 Nigerian women are squaring up to present their charter demands to each of the 36 state governors to lobby for political appointments as ministers and commissioners. A renowned gender activist Tom Okewale Sonaia has said on Sunday that while the women groups will be holding a strategic briefing with the 9th National Assembly female legislators on the 35% of formation action judgment by the Federal High Court in Abuja to demand more appointments for women in the incoming administrations plans have also reached advanced stages for them to visit 36 governors to lobby them for nominations of women for appointments in line with the 35% of feminine action. She therefore has called on the 36 state governors to nominate women for ministerial appointments in the spirit of equality equity and fairness in the country according to how the responsibility for ministerial appointees or appointments lie not only on the president-elect Borla Mettini, but also governors of the states controlled by the all-progressive Congress who are putting forward names for nomination. While joining us to discuss this and more is Honorable Bukki Okanwe. She is the National Coordinator Progressive Hub. Bukki, thank you so much for joining us. Good evening. Thank you. Yeah, Bukki, it's all fair and dandy that women are stepping up to the plate, but there are those who would say that women don't necessarily have to ask for these appointments if they already have been positioning themselves strategically and doing the grassroot work or pulling their weight. They probably just have their names automatically on those lists instead of asking. I'll try again. Why do women have to ask for these appointments as opposed to strategizing and positioning themselves for these appointments? Okay, thank you for having me. First of all, I want to thank God for what we've been we've been through the campaign and we're ready to serve the president-elect in a few weeks. I don't know where women are asking for appointments in the president-elect, the incoming administration. I've not heard anywhere I hear women protesting or asking or begging to be included in the government of Atyuajibola Amitibu. Because Atyuajibola Amitibu is not right from insertion. He's been a women supporter. He has been campaign. He has had a deputy governor who is a woman. I mean, he has had commissioners that are women and even in the president government that he's not a president. He has nominated women in QO. So in the incoming government, the incoming government has made it very clear that women will be in charge. I mean, already in the party, we have a very strong voice. Our woman leader is a very strong woman and she has been pushing to see how women can be inclusive. I mean, she's not pushing in a way, in a begging way. Atyuajibola has made it very clear that women will play a very big role in his administration. So, I mean, women asking or begging is not even what we're looking at in Atyuajibola. Yes, let's talk about the fact that Bartinibu's renewed hope manifesto said that he would seek the employment of female in all government offices. Employment of females in all government offices. But then we're talking about other than having a woman in the Ministry of Women Affairs or a woman as the head of service. What are the key roles can women also be holding in that administration as opposed to the very stereotypical positions of a woman leader or woman affairs commissioner or minister? Well, I think in this administration by the grace of the Almighty God, we're going to see ministers, ministers and minister of, of, of, by God's grace, we may see a minister of health, being a woman, a minister of agriculture, being a woman, respecting, respecting what we've never seen before in Nigeria in these administrations. We're dealing with a man that know how to impart people without considering a gender. So expecting to see minister of technology as women because he's got, he's not just a politician. He has built a structure. He's been preparing for it. He has all his people already. He knows who will handle this. So we're not dealing with a novi. We're not dealing with people who have been in maybe a military officer who, you know, we're not dealing with any, any kind of person here. We're dealing with a politician. We're dealing with a businessman. We're dealing with somebody who has worked and who has been in an office as an administrator. So we're going to see what we've never seen, what we don't even expect, what we're not used to in this government over to Addibola and the people. That's what I would say to Nigeria. Now let me go to some of the things that he said. He said that if elected, his administration will reserve a minimum of three cabinet positions for Nigerians under the age of 40, while six cabinet positions will be reserved for people under the age of 50. And in addition, 20% of political appointments at ministries, departments and agencies are going to be reserved for qualified people under the age of 40. Again, it would reserve at least three cabinet positions for persons under the age of 40 and six more positions for members under the age of 50. So he's saying that he's going to have more young people in his government. Again, I'm wondering, I'm wondering, will we be seeing a 35% even more affirmative action in the president's cabinet as opposed to who people would see the president as surrounding himself with so many men as opposed to women? Well, like I said, we're dealing with a politician who knows how he would do it. He has given us the figures already. Like for the women, I know a lot of women are going to play very few role in the youth. In the youth wins, there's so much that is happening, almost all the youth that work for the youth have been already preparing for a very big concert. Most of them are already in the committee. I don't see, I know almost all those youths. So I don't see anyone that has been left out. So what's your percentage? Because you keep saying so many women. What is so many women? What do you mean by so many women? What's the percentage? So many women for me, I'm looking more than affirmative action. I'm not looking at 35%. And I think for me, I'm not a campaigner of 35%. I campaign for more than 35%. I always talk about 45% so I don't like when people talk about 35%. 