We can't vote a male governorship candidate in 2021 if, Anambra women

By Okechukwu Onuegbu

Awka

Over fifty thousand women in Anambra State under the auspices of United Traders Association (UTA), a nongovernmental organisation, have said they would only support a male gubernatorial candidate if no female contestant with 'capability' vie for the 2021 poll.

The National President of UTA, Mrs Nkiruka Duru, who disclosed this in an interview at the end of their first convention held at Umudioka, Dunukofia LGA of Anambra State, said although they were non-political, they would not hesitate to mobilise support for a candidate with ‘good’ developmental agenda including serene environment for women, children and youth emancipation.

“UTA is a nongovernmental organisation, an empowerment hub for women, with membership nationwide and in Diaspora including Unites Kingdom, Sweden, Israel, Ivory Coast and Togo. In Anambra state, we have 21 coordinators across the 21 local government areas. We also have 235 woman leaders operating in 235 markets with not less than a hundred members in each market.

“We are not only traders but mothers. Therefore, we won’t allow the 2021 governorship election in Anambra state to be business as usual. Our governors are disappointing us. But the incumbent administration is trying. We want a governor that shall move Anambra State forward ever. 

"Our eyes are now widely open. Before we can vote for any candidate, we must make sure the person has the quality and capability to lead not minding the political platform. We can only support a male candidate with those qualities if no female candidate with capability contest for the poll. We have the authority. We have the number. We shall mobilise our members to vote for the best,” she stated. 

Asked if the group would be sponsoring its member, she said they would not but if any with the quality eventually comes out, they would mobilise support for her.

Duru, while stressing that the convention, which enabled them to inaugurate national officers, installed patrons, matrons and others, noted that they would soon extend it to grassroots officers.

Earlier in the convention, the UTA Spiritual Director and founder, HolyGhost Adoration Centre, Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Obimma, charged women to emulate the biblical Queen Esther and rise to their responsibilities as liberators and home builders through prayers and dint of hard-work.