By Henry Umoru

ABUJA — National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, Thursday, warned that if women must be in the vanguard of policy making in the country, they must at all times support themselves to get to the top.

According to him, women are own greatest set back to achieving political relevance and positions.

Speaking yesterday  at an  E-Women conference organised by the office of PDP National Woman Leader, Mrs. Kema Chikwe, Tukur however, noted that  women in the PDP were  taking the advantage provided by the party to leverage with men  in party politics.

Represented by the PDP Deputy National Chairman, Dr. Sam Sam Jaja, the PDP national chairman, however, hailed  the initiative of  Kema Chikwe for putting in place a programme that would ensure  that more women were  empowered to take their rightful place in politics.

According to Tukur, “the  greatest setback to women empowerment is women themselves. They will rather support a man in an election than support one of their own. But  things are changing, they are now coming out in droves to challenge the men for political offices.

“Our  party, the PDP, is the only political party that has ensured that women are entitled to nomination forms, free of charge. By 2015, women will occupy nothing less than 50 per cent in political positions in this country.”

Earlier in her  remarks, the PDP  national woman leader, Dr. Kema Chikwe,  appealed  to  PDP women from across the country  to avail themselves of the opportunity being  provided by the  E- Women Conference.

“The  initiative is rooted in my belief that there is a vacuum in the political  sphere in our great country, underpinned by a noticeable gap in  the participation of young, dynamic, intelligent generation of young women in politics.

“Most  of you have successful female politicians as role models. You have hopes and aspirations, dreams on how to  be politically relevant in one way or another, to assume positions of power, to make a positive change, or simply to contribute or have  your say in politics.

“This initiative is for you. It will provide you ample opportunities for you to live your dreams and participate in the political mainstream, under the umbrella and guidance of the biggest political party in Africa, PDP.

“ By coming here today and being a part of this invigorating  historical event, your time is now, your time is today.”