ABUJA— WIFE of President Goodluck Jonathan, Dame Patience Jonathan Thursday boasted that 100 political parties put together can never defeat the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, come 2015 presidential election.
Also Thursday aspirations of some politicians to the most exalted position in the land may have been dashed as the PDP through the National Women’s Leader, Dr. Kema Chikwe disclosed that as a party, it will bring out President Goodluck Jonathan to contest for the position in 2015.
Both Dame Patience Jonathan and Chikwe spoke at the presentation of “PDP Women in power” calendar 2013 in Abuja.
Chikwe, a member of the National Working Committee, NWC, of the party explained that with President Jonathan coming out as the party’s candidate in 2015, it would increase women participation in politics by 50 percent.
* Dame Patience Jonathan
She said: “We are even more confident that when President Goodluck Jonathan returns in 2015, women would be talking about 50 percent, no longer 35 percent. As we give him unequivocal, undiluted, unreserved and unlimited support and as we march with him to 2015, PDP women will reach the promised land.”
The national women’s leader while emphasising the position of PDP, however urged the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Pius Anyim, who represented President Jonathan at the occasion to tell the President that PDP women were behind him.
Kema said, “tell him that PDP women in every nook and cranny, wherever we are, young or old, beautiful or ugly, tall or short, small or big, we are chatting to Nigerians: all we are saying, give us Goodluck.
“We need to start moving fast to prepare women for future elections. Until we elect 35 percent or more of women in the legislature, the impact of our progress will not be complete. We know of course that next dispensation will attract possible PDP female governors and more deputy governors.”
Jonathan benevolent to Nigerian women — Kema Chikwe
Hailing President Jonathan for dedicating the 2013 budget to the women, the national women’s leader said, “he has virtually dedicated the 2013 budget to the women.
Chikwe said: “Mr. President, the dedication of 35 percent of all construction contracts to women is really mind blowing to say the least. President Jonathan’s benevolence to women is unbelievably phenomenal.”
I ‘ll never contest election — Dame Jonathan
Speaking further, First Lady Patience Goodluck Jonathan said that even if 100 parties ganged up against PDP they will never defeat the party, adding that it was only the PDP that has implemented the 35 percent for women.
She said that she will never contest election in Nigeria and that anytime her husband retired she would go back home with him.
First Lady Peace Mission Building
On the First Lady Peace Mission building, Mrs. Jonathan who appealed to the Senate and the House of Representatives to pass the N4 billion budgeted for the project, explained that the building was not for her, but for Nigeria, which she said would generate employment for Nigerian youths.
She explained that when Maryam Babangida and Mariam Abacha built the Women Centre and the National Hospital they did not carry the buildings when they left government, adding that she will not go with the peace mission building when her tenure expires.
According to Jonathan’s wife, the peace mission project was initiated by late President Yar’Adua, adding that other countries lobbied for the mission to be in their countries but it was given to Nigeria on a platter of gold. She noted that the United Nations and ECOWAS buildings are being maintained by Federal Capital Territory Administration.
She cautioned women to resist being used to kick against the project, as women recently demonstrated against the project, adding that if the project was for men the budget for the project would have long been passed.
She disclosed that by March, 70 percent of women will be employed, adding that Nigerian women can be President and governors of this country.
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