Atiku promises to fill 40% of the positions in his cabinet with women and the youth

FORMER vice president Alhaji Atiku Abubakar has promised to set aside 40% of all appointments in his cabinet to women and the youth if he is elected president when Nigeria goes to the polls next year.

In February 2023, Nigerians go to the polls and Alhaji Abubakar who was vice president between 1999 and 2007 has secured the presidential ticket of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). His main challengers will be Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Peter Obi of the Labour Party and Rabiu Kwankwaso of the New Nigeria Peoples Party.

Speaking during the inauguration of the Atiku-Okowa Vanguard Nigeria in Abuja, Alhaji Abubakar emphasised the importance of women and youths in national development. He also raised concern over the high cost of living in the country, blaming it on the failure of the APC-led federal government to effectively manage the nation’s economy.

At the event, his wife, Titi Abubakar, appealed to Nigerian women and youths for support, saying her husband is well prepared to rescue the nation and bring it back to working ways. She said: “If my husband is elected, I will do more for the Nigerian children and women.

"Atiku has promised women and youths 40% in the cabinet, he is a man of his word and he will do it but it is you alone that can make it happen. I am appealing to you, our women and youths not to sell your conscience and your tomorrow but rather stand for the right thing and your tomorrow will be better because Atiku will bring back Nigeria’s lost glory.”

Campaign spokesman Senator Dino Melaye, added: “While women are asking for 35%, Atiku is offering 40%  and let me assure you that this will be implemented to the letter when we come on board. I used to fly economy from Abuja to Lagos for N18,000 but it’s now over N100,000, we used to buy diesel at N150 per litre but now it is N800 per litre, while a dollar used to exchange for N210 and now it’s N700 and still rising.

“Bola Tinubu, Peter Obi and others are prepared to be president but Atiku is adequately prepared for the task of rescuing, uniting and rebuilding the nation. Obi is an upcoming president, his future is bright and age is on his side but we need a father figure who can unite the country.”