Dr (Mrs) Jennifer Douglas-Abubakar, Wife of the Presidential Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, on Saturday led thousands of Delta State women to pray for peace and unity in Nigeria. She called on Nigerian women to be courageous and rise in defence of the nation’s democracy despite the current political tension in the country generated by the suspension of the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Walter Onnoghen, and the swearing in of a new one, Justice Ibrahim Tanko.

Jennifer Atiku, while praying for the oneness of the nation and peaceful general elections in Asaba, said the country could not afford to go to war, despite all provocative tendencies of the current Nigerian Presidency.

She urged the women to rise up in defence of Nigeria’s hard-won democracy through prayers and casting their ballots come February 16 for her husband, Atiku Abubakar.

According to her, “It is not an easy journey. They will try to derail us. They will try to make us afraid. They will try to confuse us. We should not be afraid. God is our guiding light. He will show us the way. Whatever our religion is, either Christian or Muslim, we need to pray for our nation. We need to pray for our nation because so much blood has been spilled. We must pray for our nation because our nation is about to fall apart. We need to pray to God to hold it together.

“We need to pray for the future of our children and the future of Nigeria. We do not want war. We want to be together. I am crying to my Lord. Women, you need to come en masse and vote February 16. Be courageous. We need to come out and vote, and vote for Atiku/Obi. Without your vote, we will not get to the Promised Land. You need to bring out your children. You need to bring out your husbands, sisters and relatives.”

Jennifer Atiku, while eulogising the steadfastness of the wife of Delta State Governor, Dame Mrs. Edith Okowa, also appreciated the women for turning out in their numbers, saying that “even in our confused state, you were still steadfast. I thank you very much.”

On her part, Wife of the Vice Presidential Candidate, Mrs. Margaret Obi, explained why the scheduled town hall meeting for the women in Delta State was at half mast, saying that PDP had earlier canceled all planned activities, in solidarity for the dying democracy.

Wife of Delta Governor, Dame Edith Okowa, in her remarks, said the women in Delta State would not be deterred by the antics and highhandedness of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), adding: “Everything has been committed to God’s hands” and mobilisation of women would continue all over the state.

Dame Okowa called on the women and youths of Delta State to trust in God and not money, man or security agents.

She admonished them to shun violence, stressing that any enemy that intends to rig the election will get drowned. Reading from the Holy Book, Dame Okowa said: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart. Lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct your paths.”

On her part, Wife of the National Chairman of PDP, Deaconess Ene Secondus, led the women in a series of fervent prayers, calling on them not to lose faith. She added that they have thrown their weight in support of the men and are against the suspension of the Chief Justice Onnoghen.

She averred that it is women that will deliver the anticipated victory come February 16, thus admonishing them to hope in the Lord for unity and restoration.

“We the women of Delta State are saying no to the swearing in of a new CJ. We will pray to God to do mysterious miracle and every Pharaoh shall be brought down. APC has been given quit notice.”

The well attended event had PDP women leaders and women from the twenty five local government areas in Delta state as they turned out en masse to drum their support for the Atiku/Obi Presidential ticket.

•Photo by Jibunor Samuel shows Delta State Governor, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa (middle); his wife, Dame Edith (left) and the wife of PDP Presidential Candidate, Dr Jennifer Atiku, during a Private Visit to the Governor, in Government House Asaba . . . on Saturday.

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