More than 400 Nigerian women have voiced out their grievances citing that the All Progressives Congress (APC) leaders deceived them.According to source, some influential women leaders in APC sent a circular to several Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) to mobilise 50 women each to the Eagle’s Square, Abuja to receive 50kg bag of rice each as palliative. The circular sent to the NGOs which was forwarded by a member of African Youth Union Commission, Esther Adelana on friday in Abuja, the message reads; ‘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”.
Nevertheless, the women mobilised from different NGOs to Abuja were left with nothing as promised rather 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. The 400 women were hired in a quest to foil the planned nationwide #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria protest.
Adelana lamenting the disappointment 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 50kg 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.”D
