Nigerians Eulogise
Ex-First Lady’s Virtues
Nigerians
have been eulogising the virtues of late former First Lady, Mrs.
Maryam Babangida, who died on Sunday in the United States, after
a long battle with cancer.
Vice President Goodluck Jonathan said that the accomplishments
of late Mrs. Babangida in Nigeria’s socio-economic development
would forever be remembered.
The Vice President, in a condolence message to the family of the
late former First Lady, described her as, ’’A great lady with
personal candour and charm, whose transition is a great loss to
the country.’’
’’As the First Lady of Nigeria, her pet project, `Better Life
for Rural Women', was a unique idea that touched not only the
lives of women in the rural areas but all Nigerians as a whole,
she worked assiduously to ensure that women participated in the
socio-economic development of the country and her contributions
to uplifting of the under-privileged had remained unequalled,’’
the Vice President said.
Senate President, David Mark described the late Babangida as a
quintessential amazon, who brought respect, glamour and
organisation to womanhood.
In his words, ''I feel a sense of personal loss, a loss to
Nigeria and to the African continent.’’
Mark recalled his affection and affinity with the former first
family and submitted that a vacuum had been created with her
demise.
Abike Dabiri-Erewa, a member of House of Representatives
expressed shock at the news of the death of the former First
Lady. She described late Maryam Babangida as, ‘‘a true mother,
beautiful, caring, firm, focused and full of wise initiatives.’’
She added that her pet programme - `Better Life’, remains one of
the most successful and most effective.’’
Wife of the Enugu State Governor, Mrs. Clara Chime, described
the late First Lady, as a great woman and mother, who
contributed to the upliftment of women and the less privileged
in the country.
The Country Director of “Women for Women”, an NGO, Miss Ngozi
Eze, said that late Maryam made the office of the First Lady
relevant in nation building.
According to Eze, Mrs. Babangida started the `Better life for
Rural Women’ programme, which propelled the rights of women in
Nigeria.
She said ’’Nigerian women will build on her ideologies that
rural women should be brought on board in the scheme of
things.’’
The remains of the former First Lady were expected to arrive in
Nigeria on Monday, for burial according to Muslim rites.
NAN/Seun/Qasim/Yinka
