Former Anambra Governorship aspirant on the platform of defunct, Advanced Congress of Democrats (ACD), Hon. Oby Kate Okafor has made case for appointment of more women into Governor Chukwuma Soludo-led government.
According to the seasoned Nollywood actress and politician, Soludo’s administration fell short of expectancies for not meeting the required gender balance ratio of 70:30.
“Women did not make up to 30 percent of his appointments now working in Anambra. And such is not expected from a veteran development expert like Soludo.
According to Hon. Okafor, Soludo had several times, talked enthusiastically about the big part women can perform in the growth of Igbo society.
It is expected of him to take a leaf from his lectures and appoint more women into his administration. Sadly, that
did not happen.
Hon. Okafor was also skeptical of the makeup of Soludo’s aides so far. She stated that the special assistants or advisers that have been appointed so far have comprised little or no women. She questions Soludo’s faith in women. Surely more women are needed in Soludo-led government.
She contended that Soludo’s victory wouldn’t have been likely if not for the enormous backing he obtained from the Anambra women electorates.
She voiced that during the election, most men were seen in beer parlors or hotels drinking and enjoying themselves while the gallant women were at the pooling booths voting and protecting their votes, hence spending the whole day at the polling centers. Women subsequently went with the ballot boxes to the collation centers.
But no it is time for reward, women are pushed aside, hence her reason for being unhappy with Soludo’s appointment so far.
Okafor was the Deputy Chairman, of the Anambra State chapter of the Interparty Advisory Council (IPAC), when a coalition of 50 political parties publicly backed Soludo’s governorship bid, also disclosed that the group was yet to be rewarded for their efforts.
“IPAC played a major part in Soludo’s landslide victory at last Anambra State Governorship election but he is
yet to reward our efforts. There were about 50 political parties that planned a press conference under the aegis of IPAC where members were mandated to vote massively for him. Okafor who contested the election under ACD teamed up with APGA to ensure Soludo’s victory when INEC deregistered the party.
“Soludo is expected to have remembered our sacrifice and even thank us
for backing him. This will at least give us a feeling of belonging. It’s wrong to abandon us after victory was secured
during the election.
There were calls from other political parties like APC but we concluded to stand with APGA and Soludo”, she adds.
