*We’re also marginalised -N/W women
By Abbanobi -Eku Onyekachi,
Abuja
The Northern Christian Youths Professionals (NCYP) has strongly condemned the recent appointments to the North West Development Commission (NWDC) board, citing a lack of representation for Christians from the six states in the region.
Also, women from the North West region have criticised the appointments for not being genders sensitive.
In a press statement, NCYP Chairman Isaac Abrak expressed deep concern that the appointments by President Bola Tinubu do not reflect the region’s diversity.
This isn’t the first time northern Christians have felt marginalized in appointments. Reverend Yakubu Pam, Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria for the 19 Northern States and Abuja, has previously urged President Muhammad Buhari to ensure fairness in sharing political appointments, noting that northern Christians were being seriously marginalized.
The NCYP is now calling for President Tinubu to reassess these appointments and make necessary adjustments to ensure balanced representation. They emphasize that inclusivity and fair representation require Christians to be appointed to the commission.
It is clear that the NCYP wants to see meaningful change and greater inclusivity in these appointments.
Meanwhile, women from the zone are also up in arms against the Tinubu Government over the appointments.
“Northern Women’s anger
Some of the leading women in the professions from across Northern Nigeria have sharply rebuked the nominations into the North West Development Commission, NWDC on the claim of lack of female representation on the nine-member board.
In a statement made available to GWG.ng the ladies affirmed that the failure of President Bola Tinubu to nominate Northern women to the NWDC board represented a mind view that the female gender is inconsequential to the development of the society.
The ladies further asserted that that frame of mind contributed mainly to the reason why the Northwest was lagging behind in major development indices.
The statement was signed by Asma’u Joda, Saudatu Mahdi, Maryam Uwais, Aisha Oyebode, Amina Salihu and Mairo Mandara.
Others who signed the statement included Qadriyya Ahmed, Fatima Akilu, Rabi Jimeta and Habiba Mohammed.
The statement read in part:
“The recent announcement by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR, appointing the Governing Board of the North West Development Commission (NWDC) should have been a historic step towards regional development. Instead, it feels like a disheartening slap in the face of Northern Women.
“Not a single female name appears among the nominees forwarded to the Senate for confirmation. It goes against the grain of the National Gender Policy, the President’s promise of at least 35% affirmative action for women in his appointments and all sense of justice and equity.
While noting that Northern Nigeria has a rich history of formidable female leaders, professionals, and activists, the ladies said:
“The blatant disregard of the female voice also speaks volumes about the mindset of those who are in charge of the nomination process. Indeed, it probably conveys why, in fact, the North West region is lagging furthest behind on so many human capital indices. The statistics are alarming, to say the least. The mulit-dimensional poverty ratings in those 7 States range from 72% to 90%. Four of those 7 States have more children out of formal school, than in school. The vast majority of those States have less than 20% girl-child literacy rates. Citizens with insufficient food consumption in those States hover between 72% and 80%. What could be more telling?” With additional reports from gwg.ng online.
