LEADERSHIP
Although the office of the first lady has never been constitutionally defined, the occupant plays a prominent role in the political and social life of a nation as wife of the president or head of state.
In Nigeria, the office which had been in existence since the country gained independence became distinct between 1985 and 1993, during the military regime of General Ibrahim Babangida (rtd).
It was the wife of the former military president, the late Maryam Babangida, who brought elegance, allure and flamboyance to the office. Since then every Nigerian first lady is closely watched for some hint of her husband’s thinking and for a clue to his future actions.
Even though she is not elected or paid, the prominence of the Nigerian first lady provides her a platform with which to influence behaviour and opinion, and popular first ladies have served as models for how Nigerian women should dress, speak, and make their hair.
They are also political partners to their husbands, from the campaign trail to Aso Rock presidential villa. While some first ladies support the presidency behind the scenes, others use their title to effect change in their own right, especially through their pet projects.
Completely inebriated by fecundity of the position of power defined as much by their own personalities and interests as by public perceptions and social expectations, some first ladies have even used their influence to affect legislation on important matters such as children and women’s rights.
But too much independence and the trappings of the exalted office had left some past Nigerian first ladies enamoured with the lure of power, sparking criticisms that some of them are arrogant and power-hungry.
With just about five days to the inauguration of the incoming government of Bola Ahmed Tinubu, LEADERSHIP takes a look at the contributions of Nigerian first ladies to their husbands’ administrations since the return of democracy in 1999.
Aisha Buhari
In 2015 when her husband won his first term as president, many had hoped that the 44-year-old Aisha Buhari at the time would bring calm and harmony to the presidency. After eight years in the presidency, that perception is definitely not the same today, as later events would show.
The once humble and shy Aisha later turned out to be vocal, bloody bold and resolute. Throughout her husband’s eight-year tenure, she spoke up even when some people didn’t feel comfortable with her position.
