President’s wife accused of trying to block Aisha Buhari from AFLPM position

Nigeria’s outgoing First Lady, Patience Jonathan has been accused of attempting to prevent the wife of President-elect, Muhammadu Buhari, from emerging President of the African First Ladies Peace Mission (AFLPM).

Mrs Jonathan is said to have decided to host the 8th AFLPM summit in order to deny Aisha Buhari of the position.

The First Lady has however denied the reports saying that the mission is governed by its own rules and protocols.

Mrs Jonathan’s position was disclosed via a statement released by her media aide, Ayo Adewuyi, on Tuesday, May 12, 2015.

It reads in part:

“Arising from the above, it is therefore clear that this is not a personal matter nor specifically a Nigeria sole affair but a continental platform governed by its own rules and protocols just as similar international organisations.”

“It would therefore be out of place for anyone to insinuate that it is intended to shut out the incoming First Lady. This cannot be farther from the truth.”

“We state therefore without any iota of equivocation that it is mischievous for anyone to scheme to cause disaffection between the outgoing and incoming First Ladies, Dame Patience Jonathan, and Hajia Aisha Buhari.”

“Let us therefore come together in our tradition of hospitality to heartily welcome our guests, the African First Ladies, as they arrive Abuja for the 8th Summit of the Mission.”

“Let us always remember that the personal ambition of anybody is not worth destroying the image of the nation.”

Mrs Jonathan is expected to resign her position as the mission’s President at the summit which is slated to hold on May 15.