The wife of Nigeria’s president, Aisha Buhari, has urged
political parties to always consider women as running mates to candidates
contesting elections for various positions across the country.
Aisha Buhari was speaking on Saturday night when she hosted
Presidential Aspirants from various political parties for an Iftar at the State
House, Abuja.
The Iftar was organised by the president’s wife to provide
an opportunity for the aspirants to share love and happiness with one another
in the spirit of Ramadan and in a quest for nation-building.
She said fair play for women in politics was to ensure their
greater participation in elective positions.
“In fact, it is high time women are adopted as running mates
at all levels considering their voting strength and active involvement in
political processes.
“As we approach the 2023 election with greater hope, I am
confident that Nigeria will continue to grow from strength to strength on the
pedestal of our democratic tenets,” she said.
The first lady enjoined the presidential hopefuls to remain
focused on issues that strengthened the nation`s unity, brotherhood and
national cohesion.
She, however, reminded her guests that, the 2015 election
was a watershed in the history of Nigeria.
“It was neither contested in the court of law, nor in the
court of public opinion.
“Therefore, the greatest end-of-tenure gift that fellow
Nigerians can give to the first family is another free and
globally-acknowledged fair election come 2023’,’ she appealed.
She urged all the aspirants to ensure tolerance, fair play
and avoid violent tendencies by building bridges where necessary, especially
during electioneering campaigns.
On his part, the Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo,
represented by a former governor of Edo State, Prof. Oserheimen Osunbor, urged
all aspirants to play politics without bitterness.
Osinbajo said the event offered Nigerians from different
faiths and backgrounds the opportunity to reunite with one another to foster
unity.
“It is an opportunity for aspirants from various political
parties to meet one another and the lesson we should learn from here is to
practise politics without bitterness as we move closer to election year.
“We should try to imbibe the spirit of oneness because at
the end of the day only one person is going to emerge winner of the
Presidential election next year.
“So, it is not going to be do-or-die affairs, we should
learn to practise politics without bitterness,” he said.
One of the APC aspirants and former governor of Lagos State,
Bola Tinubu, expressed gratitude to the first lady for bringing the diverse
groups of Nigerians to share love and unity.
Tinubu, however, prayed for the brotherliness, peace, unity
and prosperity of Nigeria.
On his part, Governor Dave Umahi of Ebonyi State and also an
APC aspirant expressed appreciation to the first lady for bringing the
presidential aspirants together to foster unity and nation cohesion.
“I must also thank you because this should be about our
nation, about our patriotism, we should always place our nation above our
individual interests.
“As we have aspired to lead this nation, I think that
Nigerians should be able to evaluate, is not going to be promising, is going to
be ticking the box.
“The opportunity given to us as leaders, what did we do with
it, so, this kind of gathering is highly encouraged because it is going to
douse a lot of tensions,’’ he said.
Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State and PDP presidential
aspirant said the gathering was historic going by the calibre of people in
attendance.
Mohammed promised to play the game with humility and mutual
respect.
“I promise to do the politicking with the interest of
Nigeria in my mind, respect for one another irrespective of our party
differences,” he said.
(NAN)
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