Wife of President Goodluck Jonathan, Patience, on Friday attributed the success recorded by her husband in the various sectors in the first half of his four-year tenure to the outstanding performance of the women in his cabinet.
Mrs. Jonathan made the observation in a short remark she made at a dinner she organised for women at the Presidential Villa, Abuja in commemoration of this year’s Democracy Day.
“Two days ago, the President read his mid-term report to Nigerians. He and his team have done very well. Women are the powerful people in that cabinet,” she said.
Mrs. Jonathan singled out the Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, for her efforts to reposition the nation’s economy and the Minister of Aviation, Mrs. Stella Odua, for giving a facelift to the nation’s airports.
She said female appointees in the present administration have done the womenfolk proud with their brilliant performances.
She said the womenfolk should be held responsible for the success or otherwise of the present administration since women are well represented in the government.
She thanked the President for giving the women the opportunity to prove themselves.
“We thank God for Mr. President for giving women a chance. Since independence, this is the first time women can walk tall and talk where men are talking. So, we thank this administration. We will continue to support this administration and make it succeed,” she said.
On the security challenges being witnessed in parts of the country, Mrs. Jonathan urged women to take the front seat in changing the situation.
She said, “On the issue of security, women are more involved. Soldiers are our children, Boko Haram members are our children, militants are our children.
“It is high time we talked to our children at home to shun evil behaviours and make sure we desist from anything that can bring the country down. We should be proud of our country.
“We should preach peace and be peaceful in our homes, local governments, states and the country. Our watchword should be peace. We should move from door-to-door to preach peace.
“Without peace, there will be no development and we need development. Women are saying enough is enough. We don’t want our children to die again.”
Among dignitaries that attended the dinner were a former First Lady, Hajia Ajoke Murtala Muhammed; wife of the governor of Anambra State, Mrs. Margret Obi; Majority Leader, House of Representatives, Mrs. Mulikat Adeola-Akande; wife of the national chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Mrs. Fatima Tukur; PDP’s National Women Leader, Mrs. Kema Chikwe; business tycoon, Hajia Bola Shagaya; Mrs. Stella Okoli; female members of the Federal Executive Council, female presidential aides, female lawmakers, wives of service chiefs and representatives of different women groups, among others.
