The United Women for Better Nigeria (UWBN), has thrown its weight behind a ministerial nominee from Delta State, Stella Okotete.
This is coming on the heels of a petition sent by some leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Delta State, challenging her appointment.
They had claimed that Okotete’s Central Senatorial District, has been enjoy political patronage for decades while the Southern Senatorial District had been marginalized.
But the Coordinator of UNWBN, Bridget Omoterhire Eyimosa, in a statement on Tuesday, said the APC leaders should look beyond senatorial districts but the entire state.
Eyimosa added that there was nothing absolutely wrong with her educational qualifications, as claimed.
She said more appointments from the presidency would made which would favour other zones.
She said: “We have been alerted by an uncharitable and impious petition by some APC leaders in Delta State, who are challenging the ministerial nomination of Stella Okotete.
“Ordinarily, we would not have indulge them with a response. But it is important that we clear the air and set the record straight.
“At this time and age, these people should understand that quality leadership is what Nigeria and the people of Delta State, yearn for and not where a person is from.
“We are not downplaying the importance of zoning or the need for everybody to be carried along in the political scheme of things. But we must state here that since the history of Delta State, we have had more men in ministerial positions than women.
“So, if our dear President, Bola Tinubu, in his wisdom, has nominated Hon Stella Okotete, as minister, we should be happy to support her.
“It is laughable for them to attempt to pick holes in her educational qualifications. All her papers are intact. She is ntellectually sound to head a ministry. In fact, she has studied to the level of international intelligibility.
“We are equally excited that the APC leaders did not accuse her of irrational behaviour which means that she is a good woman by all standard.
“Therefore, geographical boundaries should not be used as a yardstick to disqualify a woman of impeccable character and international exposure.
“We must, at all times, support our own.
“Also, we appeal to the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, to disregard the petition and clear Okotete as a minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”
