There may be a simple reason why Aisha Buhari may not be Nigeria’s First Lady when her husband, President-elect Muhammadu Buhari gets handed the reigns of power on Inauguration Day, May 29.
Her husband doesn’t like the title. Even more surprising, she seems to agree.
The term “First Lady”, an unofficial title for a President’s wife, has received quasi-official status due to the fact that funding and staff has traditionally been allocated to First Ladies since independence.
However, the Nigerian Constitution does not provide for the “office” of the First Lady, a situation which outgoing First Lady, Patience Jonathan was ever so quick to criticise – even going as far as demanding for a pension.
Buhari, in an interview in December 2014, said that there would be no such office if he was elected.
“The [office of] First Lady is not in the constitution, so there’s no official role for them,” Buhari said.
Mrs Aisha Buhari, wife of General Buhari said as much when she spoke at the inauguration of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Women Campaign Council in January.
“When my husband is elected as the president of this country, he will rule the country within the rule of law based on the constitution of the country,” she said.
“If the office of the first lady is constitutionally recognized, he will not tamper with it but if it is not, that’s okay. For me I will perform my duties and role as the wife of the President of Nigeria traditionally,” she added.
We’ll see what becomes of this.
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