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Barely 48 hours after Nigeria marked her twenty-one year anniversary of uninterrupted democracy, which didn’t go without a beautiful speech by President Muhammadu Buhari, and an avalanche of promises by the fellow leaders, the truth was manifesting: Aisha Buhari, our Almighty First lady turned the villa to the shooting ground and nothing will happen. In Nigeria, the wife of the president is the second president. She strikes like the general and exercises the power of a commander.
Don’t believe me take it from the history book. From Stella to Turai, Patience, and eventually Aisha, there is an unmistaken pattern of power-drunk and greed. Although they do quite some social interventions, it is hardly the true story. The reality is, that office is not only unconstitutional but has become a hub of corruption. The EFCC has the unbroken corruption records of Patience and the internet is awash with the scandals of the present occupant. The same with Hajia Turai’s sordid history of holding the nation to ransom during her husband’s infamous sickness.
What this connote is a trend of abuse of that position and the need to be cast into the dustbin of history. Much like a safe country has become a mirage since the Buhari presidency came in 2015, Nigerians were also promised the abolition of the Office of the First Lady. Only for Aisha Buhari to make an official announcement a few years later, she was ready to assume the office. And in fact, was and is always the First Lady. What office? You may ask. But no other political office enjoys better patronage and fat purse. Despite not qualified statutorily for a budget, the funds going down there in the name of one pet project or the other is indescribable. The number of aides and other pecks which prove a drain on the nation’s lean resources beggar answers.
Aside from being unconstitutional, it encourages abuse of power, and also becoming the breeding ground for corruption, the office has also largely failed in her supposed traditional roles of mothering the nation. Obviously, without meaning to objectify or ridicule the women, African women have a great history of being loyal, supportive, and understanding. But the women who lust for fame, power, and money cannot be said to remain true to this commitment, and are more bad of influence than role models. Instead of the office of First Lady, what we practically have is an extension of the office of the president. This cannot continue.
Nigerians need to speak in accord against this anomaly. The office has done more harm than good. Although I believe in democracy, it doesn’t include the office of the First Lady. We should raise our voice in objection to this abuse of authority, and save the nation of disgrace and treasury the office attracts.
