Bala Mohammed, Umahi, Tinubu, Ngige, Others Attend Mrs Buhari’s Iftar Dinner For Presidential Aspirants

The Iftar dinner hosted on Saturday by the First Lady, Mrs Aisha Muhammadu Buhari for presidential aspirants across political party lines was attended by some of the aspirants and other invited guests.

Among some of the notable aspirants that attended the dinner which took place at the Old Banquet Hall, State House, Abuja, included the Vice President, who was represented by Senator Oserheimen Osumbor, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi, Governor Dave Umahi of Ebonyi State and Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr Chris Ngige.

Others include Governor Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna; former National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Senator Barnabas Gemade; former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Yakubu Dogara and the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Godswill Akpabio amongst others.

Mrs. Buhari had sent out invitation last Thursday to 2023 Presidential aspirants across political party lines for the Ramadan Iftar urging her invitees to attend the Iftar dinner without their phones.

Those that spoke at the dinner which commenced at about 07:00 pm included the APC National Woman Leader, Governors Bala Mohammed, Dave Umahi and Nasir El-Rufai. Similarly, Senator Chris Ngige, Godswill Akpabio, APC National Youth Leader, Mrs Osinbajo and the First Lady.

The First Lady, Mrs Aisha Buhari in her speech said that the Iftar dinner was put together in order to make the aspirant appreciate the fact they are Nigerians first and foremost thus, should think Nigeria in all their considerations and actions

In her own remarks, the wife of the Vice President, Mrs Dolapo Osinbajo said that Nigerians have learnt a lot from the love and motherly role of the First Lady among other virtues.

In their various remarks, Governors Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State and Dave Umahi of Ebonyi State emphasized the need for prayers for Nigeria particularly for the well-being and peace of the nation.

In his own comment, Governor El-Rufai said that any Presidential aspirant that does not canvass votes from the Northwest geopolitical zone where President Mihammadu Buhari’s 12 million votes reside would only be jeopardizing his chances but, was quickly countered by the National Youth Leader of the APC, who pointedly told him that the next election would be determined by Nigerian youths and not the votes of the Northwest as postulated by El-Rufai.

In what looked like a satire, Senator Chris Ngige said that he does not know why he was asked to speak before one of the APC national leaders, Asiwaju Ahmed Bola Tinubu, who was eventually not called to speak at the event.

The dinner provided an atmosphere for interaction amongst the aspirants and other invited guests.