35% during Jonathan, even during Guari, we did more than 35% as a party. So with the actual development, when I was looking at 35%, we're looking at 15% of what? Because we've got a lot of young women that are vibrant. We've got, in AT&T, we've got a lot of women that are capable. You know, like before that, women will be given only only go to the ministry of women affairs. Okay, let it be a woman. You know, I'm expecting to see women in sectors that we've never seen before in Nigeria. Let's talk about other things that would be in store for women. I know that you obviously are progressive in your mindset. And you'd obviously want to see more progressive things happen in this administration. What should the women generally, not just those who are seeking for appointments, but women in Nigeria, we're looking forward to under the tenable administration after May 29. And what are some of the things that you think that this administration, when sworn in, should be targeting? Well, we are preparing for our inauguration. And so far with the myth that I know, so many women from different political parties are being carried along. That is the first step for you to know that this government, as you are not aware of what is happening. A lot of people just sit down and say, oh, you know, but so many things is happening in this administration already, the incumbent administration already. You know, there's so many women that have been invited to round table table their discussions, so it's possible to see how we can work together. I know an organization that stands for level parties women, only three of them came. You know, I was part of that meeting. You know, it was more or less like a discussion that was organized by NGU. They removed their invited women from different political parties to see how they can work with the new administration. And I was part of that dedication. I met women from other political parties. And that was organized from Atohaju people working with Atohaju to NGU. So so many things, even with the youth, even with the youth concert that is coming, so many youth from different political parties are being carried along. So feel like you should please take a break and look at what is happening. If you can get involved, get involved. Don't sit on the side and just throw some water, all this, all that. We are seriously working. I am just on my way home. I know why where I've been. I'm sorry, I'm so sorry, I'm so sorry, I'm so sorry to talk over you. When you say get involved, get involved in exactly what? Get involved in the new government. How? It's not about sitting down and saying, oh, I'm not in APC. I don't belong to APC. It's APC government. We don't want to run. Get involved. Go to the people that you think you're involved. Ask them what is happening. How can I get involved? Make some phone calls. Go to the party secretary. If you're not a party member, go to the support groups. Support groups are for non-party members. Go to support groups. Register with them. Oh, we are a team from this party. We want to see how we can support with your government. Register with the support group. There is a platform that when time comes, they will look forward. They will support groups as registered and they will present you to the president-elect. That is what is happening today. And what is the end game? A lot of people are doing that. And what will be the end game in presenting all of these support groups to the president-elect? What's the end game? No. You might think I'm a progressive, but maybe you've not met me. I've run elections many times. I am a graduate politician. In my community, I don't know who is PDP or who is APC. We always have to sit down on that election or election evening and say, look, this is where it will favor us. Because we believe that when it favor any of your child, it will favor the community. That's how I play my politics. Okay. I cook my food. It's not the APC member that everybody in the community have to eat my food. That's who I am. I'm a humanitarian. Okay. So I believe that when the time comes, we will be the ones that will be speaking for the renewal of our agenda and we will keep them, whatever needs to be done, will be done. And I know that you are just ready to listen to people like us. All right. There will be a team that will be reminding us what you are about all day. All right. All right. Well, I want to say thank you. Honorable Buki Okame is the national coordinator, progressives hub. Thank you so much for speaking with us. We appreciate it. Thank you very much. All right. And that's the show tonight. Thank you all for watching. Don't forget, if you want to play catch up with some of our previous episodes, just go to Plus TV Africa on YouTube and you can watch all our previous conversations. Do you have a good evening? I'm Mary Anacom.