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Akinwande Soji-Ojo
Women leaders in the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) under the aegis of ‘Elected Female National APC Officers and Zonal Women Leaders’ have passed a “vote of no confidence” on the party’s national women leader, Dr Betta Edu, for allegedly abusing her office.
The vote of no confidence was contained in a letter written to President Bola Tinubu, on Friday.
A copy of the letter was also sent to National Chairman of APC, Senator Abdullahi Adamu; National Secretary, Senator Iyiola Omisore; Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila; the First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu; wife of the Vice President, Hajia Nana Shettima, all APC governors’ wives and zonal vice chairmen of the party.
Those who signed the petition include APC Deputy National Treasurer, Omorede Osifo; National Ex-Officio (South West), Olubunmi Oriniowo; National Ex-Officio (North Central), Oluwatoyin Opawoye; Zonal Women Leader (North Central), Princess Zahra Audu; Zonal Women leader (South West), Mrs Yetunde Adesanya and Zonal Women leader (South East), Mimi Diyiokeh.
Others are the Zonal Women Leader (North East), Zainab Alman; Zonal Women Leader (South South), Mrs. Cynthia Princewill and Zonal Women Leader (North West), Hajia Hadiza Shagari.
The nine women leaders from the six geopolitical zones, accused Edu of sidelining them and allegedly arranging fake women to see the president during a courtesy visit.
“Without deviating from the essence of this subject, it is pertinent we express our total displeasure and concern over the misrepresentation and self-aggrandisement of the National Woman Leader, Dr. Betta Edu, during her visit to the Presidential Villa on the13th of July, 2023.
“We wish to state categorically and in strong terms that her visit to the Presidential Villa was a misrepresentation as she in no way represent the elected National Women Officials and Zonal Women Leaders of the party as against the news making the rounds.
“We were totally unaware of her presidential visit and no due information nor notification were given to us, the women she claimed to represent during her visit. It is disheartening that Dr. Betta Edu could label her visit to Mr President to be the representation of National Stakeholders and Zonal Women Leaders even without them knowing and not in attendance during the visit.
“It is worrisome that at this infancy stage of the administration of President Bola Tinubu which needs all hands to be on deck that the women leadership of the party is already experiencing division and seclusion in representation which has been the pattern of the National Woman Leader, Dr Betta Edu, since her emergence. It is in strong terms that we reject her leadership because she has failed in managing the affairs of the women in the party,” the women said.
While requesting a separate courtesy visit to the Presidential Villa, the women leaders further alleged that the former Cross River commissioner deliberately isolated them, even during the electioneering campaign.
“Throughout the electioneering campaign, Dr. Betta Edu worked in isolation without synergy with her colleagues, National Women officials of the party and the Zonal Women Leaders. We individually devised means and strategies to galvanise and mobilise support for the party in our various states and travelled to almost all states campaigning with Mr. President with our personal funds and resources because we are highly committed to the Renewed Hope project and which we are glad to be part of the success story of today.
“We want Mr. President to know that most women paraded by Dr. Betta Edu were mostly fake. Authentic and democratically elected national officers who are even National Executive Council Members, all Zonal Women Leaders, the three women Senators and fifteen female House of Representatives members, and a host of other relevant women leaders and stakeholders were replaced by fake women in the visit to the President.
“We hereby reject the leadership of Dr. Betta Edu and unanimously pass a vote of no confidence on her and whatever she represents. We appeal to Mr. President to use his good office to grant audience to the Elected National Female Executives and Zonal Women Leaders of our great party for inclusiveness,” they added.
State Women Leaders declare support for Edu
Meanwhile, the 36 State Women Leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and that of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), have passed a vote of confidence on the national woman leader, Dr. Betta Edu.
The vote of confidence was passed over the weekend.
The 37 State Women Leaders, in a statement, described Edu’s leadership as exceptional, inclusive and responsive, saying she was steering the ship of women emancipation in the country effectively.
According to them, the entire country could attest to the role she played in the last general elections.
They appealed to all APC women to remain calm and be rest assured that their interests were well represented.
“We understand their desire and anxiety to meet with Mr. President and we assure them that the President will also be very happy to meet with them all.
“He runs an open-door policy. However, the engagements will happen in batches, and more women will be involved.
“Let’s be patient and be rest assured that the request presented by the National Women Leader and the women from the 36 states of the federation as well as the FCT covered the interests of all Nigerian women and APC women in particular, who worked so hard for his victory in the last elections.
“Everyone will be rewarded in due course,” the state women leaders said.