The proposed N4 billion African
First Ladies’ peace mission building project must not be turned down as
canvassed by the opposition because it will amount to abdication of
responsibility by Nigeria and such diplomatic somersault will be
incongruent with the country’s status and leadership role in Africa, the
first lady, Dame Patience Jonathan said yesterday.
First Ladies’ peace mission building project must not be turned down as
canvassed by the opposition because it will amount to abdication of
responsibility by Nigeria and such diplomatic somersault will be
incongruent with the country’s status and leadership role in Africa, the
first lady, Dame Patience Jonathan said yesterday.
She refuted the claim that the
peace mission building was a non governmental organisation (NGO) of the first
lady, just as she implored Nigerians to be wary of politicians who see both the
media and the unsuspecting public as instruments to pursue private and personal
political objectives of bringing dishonour and embarrassment to government,
using every issue that concerns her.
peace mission building was a non governmental organisation (NGO) of the first
lady, just as she implored Nigerians to be wary of politicians who see both the
media and the unsuspecting public as instruments to pursue private and personal
political objectives of bringing dishonour and embarrassment to government,
using every issue that concerns her.
The proposed N4 billion African
First Ladies’ Peace Mission building had been the subject of a raging
criticism, with the opposition parties, including the Action Congress of
Nigeria(ACN), the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), the All Nigeria
Peoples Party (ANPP) and civil society groups contending that, apart from being
illegal and a misplaced priority, it would also constitute profligacy on the
part of the President Goodluck Jonathan-led administration.
First Ladies’ Peace Mission building had been the subject of a raging
criticism, with the opposition parties, including the Action Congress of
Nigeria(ACN), the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), the All Nigeria
Peoples Party (ANPP) and civil society groups contending that, apart from being
illegal and a misplaced priority, it would also constitute profligacy on the
part of the President Goodluck Jonathan-led administration.
Drawing the attention of the
federal lawmakers to it, the Trade Union Congress (TUC) had on Sunday also
joined those opposing the proposed project to argue that it was one of the
flamboyant life styles of the first lady and also one of the exorbitant and extravagant
ventures of wives of leaders in the country.
federal lawmakers to it, the Trade Union Congress (TUC) had on Sunday also
joined those opposing the proposed project to argue that it was one of the
flamboyant life styles of the first lady and also one of the exorbitant and extravagant
ventures of wives of leaders in the country.
But speaking through her special
assistant, Mr. Ayo Osinlu, the first lady told State House Correspondents that
despite the pressure being mounted on the National Assembly to turn down the
endorsement of the peace mission building, the project deserves to
proceed.
assistant, Mr. Ayo Osinlu, the first lady told State House Correspondents that
despite the pressure being mounted on the National Assembly to turn down the
endorsement of the peace mission building, the project deserves to
proceed.
She said that her office would,
instead, expect that objective attention should be given by both the
public and the legislature, to the gains of what she described as the all
important continental attraction to the country.
instead, expect that objective attention should be given by both the
public and the legislature, to the gains of what she described as the all
important continental attraction to the country.
Dame Patience added that, while it
was not the duty of the office of the first lady to defend the budget which was
not its proposal, but that of the FCT ministry which has responded
appropriately, there was every cause to wonder why it is suddenly an issue that
a group of the wives of Africa presidents came together to undertake the moral
duty to stop violent conflict on the continent and in the case where the
conflict becomes inevitable, to try to see if they can provide relief to
victims, saying “it offends the original African culture of charity to
obstruct any effort to promote peace and development such as the decision of
all African First Ladies to rise up to the social responsibility as
mothers and wives of leaders on the continent to save the women, children
and the aged on the continent from the traumatic consequences of violent
conflicts and wars.”
was not the duty of the office of the first lady to defend the budget which was
not its proposal, but that of the FCT ministry which has responded
appropriately, there was every cause to wonder why it is suddenly an issue that
a group of the wives of Africa presidents came together to undertake the moral
duty to stop violent conflict on the continent and in the case where the
conflict becomes inevitable, to try to see if they can provide relief to
victims, saying “it offends the original African culture of charity to
obstruct any effort to promote peace and development such as the decision of
all African First Ladies to rise up to the social responsibility as
mothers and wives of leaders on the continent to save the women, children
and the aged on the continent from the traumatic consequences of violent
conflicts and wars.”
Osinlu said, “I can assure you,
without any doubt that it is far from the desire of the first lady to have the
project turned down. One, it will amount to an abdication of responsibility by
Nigeria and that level of disappointment will be injurious for the leadership
status of Nigeria in Africa. Certainly, the first lady will not expect Nigeria
to behave in such a manner.
without any doubt that it is far from the desire of the first lady to have the
project turned down. One, it will amount to an abdication of responsibility by
Nigeria and that level of disappointment will be injurious for the leadership
status of Nigeria in Africa. Certainly, the first lady will not expect Nigeria
to behave in such a manner.
“Two, the first lady would not
also want the project abandoned because it is an undertaking that the country
has made to the continent. It means therefore that the credibility of Nigeria
will drop significantly if it goes back on its deliberate and willing
commitment to host such an organ for the continent and at the request of the
continent. Africa First Ladies Mission give us a secretariat and you
agreed that you will do it and then five years after, you wake up and say you
don’t want to do it again. I don’t think that level of irresponsibility would
be expected of Nigeria and the first lady won’t encourage that at all.”
also want the project abandoned because it is an undertaking that the country
has made to the continent. It means therefore that the credibility of Nigeria
will drop significantly if it goes back on its deliberate and willing
commitment to host such an organ for the continent and at the request of the
continent. Africa First Ladies Mission give us a secretariat and you
agreed that you will do it and then five years after, you wake up and say you
don’t want to do it again. I don’t think that level of irresponsibility would
be expected of Nigeria and the first lady won’t encourage that at all.”
Source: Leadership
