By Kayode Sanni-Arewa
No fewer than 400 Nigerian women have been thrown into lamentation by the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) leaders in a quest to thwart the planned nationwide #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria protest.
SaharaReportere gathered that some influential women leaders in APC sent a circular to several Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) in Abuja, asking them to mobilise 50 women each to the Eagle’s Square, Abuja to be given 50kg bag of rice each as palliative.
However, after over 400 women were mobilised from various NGOs to Abuja, rather than bags of rice as promised them, they were given banners with “Say No To Protest” with different states, took pictures of them to claim they are against the planned nationwide protest against hardship, thereafter, they were left with neither rice nor transport fair as promised.
The circular sent to the NGOs on Friday and forwarded to SaharaReportere by a member of African Youth Union Commission, Esther Adelana, read, “URGENT: Good day distinguished young active citizens, please if you are in Abuja and can make your way to Eagle Square tomorrow Saturday 9am for palliative distribution by one of our partner accompanied with transport logistics. We need fifty young women.”
Lamenting the disappointment the women experienced in the hands of the APC leaders, Adelana said, “Believe this leadership at your own risk.
“Few days ago, some influential women leaders in APC sent a message to NGOs, to send 50 delegates each to Eagle square to get 50 kg of rice and some palliative for women.
“This message circulated fast in the NGO community. Almost all NGOs in Abuja got the above circular. We mobilised women to Eagle Square with the hope that they would get something as promised.
“We even sent students from the University of Abuja, only for them to get there and banners imprinted with “SAY NO TO PROTEST” were placed in their hands.
“They were told to take pictures with the banners. The women thought it was an empowerment program but the influential women from APC took pictures with them and left.
“The poor women didn’t get anything – not a cup of rice or even transportation to go back to their various destinations.
“They were used by APC to project their propaganda and were dumped afterwards. The women came back cursing and wailing in their various groups.
“The women came back wailing and cursing that APC women leaders deceived them. They were even threatened with DSS.
“I’m disappointed that Leadership News is projecting lies without verifying the information.”