Dame Pauline Tallen has stepped down from the race to pick the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for Plateau State senatorial district and continue in office as Honourable Minister of the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs.
Tallen said she resolved to remain in office because the enormous duty of her office as a minister demands undivided concentration.
While lamenting that women’s participation in Nigeria is still at the lowest ebb, she promised to use her good offices as Women Affairs minister to influence the involvement of more female participation.
The Trumpet recalled that women groups and other stakeholders purchased an expression of interest form under the APC for her to participate in the forthcoming elections.
The minister in a statement Monday said she cleared the air on her purported resignation from office.
She said “with profound gratitude and great humility, I have decided to voluntarily step down from the Senatorial race sequel to the yearnings of women and other well-meaning Nigerians who see the need for a strong voice for women at the Senate having consulted widely with my family, well-wishers and supporters conscious of the role I play for Women in Nigeria today!
“I wish to inform you all that following broad-based consultations and interventions from critical stakeholders, I have decided to withdraw from running for the senatorial seat mindful of our accomplishments and the notable progress we have recorded under my stewardship at the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs.
“So to all Nigerian women and young girls who have raised concerns as to what next, rest assured that I, Dame Pauline K. Tallen, OFR, KSG have not submitted any resignation letter and therefore, it is my decision not to go ahead with this request but carry on as the Minister of Women Affairs.”
Furthermore, she said “mindful that the Constitution of APC stipulates in Article 31 (1) (iii) (October 2014 As Amended), that: “Any Party Officeholder interested in contesting for an elective office (whether party office or office in a general election) shall resign and leave office 30 days before the date of nomination or party primary for the office he or she is seeking to contest aspiring to any office must have resigned his/her appointment days”. It will therefore be a breach to resign office at this time since this was not done ahead of the stipulated timeline.”
Read Also: Children, soldiers killed by suicide bomber
Promising to continue her good work in the ministry, Tallen said “my current work in superintending the numerous projects for Mr President as Women Affairs Minister require my undivided attention.
“I am compelled to focus on the foundations we have laid towards the advancement and realisation of gender equality in leadership positions in the country.
“Our nation has a long-standing commitment to overcoming the challenges that inhibit women from bringing about positive changes and the requisite impacts when given a place at the table of decision making. My appointment as the Minister of Women Affairs is indicative of this progress and I cannot lose sight of this opportunity.
“Our quest for gender equality and broadening access to enable women to participate meaningfully in nation-building is at the heart of my desire to unlock the potential of women to bring about positive change in the history of Nigeria.
“The instruments with which we aim to bring about these changes may be new but the values upon which our success rest is most critical, if appreciable, progress is to be made in fulfilling our well-conceived gender agenda.
“I remain resolute as I continue to relish the opportunity to serve Nigerian Women in my capacity as Minister of Women Affairs under the able leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR.
“As a humble servant of Nigerian women, I am overwhelmed by the hard work, courage, patriotism and loyalty displayed by women and I remain resolute to ride on these foundations to enable us to build solid structures to yield strategic progress to add through our history.”
