Still On Toyin Saraki …

SINCE our story titled ‘Toyin Saraki Regains Groove’, published last week in this section, and upon which we intended no malice or mischief, we are concerned that the Wellbeing Foundation Africa considers the piece objectionable. This is highly regrettable as we hold Mrs Saraki in high esteem.

We agree with Jesse Cheto, for the Foundation, that: “Her Excellency, Mrs Toyin Saraki is not a politician and has never been a politician.

Her impeccable pedigree and personal distinction notwithstanding, she remains a modest and discrete gentlewoman, who is pursuing her independent humanitarian commitments through the Wellbeing Foundation Africa, has never been a socialite, by choice, and likewise has never encouraged nor adopted the unnecessary bogus paraphernalia that arguably may bedevil the arena of spouses of elected public officials.

Neither does she seek to, nor tolerate, the wrongful peddling of socio-political influence. “As Global Goodwill Ambassador for the International Confederation of Midwives, Supporter of the United Nations Secretary General’s Every Woman Every Child Effort, Newborn Champion for Save The Children, Board Chair for White Ribbon Alliance Nigeria, and Board Member for the Africa Justice Foundation and the Global Foundation for The Elimination of Domestic Violence, to name a few of Mrs Saraki’s espoused causes, in the last four years since the end of her husband’s tenure in Kwara State,

Mrs Saraki has cherished her precious and scant leisure time between her regional and global advocacy commitments, to spend with immediate family members, most particularly after the death of her beloved eldest brother in April 2011, and thus, in fact, voluntarily withdrew from unnecessary social activities in order to mourn her bereavement appropriately.”

We regret and apologise for any embarrassment the story could have caused Mrs Saraki and the Wellbeing Foundation Africa. – Editor