APGA Presidential Candidate, Umeadi Promises Inclusive Governance
Princess-Ekwi Ajide Abuja
The Presidential candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) and former Chief Judge of Anambra State, Professor Peter Umeadi has promised that his government would empower women to become the best they can be through implementing the gender policy as prescribed by the law.
He urged Nigerians to hold him by his words as he intends to carry out to the letter the 35 percent affirmative action as the minimum standard, promising to give the most juicy job to a woman if she is the most suited for it aside the affirmative action.
The APGA presidential candidate who spoke in an interview in Lagos, harped on varying issues such as the country’s economy, security and other vital national interests.
He noted that as Chief Judge in Anambra State, he got involved in facilitating the Child Rights Act because he had been previously sent to seminars in Kaduna by his Chief Judge at a time in 2008 to encourage states in the country to domesticate the Child’s Right Act.
He expressed pleasure that so far, only about five states have not domesticated that act hence he will dedicate his time to that area especially as he believes the development of a child is the basis for developing any nation.
Chief Umeadi promised to concentrate his work in ensuring that all states in Nigeria domesticate the Act and that the Act is implemented to the fullest.
He also promised that his administration would uphold necessary customs and practices that are progressive and dignifying as laws, are the foundations surrounding the society.
According to him, women possess the necessary skills which could be used to develop Nigeria especially as women are at par in terms of numbers with men in Nigeria as revealed hence all human rights must be respected be they men or women irrespective of their age.
“When it comes to inheritance, a woman has the right to say that this is not exactly what I want. If my father have lived a cosmopolitan life, then I would have been entitled to the property. Generally, I would encourage that all persons who go through trainings, we would urge them to take the best that will serve a purpose and if the best man for the job is a woman, then, I will gladly put a woman there” he said.
The presidential candidate explained that he would run on the rule of law, separation of powers and due process which means the If elected as president of Nigeria, he will focus on running the executive arm of government, and will not interfere with the process of lawmaking, or the process of adjudication upon the laws by the judiciary.
He said recovering the education curricula by encouraging schools to follow the German model, which is such that everybody starts together until middle school, where those who have the propensity to technical education will follow the technical line and graduate into skill acquisition where the skill acquisition development facilities are made available for them and then, they come out from there, acquiring the proper skills, employing themselves and helping to employ others. Those who want to go to the formal one, continue in grammar school and come out to get into the university and develop in that area.
“So, it’s going to take time but then, that is why essentially, the manifesto which I have before me made it clear that the philosophy of APGA as a political party under which am running rests squarely on social progress, which is the ability to achieve their life ambitions in a setting presenting a level playing field and predetermined standards”.
According to him, the thrust of APGA presidency under his watch will be to develop the people, invest on the people because he believes that the payback that will come out is going to be faster than building machines and all kinds of structures that requires going to borrow money which in the end, leaves the people without any form of support for their sustenance thereby, leading them to crime which in turn, breeds insecurity in the country.
