Notwithstanding the official preparation of the federal government to commence the handover ceremonies from the Goodluck Jonathan administration to President-elect Muhammadu Buhari, the first lady, Dame Patience Jonathan, plans to host wives of African leaders to a jamboree on May 15 before she leaves office.

It was her grand design to deny the wife of the President-elect Hajiya Aisha Buhari the hosting rights of the African First Ladies Peace Mission (AFLPM) in July aimed at electing a new President of the non-governmental organisation.

To Dame Jonathan, the summit of the AFLPM to elect its new president is a mission she must superintend before she leaves office.

It will be the first time in AFLPM history that an emergency meeting was called to meet transition exigencies.

Nigeria is the major financier of the AFLPM and is currently building an N8billion permanent secretariat for the continental non-government organisation. Mrs Jonathan finished Nigeria’s first term mandate given to her predecessor, Hajiya Turai Yar’Adua, whose husband, President Umaru Yar’Adua, died in office.

The continent’s first ladies had scheduled their 8th Summit for July, 2015, before Mrs Jonathan requested them to bring it forward to May 15, because she would no longer be Nigeria’s first lady by that time.

If the status quo had been maintained, it would have been Hajiya Aishat Buhari’s privilege to host the continent’s first ladies in July, just two months into her husband’s tenure.

The AFLPM had on July 26, 2012, re-elected Nigeria as its president at its 7th Summit in Abuja, where guests were extravagantly treated and driven in 200 exotic cars, comprising 80 units of BMW X3 and X5 with a market value of N13.5million each, while the remaining 120 were exotic Jaguar, Honda and other brands.

LEADERSHIP obtained a copy of the letter entitled ‘Notice of Emergency Summit of the African First Ladies Peace Mission’ addressed to all the 52 member countries.

Dated April 6, with reference number SH/HEC/AFLPM/VOL.1/15, Mrs Jonathan passionately pleaded for a change of date to enable her host the extravaganza as she prepares to leave office.

She signed it herself as: “Dame (Dr) Patience Faka Jonathan, First Lady, Federal Republic of Nigeria and President, Africa First Ladies Peace Mission.”

Mrs Jonathan’s letter recalled that when the executive bureau of the body met in October 2014, in Pretoria, South Africa, it was agreed that “the next meeting (8th Summit) of our organisation will hold in July 2015”

The purpose of the Summit, she added, was “to elect the next president of the Mission and ratify the appointment of its executive secretary.

“You will recall that Nigeria was re-elected president of the AFLPM at the 7th Summit in Abuja. With the recent election in my country and a new government coming on board from May 29, 2015, it has become necessary to convene an emergency summit of the AFLPM to facilitate a smooth and formal hand over to the new executive committee that will pilot the affairs of the Peace Mission for the next two years.”

The first lady said she was making the proposition to avoid a leadership vacuum in the AFLPM, “as was the case in 2010 when my predecessor left office suddenly without handing over to a successor.”

She stressed that she wanted to guarantee a seamless take-off for the incoming leadership of the organisation “in view of the limited time available.”

Senior special assistance to the president on media and publicity, Dr Reuben Abati, however, denied that the lavish sponsorship of the summit was at the expense of government.

Abati said: “In accordance with its modus operandi, the AFLPM set up several committees, including a finance committee, to raise funds and sponsorship for the organisation of its Abuja summit.

“As part of its own contributions to the successful hosting of the summit by the first lady, Dame Patience Jonathan, Coscharis Motors Ltd offered to provide some cars for the event at no cost to the organisers or the federal government of Nigeria”.

The land on which the secretariat is being built was originally allocated to the Women and Youth Empowerment Foundation (WAYEF), a non-governmental organisation run by Mrs Jonathan predecessor, Hajiya Turai Yar’Adua. However, in November 2011, however, the FCT minister, Bala Mohammed, revoked the allocation and transferred ownership of the land to AFLPM.

major466:
Why should Aisha Buhari assume the Presidency of African first ladies? I thought Buhari said he will cancel the office of the first lady?

adorablepepple:
Mama peace has started ooooo, until she receives final disgrace she won't rest