Buhari urges Muslim women to strive for national prosperity

President Muhammadu Buhari has urged Muslim women not to despair but strive to keep alive the hope for a better Nigeria.In doing this, the President appealed to the citizens not to relent in praying for his administration.
  
The President made this remarks at the 31st Annual National Conference of the Federation of Muslim Women’s Association of Nigeria (FOMWAN) held in University of Lagos Main Auditorium, Akoka, Lagos.
 
Represented by All Progressives Congress (APC) National Leader Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Buhari said his administration was poised to surmount the present challenges.
  
He said: “The leadership we have come to offer our dear nation, Nigeria, is one that is committed to leading the people into the enduring heritage of worthy values and all-pervading welfare.
  
“As required by sense of responsibility in leadership, we wish to admit that the period of economic hardship that has coincided with our assumption of office till date, is a most demanding one.
 
“This is one stretch of a time exerting serious pressure on every household. It therefore implies that the impact would be more on women, as managers of resources for families. This is the reason our party, the All Progressives Congress, has been voted into power. Clearly, the journey has been inevitably rough.
 
“I urge you not to despair, but pray and trust in almighty Allah, the only one that can guarantee the safe berthing of ships, irrespective of any magnitude of turbulence on the high seas.”
  
In the speech that was read by Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola, Buhari urged Nigerians to complement and support government’s efforts to take the country out of the present economic challenges.
 
He reiterated his administration’s commitment to women’s welfare as demonstrated in the rescue, rehabilitation and re-integration of the 21 released Chibok girls.He added that government would not relent in securing the release of the remaining girls.
 
The President hailed FOMWAN and congratulated the umbrella body of all Muslim women organization in the country on their 31st yearly National Conference.Aregbesola in his own capacity as a special guest commended FOMWAN for restoring sanity in the society.
 
He described women as nation builders, enjoining them not to relent in shaping the society in positive ways.Lagos State Deputy Governor Dr Idiat Oluranti Adebule, lauded FOMWAN for their consistency in discussing relevant issues since its establishment 31 years ago.
  
Adebule said: “There can be no more appropriate time than now to use our influence as women to correct the negative perception of Islam due to the activities of those who use the platform to perpetrate heinous crimes against humanity.”
  
The guest speaker, Dr. Abdul-Hakeem Abdul-Lateef, Lagos State Commissioner for Home Affairs, said peace and security could be attained when Nigerians change their negative attitudes and collectively support government to transform the nation.
 
“We must also have respect for the rules and Nigerians must unite for prosperity. If we adhere to all these, development will set in,’’ he said.

FOMWAN National President Hajia Amina Omoti, said the peace and security were important components for development in any society, adding: “Where peace and security are threatened, there will be no development in terms of the infrastructure, social, economic and educational sectors of the nation.

“We urge government to formulate and implement policies to meet the immediate needs of Nigerians as a way of ensuring peace and security.”

Hajia Omoti lauded President Buhari’s anti-corruption stance and urged the administration to pursue to a logical conclusion all cases against corrupt officials that contributed to the current hardship faced by Nigerians.

She also commended the Federal Government’s efforts on the release of 21 of the abducted Chibok girls and called for sustained negotiation for the release of the remaining girls.