President’s Muhammadu Buhari’s wife, Aisha Buhari, Zamfara State Governor, Abdulazeez Yari, Senate President’s wife, Toyin Saraki and 15 governors’ wives, yesterday converged met in Imo State for this year’s women conference.

The theme of this year’s meeting “Women  Building Bridges of Unity Across the Niger” according to the president’s wife, was especially for unity among women, through building bridges of solidarity as wives and mothers across the country, Sun News reports. 

Aisha also  commended Imo State Governor, Rochas Okorocha for empowering the women of the state. 

“I am honoured to be a mother of the day at this year’s event. I am happy to be here and the choice of this year’s theme is apt.

“I see this annual August meeting as the resourcefulness of Imo women and the Nigerian women in general. Igbo women have always used this occasion to help resolve issues,” she said. 

“I want to encourage you to continue with this initiative especially in the promotion of peace and the empowerment of the women in the state.

“I want to thank Governor Okorocha for empowering women of the state through various policies and I urge all other governors to emulate the Imo governor.”

Speaking earlier, Okorocha said unlike women, men were always fighting among themselves because of their political differences. 

He said the women have all assembled here for one common purpose which is to build the bridge of unity across the Niger.

“Anyone speaking against unity is on his own because Nigeria must remain united and that is where I stand. And Imo State will remain a part of united Nigeria.”

Earlier, the Imo State governor’s wife and host, Mrs. Nneoma Okorocha said the meeting which an an annual women event in the entire South East is an occasion to deliberate on issues of mutual concern.

She said this year’s  meeting has been extended to all geo political zones of the country as a way of building bridges of unity.

“As women, mothers and wives, we need to build bridges of unity among women across the Niger and there is the need for every woman to sing the song of unity as we have no other option, but to continue to build bridges across the Niger.”

Present at the event were  Governor of Zamfara State and Chairman of Nigerian Governors’ Forum, Abdulazeez Yari , wife of the Senate President, Toyin Saraki, Mrs Pallen Tallen, ex- deputy governor of Plateau State, Iyom Josephine Anenih . Others include wives of the governors of Benue, Borno,  Ebonyi, Enugu, Kebbi, Sokoto, Bauchi, Ogun, Oyo, Edo and Cross River, among others.