2023: Nigerians are eagerly waiting for the PDP to return to power - Party Chieftain, Dr Helen Adebakin

Hon. (Dr.) Hon Helen Taiwo Adebakin  politician, philanthropist and woman -activist participated in the just concluded primary elections of the People’s Democratic Party.  Taiwo-Adebakin who is also an educationist spoke with HighNotch media on the  outcome of the recently held presidential primary elections of her party.

Excerpts:

You were an active participant in the just concluded primary elections of your party,  what is your opinion about the  exercise? 

We thanked God Almighty for the hitch-free  exercise. PDP as the main opposition party in Nigeria planned well for the primaries and no doubt,  the outcome was acceptable to all. But let me state clearly that all the contestants won, even though we now have somebody as our candidate, they are all respectable people and committed party men.  The PDP has demonstrated  capacity to conduct free, fair, credible and acceptable election with the way it handled the last National Convention  and the Presidential Primaries.

What are the chances of your party  in the 2023 general elections with the innovations brought in by the 2022 recently signed electoral act? 

Let me state here that Nigerians are eagerly waiting for the PDP to return to power,  so that it could end this calamity brought upon  the country by the  ruling All Progressives Congress   (APC). The 2023 Presidential election is going to be scientific in nature. The contesting political parties  shall be speaking to facts and not rhetoric. 

What was the state of the Nigeria’s economy  under PDP in 2015 and what is the situation now under the APC administration?. Nigerians would ask questions and I am sure they know the answers to these questions . Their responses shall simply be to vote for the PDP en - masse and return the PDP as a party to Aso Rock. 

What would you consider to be the challenges of women  in politics in Nigeria?

The major problem confronting women in politics is perception. When certain individuals just feel that women are weaker sex and cannot compete with men in leadership positions.  Once that is removed, then women are equally capable to bring about the much needed change in this country. And more importantly, women too should stop being their own enemies. They should stand up to their responsibility and prove their worth.

Does Nigeria deserve a female President?

Of course yes, women are equally capable of piloting the affairs  of this country. We have proven our worth in many fronts. More importantly, women are more compassionate than men. We can’t allow people to suffer in the midst of abundance. I think the question should have been, why can’t we field a woman as presidential candidate this time around ?

Hellen Taiwo-Adebakin     

What is your take on the emergence of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar  as your candidate  in the just concluded primary elections of your party?

Like I said, we give all glory to God and we thanked the PDP leaders and stakeholders for organising one of the freest and fairest primaries in recent times.  Right from the onset, we all know that one person would emerge at the end of the day and our amiable former Vice President and Waziri Adamawa, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar  has been elected as the PDP Presidential candidate. You know he was our Flag bearer in the 2019 General elections and you know the number of states he won for the PDP.  This time, Nigerians would do the campaign for Atiku and not PDP alone.

The poverty level in the country is high, what would your party do differently to change the narrative?

Basically, what PDP will do differently is to reintroduce pro-people policies and programs  by creating enabling environment for Nigerians to enable  our local industries thrive. This alone will tackle the menace of unemployment and end the raging insecurity in the land.  Once the larger percentage of our youths are engaged, the problem confronting this country is solved. 

How can we tackle the menace of money politics in a poor country like Nigeria?

We cannot tackle this unless we have good governance and we cannot have good governance until Nigerians  return PDP to power. The ruling APC has been pursuing anti-people's policies and the results is the endemic poverty we see all over the place today in Nigeria .When a politician deliberately  impoverished  the masses, they become vulnerable to  all sorts of abuses .

What can Nigerians do to support women in politics? 

Nigerians must take ownership of the advocacy on gender mainstreaming and inclusive governance. Let us emulate other African nations like South Africa and Rwanda. 

How do you strike a balance between politics and family?

Well, nobody can claim to be a good politician without first being a good family man. Your success at the home front will greatly determine your success in politics..Family is about taking up responsibility, so also in politics.