The presidential candidate of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, his wives and the National Chairman of the party, Prince Uche Secondus on Friday mocked President Muhammadu Buhari over the relegation of women to the kitchen or the bedroom which the President famously referred to as the ‘other room’ in one of his interviews.
They all spoke in Abuja during the Women Conferences with the theme “Call for Action.”
While Atiku promised to give women more than 35 percent in his government and would not be put in the other room, his wives said their husband, Atiku didn’t put them in the other room, but give them free hand and allowed them to do their businesses.
Atiku said: “We have no fear of handing over the country to you. In my three decades of politics, the most consistent voters in the Nigeria political process are women. I have practically seen it, if I stand as a candidate and I turn my back to look at the lines that are supporting me, the women lines are always three times that of the men.
“It is the reason why we said we are going to give you more than 35 percent because your numbers and your pattern of voting justified that commitment.
“Therefore, between youth and women you have 70 percent of the government. This is to prepare you to take over governance, to take over this country and make it work again.
“So, this is your opportunity, your are not going to be put in the other room, I promise you because you have seen my wives here, they are not in the other room.”
Princess Rukayat Atiku Abubakar, the second wife of Atiku said that women have always been at the centre of events and called on them to reject the narrative that the place of women is in the kitchen.
Also speaking, Hajiya Titi Atiku Abubakar, his first wife said, “the candidate of today is a sellable candidate. As you can see, Atiku has not relegated us to the other room. He allows us to go wherever we want, he allows us to do our businesses, so we are not relegated to the other room.
“Atiku is an educationist, he wants to kick out hunger. Our children go to school but there is no jobs, Atiku is the creator of jobs.
“Atiku has about 26 children and all his children are involved in his businesses except one who is working for the government and that one is a technocrat. Go out there and propagate Atiku so that we can make Nigeria a place to live.”
Secondus on his part, pointed out the difference between the incumbent and incoming President, adding, “the incoming President is energetic, he is resourceful, he is industrious. Governance is a 24 hours demand and if you are not energetic, you will outsource the presidency.
“When he wins, Atiku will sit in his office to attend to the needs of the country and will not outsource anything.”
He warned the federal government that security agencies should not brutalise women during elections.
In her goodwill Speech, Mrs Margret Peter Obi, wife of the PDP Vice presidential candidate, said that any politician that has no business with women will have a problem, stressing that any thing endorsed by women excels.
She called on women to come out en masse and vote for Atiku for guaranteed jobs, security, food on the table and to get Nigeria working again.