‘No Easter, Ramadan gifts’ — APC women leaders say Tinubu abandoned them after polls

Members of the Forum of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Women Leaders say President Bola Tinubu abandoned them after he won the 2023 general election.

Members of the forum, comprising APC women leaders in the 36 states and the federal capital territory (FCT), expressed their displeasure in Abuja on Tuesday during a visit to Abdullahi Ganduje, the national chairman of the party.

Patricia Yakubu, leader of the forum, said it was “appalling” that Tinubu did not find any of them worthy of a “post-election” reward.

Yakubu said they want to be carried along in the affairs of women in the country.

“The state women leaders will want to advocate that we should be carried along in all the affairs about women in the states,” she said.

“We are closer to the party women at the grassroots, the largest voting bloc in the secular world. Our demography should not be neglected.

“Since after the elections, Your Excellency may note that only one bag of rice and one paper wrapper were given to the state women leaders from the national secretariat of the party.

“Nothing was given to us during Easter, the Ramadan fasting period, and Salah festivities. Even the palliatives distributed were not given to the women leaders for onward distribution to the grassroots. We party women waited and waited and waited to no avail, which is very sad.

“Your Excellency, respectfully, we wish to notify you that the women leaders sacrificed so much towards the victory of our great party during the 2023 elections.”

Responding, Ganduje said efforts are on to ensure that women in the APC are carried along in party politics and governance.

“I want to acknowledge your contribution during the election period that culminated in the huge success of our great party,” he said.

“Of course, you are aware that our President, Bola Tinubu, is gender sensitive if you observe the political trends.

“So Mr President is very aware of your participation. I can assure you, more appointments are still coming from the federal government.”

The APC national chairman said all their complaints would be addressed “soon”.