The fiery cleric stated this as a keynote speaker in Benin City, capital of Edo State over the weekend at an event tagged “Parents Summit” organized by the state government as part of activities to mark the 2024 Education Week.
“Women are saying, ‘We want 30 percent’ – although my argument about 30 percent is slightly different from the argument of the women.
“I am fully in support of women getting 30% of power in Nigeria but my argument is that it cannot be the same women whose husbands are already holding power in Abuja and across the country, it is nothing personal, it is the reality, you cannot tell me that the Igbos, the Yorubas, the Fulanis and Hausas who are already holding power, should bring their wives and their mistresses and their daughters to become ministers and senators and so on,” he said.
Kukah also cautioned against feeding the monster of nepotism already bedeviling governance in Nigeria.
According to him, there is no justice in allowing powerful men to extend control to their privileged spouses.
“If you are going to do 30%, that 30% must go to women who represent the common people, it is not about just saying any woman at all,” he stated.
While noting that affirmative action is not about empowering just any woman, Kukah said “There must be discrimination in favour of injustice that has been institutionalised.”