Date: 2020-09-03

The All Progressives Congress ( APC) Women Network for Buhari, Kwara North Zone on Tuesday raised the alarm over what it described as toxic propaganda and character assassination targeted at denigrating the reputation of Aishat Ahman Pategi, former Kwara State commissioner for special duties who resigned last week.

The group warned that any attack on her would be considered as an affront on their people and such would attract their wrath.

A release signed by Hadiza Abubakar, zonal coordinator of APC Women Network for Buhari, Kwara North Chapter reads: "We the APC Women Network for Buhari, Kwara North Zone wish to extol the exceptional courage exhibited by one of our members and leader in Patigi Local Government Area, Hajia Aisha Ahman Pategi, the former commissioner for special duties, who showed brave spirit by voluntarily resigning from a government which seems to be losing the goodwill of Kwara people particularly amongst the women constituency in the state.

"Regrettably, the same government under which Aishat served meritoriously and refused to compromise her integrity until her last resignation has suddenly begun to propagate series of toxic propaganda and character assassination targeted at denigrating the reputation of Hajia Aishat Ahman Pategi and bring her to public ridicule.

"If despite Aishat Pategi's selfless services and contributions to the government within the short space of time, the only way Governor Abdulrazaq could repay her is to instruct press officers to launch image damaging attacks against her as exemplified by Rafiu Ajakaiye statements, then we are forced to conclude that the governor's actions suggest his lack of respect for women constituency.

"We want to warn strongly that the people of Pategi and entire Kwara North women have been betrayed by Governor Abdulrazaq and would not accept further media attacks on the person of our daughter," the group said.

"Let us also add that Aisha Ahaman Pategi consulted widely before arriving at her decision and she has the backing of our highly revered stakeholders including traditional institutions in Kwara north, thus, any attacks on her will be considered as an affront on our people and such would never be allowed to go unreplied.

"Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq should, therefore, call his men to order as Kwara north women are not like the APC State party chairman who refused to act when one of the governor's aide went on the radio and hurled series of insults on him, Bashir Omolaja Bolarinwa, and the governor refused to address this," it further said.