•First Lady reveals why she visited Anambra

By PAMELA EBOH, Awka

The First Lady of Nigeria and wife of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, on Thursday said that her visit to Anambra State was geared fostering unity among Nigerians and supporting citizens regardless of party affiliations or geographical locations.

She noted that contrary to people's insinuations, she was in Anambra State and other South-East aa a Nigerian, not for political campaigns, adding, "I will return to the region for campaign when the time comes.

“I am not in the state for political campaign but as a united country, men and women, the citizens must be their brothers’ keepers wherever they are."

She called on Nigerians to strive to see every citizen as a brother and sister, regardless of where they live across the country.

She spoke while addressing the mammoth crowd that comprised of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) faithful, the All Progressives Congress (APC) members and members of the City Boy Movement at the Ekwueme Square in Awka, during the launching of the National Community Food Bank Programme (NCFBP). The First Lady described Igbos as “very nice people” and an important part of Nigeria.

While describing Anambra State as the last focal point in the zone, Mrs. Tinubu observed that the programme was designed to support women and children and enhance their livelihoods in the state and other parts of the South-East.

In the course of the launch, 500 women drawn from the 21 local government areas and three senatorial districts of Anambra State went home with N50,000 to N100,000 each.

She explained that the launch of the NCFBP had brought renewed hope to Nigerian women and children.

She further disclosed that N100,000 would be donated to each of the beneficiaries, amounting to N500 million, to support them, in addition to other empowerment items such as sewing machines, farm seedlings, pigs, goats and other materials.

During the reception ceremony, Senator Oluremi Tinubu was conferred with the chieftaincy title of Ugoeze Anambra, meaning “the glory of the king, in Anambra" by the Chairman of the Anambra State Traditional Rulers Council and the Igwe of Obosi, HRM Igwe Chidubem Iweka.

The title was conferred on the First Lady in appreciation of her outstanding commitment and support for her husband towards improving the well being of Nigerians.

Mrs. Tinubu however thanked the people of Anambra for the honour and for coming out en masse to receive her at the ceremony, that according to her, marked the final day of the launch of the NCFBP.

She added, "Today is the final day that we have concluded our launch for the National Community Food Bank Programme.

"We have gone to all the six geopolitical zones and we are pleased to give God the glory that we didn’t go on a wild goose chase. We actually saw our young brothers and sisters as well as impoverished children, and we want to say that there is hope for them.

“I want to sincerely thank the governor and his wife for the friendship and love they have shown to Mr. President.

"All these items you see here today are from the Anambra State Government. We did our own yesterday (Wednesday), and the governor and his wife maximally organised all these, and they are for 5,000 beneficiaries.

“And when she (Soludo’s wife) told me, I said because of that, I will match that with my own to give each beneficiary a total of one hundred thousand naira, making a total of half a billion naira."

On arrival to the state, the President's wife visited the Federal Polytechnic, Oko, where she commissioned a new Experiential Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Centre and also launched the National Community Food Bank Programme for the South-East geopolitical zone.

Earlier in his welcome speech, Governor Charles Soludo said the event was organised to celebrate the First Lady for her supportive and loving kindness as a mother and for her commitment to the good and welfare of Nigerian women, children and youths, as well as humanity.

Soludo noted that Senator Oluremi Tinubu, as a pastor, appeared to be living out the full meaning of the Scripture as encapsulated in Matthew 25:35–40, which states: “For I was hungry and you gave me food, and thirsty and you gave me water to drink; I was a stranger and you took me in; and I was naked and you clothed me. I was sick and you cared for me.”

He added that Jesus said, “Whatever you did for the least of these brothers and sisters, you did for me.”

“Our mother and First Lady, we know that public service is the greatest platform for philanthropy.

"You have used the platform offered to you by God Almighty to truly live out the full essence of the Christian calling. Thank you for all you do for Nigeria and Anambra."

The governor also observed that the coming together of chieftains of both APGA and APC to receive and honour Senator Tinubu and her team demonstrated that the progressives were working together in truth and not merely as a slogan.

He added: "Even within the APC, there was “APGA DNA, and here we say Anambra is APGA and APGA is Anambra.”