President’s Wife harps on peace for African development

Nigeria’s First Lady, Patience Jonathan has identified the African First Ladies Peace Mission (AFLPM) as an important institution in the building and strengthening of the culture of peace in Africa, saying peace is essential for meaningful development in the continent.
 
Patience Jonathan stated this recently when she received in audience the First Lady of South Sudan, Mary Ayen Mayardit in the State House, Abuja. Adding, the Peace Mission has the mandate of conflict prevention and management as well as making, keeping and building peace through civil, humanitarian and diplomatic action among others.
 
While highlighting the negative consequences of the absence of peace, she explained that the most vulnerable groups in conflict situations are women and children. She also noted that the African First Ladies Peace Mission under her direction as President has provided relief materials to African countries affected by conflicts, including South Sudan.
 
The Wife of President Jonathan further noted with regret that since the division of Sudan into North and South, the wife of the presidents in the two countries have not been active in the affairs of the mission and expressed hope for a change.
 
In another development, the First Lady of South Sudan was conducted round the facilities of the temporary headquarters of the African First Ladies Peace Mission in Abuja.
 
Speaking earlier, Mary Ayen Mayardit commended the leadership of Patience Jonathan as the President of the African First Ladies Peace Mission and thanked her for the relief materials delivered by the mission to her country. She also expressed condolence to her over the death of her mother lately, recalling that she has lost her own mother and has the feeling of pains from the loss of a loved one.
 
The First Lady of South Sudan solicited for assistance from Nigeria in the integration of the people of Abyei Region into South Sudan. “I am also asking you in your capacity as the President of the African First Ladies Peace Mission to lobby for us towards the integration of Abyei Region into South Sudan,” she pleaded.