to
the President for a handshake before returning to their seats.
But
immediately Kwankwaso collected his award, he looked the other way,
stepped down from the podium and returned to his seat.
immediately Kwankwaso collected his award, he looked the other way,
stepped down from the podium and returned to his seat.
Meanwhile,
President Jonathan has expressed the fear that he might not be able to achieve
the goals of his much-talked about transformation agenda without the full
participation of women.
President Jonathan has expressed the fear that he might not be able to achieve
the goals of his much-talked about transformation agenda without the full
participation of women.
Jonathan
raised the concern in a speech at the award/gala night.
raised the concern in a speech at the award/gala night.
At
the event, the President was honoured with a “Lifetime Icon Award” for
appointing many women into his government.
the event, the President was honoured with a “Lifetime Icon Award” for
appointing many women into his government.
While
Vice-President Namadi Sambo was honoured for supporting Jonathan’s
administration to empower women during the award night, the governors of Ondo,
Anambra, Bayelsa, Edo, Abia, Kano and Akwa Ibom received awards for the
significance presence of women in their governments.
Vice-President Namadi Sambo was honoured for supporting Jonathan’s
administration to empower women during the award night, the governors of Ondo,
Anambra, Bayelsa, Edo, Abia, Kano and Akwa Ibom received awards for the
significance presence of women in their governments.
“I
strongly believe that we cannot accomplish the goals of our transformation
agenda if women comprising about 50 per cent of our population are not fully
integrated into our development efforts and programmes,” the President said.
strongly believe that we cannot accomplish the goals of our transformation
agenda if women comprising about 50 per cent of our population are not fully
integrated into our development efforts and programmes,” the President said.
He
argued that the Nigerian woman is not only an important part of the nation’s
history, but also a part of the country’s future development as a nation.
argued that the Nigerian woman is not only an important part of the nation’s
history, but also a part of the country’s future development as a nation.
He
recalled that Nigerian women had championed significant national social
transformation programmes that have had an enduring impact on the well-being of
the country.
recalled that Nigerian women had championed significant national social
transformation programmes that have had an enduring impact on the well-being of
the country.
Jonathan
said women had been playing important and visible roles in the current
dispensation in ensuring a thriving democracy and adding value to the lives of
the people.
said women had been playing important and visible roles in the current
dispensation in ensuring a thriving democracy and adding value to the lives of
the people.
He
promised that his administration would continue to take every measure necessary
to bring on board the huge resources and acumen that women have to offer.
promised that his administration would continue to take every measure necessary
to bring on board the huge resources and acumen that women have to offer.
Wife
of the President, Mrs. Patience Jonathan, renewed her call on the National
Assembly to give legislative backing to the 35 per cent affirmative action on
women representation in appointive and elective positions.
of the President, Mrs. Patience Jonathan, renewed her call on the National
Assembly to give legislative backing to the 35 per cent affirmative action on
women representation in appointive and elective positions.
She
said it was only by doing so that the gains of women in the present
administration could be sustained.
said it was only by doing so that the gains of women in the present
administration could be sustained.
She
observed that the present situation where women only represent 6.4 per cent of
the Senate and 6.7 per cent of the House of Representatives left much to be
desired.
observed that the present situation where women only represent 6.4 per cent of
the Senate and 6.7 per cent of the House of Representatives left much to be
desired.
Quoting
from data made available by the Inter-Parliamentary Union, she said Rwanda
boasts of the highest number of women parliamentarians in the world with 56.3
per cent in the lower house and 38.5 per cent in the Senate.
from data made available by the Inter-Parliamentary Union, she said Rwanda
boasts of the highest number of women parliamentarians in the world with 56.3
per cent in the lower house and 38.5 per cent in the Senate.
She
said women parliamentarians in Senegal represented 42.7 per cent; Tanzania, 45
per cent; Burundi, 56 per cent and Mozambique 39.2 per cent.
said women parliamentarians in Senegal represented 42.7 per cent; Tanzania, 45
per cent; Burundi, 56 per cent and Mozambique 39.2 per cent.
She
added, “We want our men to appreciate that the women we are appealing for are
their mothers, aunts, wives, daughters and sisters.
added, “We want our men to appreciate that the women we are appealing for are
their mothers, aunts, wives, daughters and sisters.
Source: Punch
