Atiku Promises Women, Youth 40% of Cabinet Positions

Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja

The presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, has promised to yield 40 per cent of his cabinet position to women and youths.

Atiku, in a statement by his media office wednesday, said the policy document that would guide his administration if elected president in 2019 was ready and contained a covenant to give women and youths a sense of belonging.

The PDP candidate said if Nigeria was to reverse its unenviable status as the world headquarters of poverty, it must take concrete steps to empower women and the youth in the country.

According to him, “Nigeria under President Muhammadu Buhari is now the world HQ for extreme poverty.

If we are to change that, we must empower women and youths.

“Therefore, I give an undertaking that if by the grace of God, I am elected by you the good people of Nigeria, at least 40% of my cabinet would be women & youths.”

Atiku said his policy document would soon be released to the public, saying he was not new to innovative governance having been a vice president of the Federal Republic between 1999 and 2007.

He said, “During my time in government, we designed our policies to help young people grow – stronger banks, telecoms etc. Many returned to Nigeria to start successful businesses.

“Today, those young people are leaving again, to Canada etc. We are losing our best doctors and professionals.

“Our policy document which is ready and will be unveiled soon, is dedicated primarily to creating an enabling environment for Nigerian youth and women to return to the path of wealth creation and gainful employment.”