El-Rufai: No party in Nigeria has given opportunities to women like APC

Nasir el-Rufai, governor of Kaduna state, says in the history of partisan politics in Nigeria, no party has given opportunities to women like the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The governor said this at a town-hall meeting President Muhammadu Buhari held with young people on Friday.

The meeting held at the presidential villa in Abuja.

“I know that in the history of partisan politics in this country, no party has taken deliberate affirmative action to promote women much more than the APC,” he said.

“In most of the south-west states, females are the deputy governors. In Kaduna, I have also picked a woman as my running mate.”

The governor also said there was need to regulate social media so that it does not serve as an avenue for “purveyors of fake news” to fan the embers of disunity.

“Social media is a force for good but it needs to be regulated,” he said.

President Muhammadu Buhari thanked young people for supporting his administration, promising to continue engaging them if reelected.

The president said the youth voting population is a determinant factor in any election, and it will be foolhardy for any politician not to pay attention to the youth.

He added that the reason for the interaction was to express gratitude for the support he has enjoyed from majority of young people every time he had contested in a presidential election from 2003 till date and to also take questions, comments and observations.

He promised to always include young persons in his administration.

“Most of you who know me know I don’t make promises I can’t keep, but I assure you that young people will continue to be part of this administration,” he said.

He also vowed not to be distracted in his fight against corruption, dismissing the claim of the opposition that he had been protecting corrupt people around him.

“I am still committed to the pledges I made to the country when I sought this office in 2015, and I stand before you today to renew those same thing that I will continue to fight against corruption,” he said.

“I can assure you that no one will make me compromise on fighting corruption. I will not shield anyone. They will face the music in due course.

“I will like to reassure you and other young people who are not here that I remain committed to the cause of a better Nigeria for you and for every generation.”