Hailmary Aipoh is the woman leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the Federal Capital Territory FCT Abuja. She is a grassroots politician, a dogged politician, visible and committed woman who enjoys the support of majority of the FCT women given her passion for poverty alleviation. In this interview with DONALD IORCHIR, she speaks of her preparedness for the FCT chairmanship elections and other issues.
Can we meet you?
My name is Hailmary Aipoh, I am the women leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the FCT. I live in Abuja.
In which area would you want inec to make amend in order to make things suitable for the politicians, especially now that the fct elections have been shifted?
I for one, I am okay by it. If the election can take place by April 9th, it is ok by me. like I said earlier, even if it is shifted to April or may or june, just like other people are saying, it will still be conducted. Although April has been chosen, but all we are concerned about is that, everybody, man or woman should come out and vote and make use of your voters card, don’t sit at home during the elections. I think that is okay. I am comfortable with the April 9th date fixed by INEC, hence the reason given by them is genuine.
How prepared is your women in the FCT for the April polls?
We are very prepared because we came in with purpose and that purpose is to bring positive change into the polity, which has been dominated a luster administration in almost eight years of the PDP in government. By the grace of God, we hope to wrestle power from the PDP in FCT.
How does the party intend to achieve this?
We have already prepared a blueprint for our modus operands, which by the grace of God, get the peoples mandate come April 9th 2016, then we will become operational.
What changes would you effect with a view to alleviating the plight of the women in FCT?
Let them give us the chance so that they will see a change that they will never forget. A change to positive development that will bring them close to the government so that they will hold their hands high while mingling with other people. Without women support, vote, patient, unity of purpose under the umbrella of APC, they will see a lot of development.
Now let’s talk about challenges you face in the course of performing your duties?
I should say that we are getting all the necessary assistance we needed here so far, because almost 100% assistance that has been aiding us a lot in what we are doing here, we get all the recognitions. We have all the equipment and get all addressed that we require in terms of policies from the government which we need to work with when we confront with certain issues.
Women are often dominated by men in political position and in context like this what is your take?
Thank you very much, the men have tried to make it their world not only in politics. Men realized that they cannot go it alone without women. When you look at the electioneering campaign, you see more women campaign they are more resilient, hardworking and have a staying power, what women suffer in this struggle is ego problem. Men believe that, women should be at home cooking food and taking care of children. After the Beijing conference that gave awareness to break this jinx a lot has happen.
This can be achieved by having more women come out to contest at all level. More women should seek nomination from their parties. We intend to fight it through any where we are.
We must start from the party officials not just women leader because a man cannot be women leader, From there, we extend it to elective office in the Local, state and national level. We are advocating that certain percentage must be left for women in elective and non elective positions. We are demanding for 45% . You know, many women in the national assembly have performed well. All we need do is the will and zeal, all concerned should be involved in the agitation. It is not something that is going to be monthly or for the fun of it. It can also be done here in our country Nigeria. Therefore, this unspoken conspiracy by men to shut out the women should be discouraged.
What advice do you have for FCT minister and resident?
Let him carry on the way he has been going on. we are proud of him, those of us who work with him this few months, I for one and I know some of my colleagues are all very proud and happy to be working with him because he is very genuine and humble person, dedicated and have interest for the development and welfare of the people of the FCT, not any particular section, area Council or a community. he treat every community alike.
We that are working with him in our party APC have seen his vision, the goal he has is to develop the FCT because he want to finish the tenure to a level that the people of FCT will be glad to be in Abuja, The Centre Of Excellence. And to our FCT residents, I commend them for being good citizens especially the indigenes for their open arm by welcoming other people and living with them. I also commend their hospitality. All we need is for them to support out party APC so that all those things hurting them will be addressed.
