THE former Minister of State for
Education and the governorship
candidate of the Peoples
Democratic Party in Rivers State,
Chief Nyesom Wike, on Tuesday
made a bold attempt at wooing
women in the state when he
presented Dr. Ipalibo Banigo, as
his running mate ahead of the
2015 general elections.
Wike explained that he decided
to choose a woman as his
running mate because of his
desire to create room for
women to play active role in the
political and economic
development of the state.
The ex-minister said that the
task of choosing his running
mate took him some time,
because of what he described
as rot in the governance of the
state.
Describing Banigo, who is a
former Head of Service in the
state, as a rare breed and a
leader with uncommon traits,
Wike expressed the optimism
that the ex-Permanent Secretary
and Secretary to the State
Government would join him to
rebuild the state.
Banigo, who is from Degema
Local Government Area,
attended various universities,
including the University of
Ibadan, where she obtained her
Bachelors of Medicine and
Bachelor of Surgery degree in
1976.
Speaking on Tuesday in Port
Harcourt while presenting
Benigo as his running mate,
Wike said though the history of
the state was awash with the
input of women, none had been
given the opportunity to hold
an office as high as that of the
state deputy governor.
He said, “The search has ended.
Dr. Banigo is a rare breed and a
leader with uncommon traits.
She will join us to rebuild the
state. Her choice was informed
by the need to create a special
place for women to play active
role in the politics of the state.
“Since 1967 when the state was
created, no woman has been
given such an opportunity. Yet,
the history of the state is replete
with women of great
achievements. The time has
come to give women the
chance to play pivotal roles in
the state.”
“The Rivers PDP is determined
to move away from the
primordial era of treating
women with disdain and
indignity. We want to move
away from the acts of our
opponents, who relish giving
out token to women. As a first
step, the Rivers PDP decided
that a woman should occupy
the post.”
Banigo, in her acceptance
speech, expressed gratitude to
the party and Wike for picking
her as his running mate.

www.punchng.com/news/wike-picks-woman-as-running-mate/

even jesus christ of otuoke cant stop the two from failing nxt yr