The Nigeria First Lady, Aisha Buhari, has finally broken her silence on women’s day after months of relocating from Nigeria to Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
Recall that the President’s wife, relocated to Dubai in September 2020 after her daughter, Hanan got married. Reliable sources revealed that Aisha does not have a plan to return back to the country anytime soon despite spending over three months outside the country.
Aisha Buhari had reportedly claimed that her reason for traveling out of the country is because her family is not secure in the Aso Rock Villa.
But in a statement on Monday to celebrate International Women’s Day, Aisha Buhari said this year’s theme is a strong call to appreciate the efforts of women and girls in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.
She also condemned the recent abduction of schoolgirls at the Government Girls Secondary School in Jangebe, Zamfara State.
Mrs Buhari, however, called on stakeholders to exert their level of influence and bring the abductions to an end, and to assure that girls are safe everywhere they find themselves.
The statement read, “Today marks the 2021 edition of International Women’s Day. The day offers yet another opportunity for humanity to review and reflect progress made on issues of women and girls.
“This year’s theme: Women In Leadership: Achieving on Equal Future in a COVID-19 World is a strong call to appreciate the efforts of women and girls in the fight against COVID-19 pandemic.
“COVID-19 has had a huge impact on women; disrupted education and careers, lost jobs, descent into poverty, and proliferation of domestic violence. Many have also died or suffered due to lack of access to basic information on the pandemic, It is therefore important, not just to continue spreading the message of the COVID-19 protocol, but to remember and support those who have been affected negatively by the pandemic in one way or another.
“Away from COVID-19, women and girls in Nigeria have continued to suffer abductions both in the hands of insurgents and bandits.
“As a mother, I share the sorrow and agony of the victims and their families. I am also not unaware of the impact that these abductions could have in reverting many successes we have hitherto achieved, especially in terms of girl-child education and early marriages.
“I call on all stakeholders to continue to exert their different levels of influence and bring these abductions to an end and to assure us that girls are safe anywhere they may find themselves.
“My best wishes to women all over the world for their resilience, hard work, and commitment to the progress of humanity. Happy International Women’s Day. “