Wife of the President, Mrs. Aisha Muhammadu Buhari has advised women to use their voting power to influence the entrenchment of democratic values of probity, accountability and the rule of law in order to guarantee peace, stability and growth in Nigeria. She said, this can only be achieved by electing the right people for the right positions.
Mrs. Buhari was speaking during a courtesy visit by the Resuscitation Committee of the Jam’iyyar Matan Arewa, a Non-Governmental Organization, on Tuesday, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
Mrs. Buhari urged the NGO to encourage women not just to select the best candidates and vote for them, but to also contest elective offices themselves. “It is easier to make a difference than to elect someone else to do so.” She said.
She added that the struggle for gender parity in Nigeria has been a long standing one, with as many shortcomings as there are successes, “but we will continue the struggle until we reach a situation where the interests of women are protected and achieved.”
She commended the NGO for thriving for over 50 years, saying she is optimistic that the dreams of the founders of the NGO will come to fruition.
Earlier, the Chairperson of the NGO, Aisha Pamela Sadauki, said the NGO has over the years made its mark by supporting the cause of women and made contribution towards addressing societal challenges of street children, drug abuse, school drop outs among girls and low political participation by women. She said the NGO will continue to be an advocate in these areas.
She commended the work Mrs. Buhari is doing for women and children through the Future Assured Programme, promising to support her in this regard.
Highlight of the event was decoration of Mrs. Buhari as Grand Patron of the Association.
Jam’iyyar Matan Arewa is non-political, non-religious and non-ethnic.
