Buhari Should Appoint Ebonyi Women Into His Cabinet – Immaculata Ibe

A political pressure group, Ebonyi Women Vanguard (EWV) has begged President Muhammadu Buhari to ensure Ebonyi women are appointed into his cabinet.

The group made this plea ahead of presentation of lists of nominees for federal cabinet members to the soon to be inaugurated 9th Senate.

Mrs Immaculata Ibe, President of the group shared this in a statement.

Her words, “Our appeal to Mr President for inclusion of at least a woman from Ebonyi extraction into his up-coming cabinet is predicated on the long period of neglect and marginalisation suffered by Ebonyi women under successive administrations.

“While other states in the South-East zone have produced, at various, times women who were appointed into the federal cabinet and other executive positions, no Ebonyi woman has enjoyed this privilege since the creation of Ebonyi in 1996.

“We have remained marginalised, neglected and excluded in spite of the robust contributions of Ebonyi women in Nigerian politics and national development.

‘’For 20 years running, successive administrations in the country have neglected Ebonyi women from appointment into major Federal establishments. ”

EWF considers it as unfair and against the spirit of equity, fairness and good conscience in the distribution of political appointments in the country.”

“A checklist of federal appointments of women from Abia, Anambra, Enugu, and Imo states into federal establishments reveals a stark illustration of how Ebonyi women have been marginalised since the advent of democracy in 1999.

‘’Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, former Minister of Finance is from Abia state; Mrs Stella Odua, former Minister of Aviation, Dr Oby Ezekwesili, Ex-Education minister and later Solid Minerals, Mrs Josephine Anenih of Women Affairs were all from Anambara.

“Anambara also produced late Dr Dora Akuyeli, former Director-General,National Agency for Food, Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC) and later appointed Minister of Information and National Orientation.

“In Imo State, Mrs Viela Onwuariri and Mrs Kema Chinwe served as ministers at various times, while in Enugu state, Mrs Fidelia Njeze and Mrs Alison-Madueke were appointed ministers of Aviation and petroleum. ”