The First Lady, Mrs Patience Jonathan, says that her renewed tenure as President of the African First Ladies Peace Mission (AFLPM) will be devoted to strengthening peace building efforts in Africa.
She gave the assurance on Friday, while speaking to newsmen at the end of the 7th Summit of AFLPM in Abuja, where she was re-elected to hold the position for the next two years.
Jonathan said that she was happy that all the First Ladies were determined to promote peace in Africa and ensure that the continent got rid of its negative image of a theatre of wars and conflicts.
“I believe that we should strongly pursue peace for Africa; I also believe that peace will come to reign on our continent. Peace is our watchword because there can be no meaningful development without peace.
“As the president of the Mission, I believe that charity begins at home and that we are all brothers and sisters, whether we are from the north, south, east or west.
“It is time for Africa to become a progressive continent and not a crisis-ridden region; so, our strategy will be advocacy and appeal to aggrieved parties to drop their weapons and pursue peace because we all know that in conflicts, women are mostly affected.
“We all agreed at the plenary session that we would move from country to country in Africa to ensure that in any place where a problem arises; dialogue should be seen as the only way out.’’
Jonathan stressed that if Africa became free from conflicts, people would like to visit the continent.
Hajiya Namadi Sambo, wife of the Nigeria’s vice-president and head of the country’s delegation, congratulated Jonathan on her re-election.
“We are confident about her capabilities and we know that with Her Excellency at the helm of affairs, peace in Africa would be on the front-burner till we are able to achieve it,’’ she said.
Also speaking, Hajiya Zainab Maina, the Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, said that Jonathan’s re-election “is a victory for Nigeria and all African countries.
“It means that other African countries recognise and appreciate our leadership role. It is also a victory for Nigerian and African women because it means someone is looking after our welfare and affairs,’’ she added.