Presidency refutes report on `200 cars for First Ladies Conference'

 

The summit is scheduled to open in Abuja on Thursday.

The Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the President, Dr Reuben Abati, said in statement that the report was an attempt to incite public anger against the government.

The statement said the African First Ladies Peace Mission (AFLPM), the organiers of the summit, was a Non-Governmental Organisation.

``Its activities are funded by stakeholders and members of the private sector who support and identify with its objectives.

``In accordance with its modus operandi, the AFLPM set up several committees, including a finance committee, to raise funds and sponsorship for the organisation of its Abuja Summit. 
 

``As part of its contributions to the successful hosting of the summit by the First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan, Coscharis Motors Ltd., offered to provide some cars for the event.

``This is at no cost to the organisers or the Federal Government of Nigeria.

 ``Under an agreement signed by the committee and Coscharis Motors, all the cars will be returned to the company after the summit,’’ it said.

 It stated that the editors of the newspaper had no facts in the body of the story to support the claim in the headline that the Federal Government bought the cars in question.

 apparent to them,’’ it stressed

``Daily Trust admits in the report that it could not confirm if the cars were bought outright or hired, yet it published “FG BUYS 200 CARS FOR FIRST LADIES SUMMIT”.

 ``It is highly regrettable that the Editors of the Daily Trust rushed to publish a completely erroneous report, the falsity of which should have been

 

Mrs Jonathan says African first ladies committed to peace

 The First Lady, Mrs Patience Jonathan, on Wednesday said the presence of African First ladies in Nigeria had demonstrated their commitment to achieving lasting peace on the continent.

Jonathan said this in Abuja during the laying of the foundation and planting of trees at the permanent secretariat of the African First Ladies Peace Mission (AFLPM).

 ``As friends from different parts of our continent, we have kept hope alive by this event. We have also demonstrated that we are committed to achieving lasting peace on our continent.

`On this foundation stone, we shall build a befitting structure as the secretariat of our mission.

``Here, we shall assemble to discuss and resolve pressing issues on peace, security and development in Africa.’’

She acknowledged the sacrifices and efforts of the founding members of the AFLPM in ensuring the survival of the organisation in spite of several challenges.

The wife of the President expressed shock at the sudden death of the President, John Atta Mills of Ghana, and conducted a one-minute silence in his memory.They toured the banquet hall of the State House where indigenous couture such as `adire’, `aso-oke’ and beads were on display