Nigeria’s Minister of Women Affairs, Pauline Tallen says the entire women folk in the country will lead the campaign for a woman to emerge as Governor of Adamawa State in the 2023 election.
The Minister, who was reacting to the decision of the Court of Appeal in Yola, to uphold the governorship candidacy of the All Progressives Congress, APC candidate for Adamawa State, Aisha Binani, said the court’s judgement was a big encouragement for women in politics.
Tallen who appeared at the weekly Ministerial briefing organised by the Presidential Communications Team at the Presidential Villa Abuja on Thursday, was still briefing when the news broke.
The Court of Appeal in Yola set aside a ruling by the High Court nullifying the candidacy of APC’s candidates, Emmanuel Bwacha and Binani for Taraba and Adamawa states separately and ordered that their names be forwarded to the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC as the APC Governorship candidates for both states.
A very elated Tallen, who broke into the women’s anthem said: “I knew that we will make it. Today is a day that we are going to celebrate. From here we are moving to the house. We will move to the streets and watch what will happen in Adamawa.
“We will lead the campaign, Adamawa women already are fully mobilized, and they have said that if she’s not given her mandate, they will not come out to contest or vote in any election.
“Nigerian women are fully behind her because throughout last night (Wednesday) we did vigil, we have been praying and fasting on this matter and God answered our prayers. Because, this is a test case, is not that we don’t have capable women.
“They did it for me in 2011, they did it for late Mama Taraba and I vowed under my stewardship, Lord, wipe my tears and God answered my prayers. This is a success story to Buhari’s administration. President Buhari will be the first President to inaugurate a woman as a female Governor,” she claimed.
Tallen emphasised that Binani would win the election because of her pedigree and quest for good governance.
“Senator Aisha Binani’s case is an election that is already won because, Adamawa people have spoken. The President of National Council of Women Society is from Adamawa, we are monitoring what is happening.
“I am happy. This is good news for Nigerian women. I am from Plateau, I wish I can vote in Adamawa, I would have moved to Adamawa to vote for her. But it is not just women of Adamawa, the men, youths are crying for a change and they will see by the time Binani gets into office the difference will be clear.
“You will see the development that will take place in Adamawa because she has been tested. As a member of House of Representatives, go to her constituency, as a Senator not only in her senatorial zone, Adamawa people have told me that she handles the empowerment of women, youths, elderly, giving out scholarships.
“This lady deserves to be supported. Her victory during the primaries was a landslide victory. I thank God she won the case. This is answered prayers of Nigerian women,” she said.
The Women Affairs Minister also expressed optimism that a woman would one day rule Nigeria.
She said: “I have a dream that one day a woman will be the president of Nigeria, just like the dream that Martin Luther Jr had for America and a Blackman became the president.
“That day is coming if it is not in our generation our children will live to see it. More female governors are coming because by the time Binani sets the pace other states will cry out to have more women governors. It is a matter of time, we will get there.”
Tallen also hailed the Federal High Court in Abuja for dismissing the suit filed against Senator Stella Oduah, seeking an order invalidating her nomination as a Senatorial Candidate for the People’s Democratic Party in Anambra State.
Confidence Okwuchi
