Buhari, Aisha, Osinbajo others hail Okorocha’s wife at 50th birthday

President Muhammadu Buhari, represented by Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, and Bayelsa State Governor Seriake Dickson, have congratulated the wife of the Imo State governor, Dr. Nkechi Okorocha, for what they described as her eventful and worthwhile achievements at a golden age.

Buhari said yesterday during the celebration of Mrs. Okorocha’s 50th birthday held at Nick Banquet Hall, Government House, Owerri, that he was proud of her for using her pet project to impact on the lives of widows and indigent women and less-privilege people by building houses for them.

The event was also used to present a book on her to mark her birthday.

Osinbajo had earlier inaugurated an ultra-modern Wellness and Diagnosis Centre for children and women built by her per project, the Women of the Divine Destiny Initiative (WODDI) along Orlu Road, Owerri.

Mustapha said: “I was specifically called by President Buhari on two occasions to be in Owerri to honour you today. This shows that you occupy a very special place in the heart of the President.

“At 50, you have achieved much more than can be imagined, especially through your SNARP projects, and just like the Levites in the Bible, you can now rest and enjoy God’s favours in your life.

“I have always been fascinated by the quality of Nkechi Okorocha’s philanthropy. There is a certain quality that is out of the ordinary, just like her SNARP project, which has changed the lives of many widows for better by providing quality homes to them.

“Just today, we opened the WODDI Wellness and Diagnosis Centre, which focuses on preventive approach to sickness or illness, especially in women and children.

”The facility is incredibly well-equipped with highly-qualified staff, including her own daughter. Her motivation is not just her kind heart, but also her understanding heart. You need a great heart to understand degradation and devastating effects of poverty. Poverty is not all about having money, but it consists of other human deprivations.”

At the event attended by 17 wives of governors in the country, the wife of the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mrs. Gimbiya Yakubu Dogara, representing wife of the President, Hajia Aisha Buhari, described Mrs. Okorocha as a woman with a large heart and dependable, who delivers assignment of national interest with utmost patriotism, acknowledging her impact on the less privileged.

Dickson, who chaired the occasion, said it was necessary to remove political differences to celebrate her, stressing: “This is the kind of thing we should emulate across the country, to celebrate ourselves, irrespective of political differences. T

“This is the first step towards achieving the unity we all desire. I urge well-meaning Nigerians to support the Imo First Lady.”

Husband of the celebrant, Governor Rochas Okorocha, commended the attendance of the wives of governors at the event, saying it showed unity more than the men folk.

“You have demonstrated unity more than us men, I recommend that we give more positions to women in government, only then we can achieve our desired goal of building a great and united nation.

“Even when I ‘quarrel’ with Governor Ayo Fayose or when Governor El Rufai abuses me, we still see their wives here, bounded in love, irrespective of political and cultural differences.

“This is our hope for a better Nigeria and this love of our wives is the pillar of our nation building.”

Responding, the celebrant told the guests that her joy was that God had bestowed on her the opportunity to touch lives and to put smiles on the face on the people.

Also in attendance were Abia State Governor Okezie Ikpeazu; Minister of Communication, Adebayo Shittu; Minister of Labour and Productivity); Chris Ngige; Minister of State for Education, Prof Anthony Anwuka; National Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Alhaji Mai Mala Buru; Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu; Deputy National Chairman of APC, Southeast, Chief Emma Eneh; and his Southwest counterpart, Chief Segun Oni.

Wives of governors present include Mrs. Bethy Obaseki (Edo); Dame Edith Okowa (Delta); Mrs. Nkechi Ikpeazu (Abia); Mrs. Monica Ugwuanyi (Enugu); Mrs. Feyi Fayose (Ekiti); Mrs. Olufunso Amosun (Ogun); Mrs. Mario Al-makura (Nasarawa); Mrs. Omolewa Ahmed (Kwara); Mrs. Bolanle Ambode (Lagos); Mrs. Magajiya Badaru Abubakar (Jigawa); Mrs. Betty Akeredolu (Ondo); and Mrs. Rachael Umahi (Ebonyi).