Aisha Buhari, Wife of the President broke her long silence as she sent a goodwill message to Nigerian women on International Women’s Day.
Mrs Buhari had gone off the radar around September 2020 shortly after the wedding of her daughter, Hanan.
An online newspaper, SaharaReporters, had
reported that she relocated to Dubai, United Arab Emirates, citing securityissues.But shortly after, one of her aides,Kabiru Dodo, said Mrs Buhari was on a foreign medical trip.
No word was heard from her even when sheturned 50 years old on February 18.
But on Monday, she posted a goodwillmessage on her Twitter handle, @Aishambuhari.
The message which she signed personallywas titled “Message of the First Lady, Federal Republic of Nigeria, Dr AishaMuhammadu Buhari, on the occasion of the International Women’s Day 2021.”
The President’s wife lamented thecontinued abduction of women and girls in Nigeria by bandits and terrorists.
She called on all stakeholders tocontinue to exert their different levels of influence and bring the abductionsto an end.
The message read, “Today marks the 2021edition of International Women’s Day. The day offers yet another opportunityfor 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 aCOVID-19 World is a strong call to appreciate the efforts of women and girls inthe fight against COVID-19 pandemic.
“COVID-19 has had a huge impact on women;disrupted education and careers, lost jobs, descent into poverty, andproliferation of domestic violence. Many have also died or suffered due to lackof access to basic information on the pandemic, It is therefore important, notjust to continue spreading the message of the COVID-19 protocol, but to rememberand support those who have been affected negatively by the pandemic in one wayor another.
“Away from COVID-19, women and girls inNigeria have continued to suffer abductions both in the hands of insurgents andbandits.
“As a mother, I share the sorrow andagony of the victims and their families. I am also not unaware of the impactthat these abductions could have in reverting many successes we have hithertoachieved, especially in terms of girl-child education and early marriages.
“I call on all stakeholders to continueto exert their different levels of influence and bring these abductions to anend and to assure us that girls are safe anywhere they may find themselves.
“My best wishes to women all over theworld for their resilience, hard work, and commitment to the progress of
humanity. Happy International Women’s Day. “