First Lady Cautions Women On Inflammatory Statements

The First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan, on
Monday, urged women to eschew statements that will heighten the tension in
Nigeria.

Dame Patience gave this charge in Makurdi
during her peace advocacy rally.

According to her, the current security
challenges in the country can be surmounted through the women’s contributions.

She said that the situation called for
sober reflection, saying that the women were ambassadors of peace in the
society by virtue of their role in peace building processes.

Jonathan described women as agents of
positive change and development and appealed to them to preach peace at all
times as the essential ingredient of development.

“No meaningful development will be achieved
in a crises-ridden country.’’

She noted the effort of President Goodluck
Jonathan at ensuring equity and balance in gender in his cabinet by appointing
13 women as ministers and special advisers.

Jonathan, therefore, urged the women in
political offices to project and defend the interest of women as good
ambassadors.

Also speaking, the wife of Benue Governor,
Mrs Dooshima Suswam, promised to take the message of peace to the Northern
Governors ‘Wives Forum in the effort to spread the peace advocacy in the north.

Suswam expressed regrets that those
unleashing mayhem and disrupting the peace needed the counsel of women.

In her remarks, Mrs Nkechi Mba, the
President of the National Council of Women Society (NCWS), expressed concern
over the increasing spate of insecurity in the country.

Mba urged women to stand against inequality
and injustice prevailing in the country, saying the problem rears its head in
most homes.