Women, most reliable voters, says Aliyu

[Mirror]

Governor Muazu Babangida Aliyu of Niger State has described women as the most reliable voters in the country, as male voters can easily be frightened or bribed. Aliyu also said the country's political climate might be moving towards two or three party system which would be healthy for democracy.

The governor, who spoke during a visit of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly Matters, Hajia Saudatu Sani, said due to women's nature, all necessary measures should be taken to give them good education in all areas.

Aliyu explained that to enable women contribute adequately to the nation building, the 35 per cent affirmative action given to them should be worked upon to the point that, they could assume the country's leadership at the end.

He said: "Nigeria may end up with two or three political parties; parties are merging and this is healthy for democracy." The governor also stressed the need to give room for independent candidates to stand for elections, especially as the kind of political parties in operation were very undemocratic.

He then called for expunging of the indigene/ non-indigene provision in the constitution by replacing it with 'residency of Nigerians,' if the country was to achieve true unity.

Earlier in her speech, Sani had urged the governor to help facilitate the retention of the recommendations of the House of Representatives on Specific Social and Economic Rights such as rights to education, health work and adequate housing.

She then called for the support of the various state Houses of Assembly to delete the prefix "he" from the constitution, arguing that the prefix simply looked Nigeria was dominated by males alone, without females.