Former First Lady, Maryam Abacha alongside other prominent personalities, Monday, graced the 65th birthday celebration of former Minister of Women Affairs, Dame Pauline Tallen, who celebrated it in grand style.
The event, which ended with a dinner at Tallen’s residence, began with a Holy Mass at Our Lady Queen of Nigeria Catholic Pro-Cathedral, Garki, presided over by the Catholic Archbishop of Abuja, Ignatius Kaigama.
The roll call of dignitaries included former Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti state; former Governor James Ngilari of Adamawa; Minister of Youth and Sports, Dr Jamila Ibrahim; Sen Aisha Dahiru Binani.
Others were two former ministers of women affairs, Zainab Maina and Inna Ciroma; former Minister of Power, Prince Jeddy Agba, former Kaduna state governor’s wife, Mrs Amina Yakowa; former Supreme Court Justice, Amina Augie.
The list also included former EFCC boss, Mrs Farida Waziri; Mandate Secretary of the Federal Capital Territory, Health and Human Services, Dr Adedolapo Fasawe; Solicitor General of Nigeria, Mrs Beatrice Jeddi-Agba.
Also in attendance were APC National Women Leader, Dr Blessing Agbomhere; first female and current vice chancellor, University of Calabar, Prof Florence Obi; former Nigerian Ambassador to Ivory Coast, Martin Adamu.
Former Court of Appeal Justice, Uzoamaka Ndukwe-Anyanwu; prominent lawyer, Damian Dodo, SAN; Plateau APC chieftain, Chief Amos Gizo; former Plateau governorship aspirant, John Alkali; wife of the Chief of Defence Staff, Mrs Lilian Musa, among many others, also attended the event.
Many of the distinguished guests took turns to euglogise Dame Tallen in their goodwill messages to her at the occasion.
Mrs Abacha, while eulogising Dame Tallen, recalled meeting her for the first time in the Presidential Villa when Abacha was Head of State and since then they both remained in touch because of her exciting and irresistible aura.
She called for inter-religious unity among Nigerians, and urged Tallen and others, who may henceforth find themselves in any position of authority to pursue this course as top priority in order to ensure peace, unity, security and national cohesion.
Responding, Tallen thanked her guests for the goodwill messages and for finding time to honor her by coming to celebrate her 65th birthday, while wishing them God’s blessings.(NAN)
