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Era of the Aishas is here

By Niyi Bello
15 April 2015   |   9:32 am
PRESIDENT-elect, Major-General Muhammadu Buhari, is known for his Spartan lifestyle which is contradictory to the creation of a flamboyant office of First Lady for his wife, no matter under what guise.
Aisha and Buhari- Image source musnect

Aisha and Buhari- Image source musnect

PRESIDENT-elect, Major-General Muhammadu Buhari, is known for his Spartan lifestyle which is contradictory to the creation of a flamboyant office of First Lady for his wife, no matter under what guise.

As a younger military officer and Head of State between 1984 and 1985, Buhari’s wife was holed up in the background and absolutely nothing was publicly known about the family of a stern ruler whose main passion was creating a new ways of doing things by instilling discipline in Nigerians.

During the build-up to the March 28 presidential poll, the issue of the office of the First Lady was brought to the front burner and Buhari, not wanting to take the label of a male chauvinist, had to bring out his wife to join the campaign train.

Afterwards, Aisha, Buhari’s wife, took a front seat role and led a separate team comprising Dolapo, wife of the Vice-Presidential candidate, Professor Yemi Osinbajo and others, to add a refreshingly feminine touch to the campaign and even raised funds in the process to assist their husbands.

With the emerging picture of a Buhari,” an apostle of change” that is not as “hard” as he used to be when he was in uniform, it is expected that the office of the First Lady would still function even if all the known excesses that were the reasons for the call for its cancellation, would have to be curtailed.

In the unfolding scenario of the face of the new first ladies to dominate the Nigerian social space in the next four years, the name “Aisha” has continued to feature prominently especially in the Northern part of the country.

Apart from Aisha Buhari, the wives of the governors-elect of Sokoto; Aminu Tambuwal, Kaduna; Nasir el-Rufai, Kebbi; Abubakar Atiku Bagudo and Niger; Abubakar Sanni Bello, all bear Aisha.

The name may soon find its way to the consciousness of Nigerians, many of who may begin to name their daughters ‘Aisha’ for good fortune.

5 Comments

  • Author’s gravatar

    What’s in a name? Nothing, really, other than whatsoever one chooses to make of it. It’s important however for us to be properly educated on the provisions of the Constitution vis-a-vis the statutory responsibilities of the First Lady. Specifically, we need to know the correctness or otherwise of a situation where a First Lady holds court in a State either in private or official capacity and practically screams at the Chief Executive of that State. In other words if a First Lady must wield executive power, it ought to be so enshrined in the Constitution. GMB, no doubt and in spite of the inordinate cravings for limelight by some of those with such penchant, would surely define roles and responsibilities for the office. I wager my salary that such responsibilities would not include summoning Governors, Ministers and DGs for non state issues.

  • Author’s gravatar

    No more unconstitutional so called ‘FIRST LADY’ or the money guzzling ‘OFFICE OF THE FIRST LADY’ in Nigeria. Nigerians will resist any attempt to foist this illegality upon us again. We won’t accept it. Not surreptitiously, not overtly. NEVER AGAIN!

  • Author’s gravatar

    There is nothing bad in bringing out your wife. I like to see Aisha beside Buhari as much as he wants.

  • Author’s gravatar

    Culturally, a naming is significant. When GEJ came to power, people started naming their newborn goodluck. What a great name. Only that there is no good luck without hardwork.

  • Author’s gravatar

    The Grace matter most! Congratulation to Aisha Buhari. We pray that what others couldn’t do, Our God would granted You the ability to do beyond in Jesus name….. Amen Nation Nigeria welcome You.