By Fredrick Nwabufo
Jane Appleton Pierce, the wife of
Franklin Pierce, 14th president of the United States, is perhaps, most
remembered as the ‘’calamity first lady’’. She spent her years working against
the political ambition of her husband. And when he eventually became president
she still did not let up.
Is Aisha Buhari ‘’calamity first
lady’’? Really, I ask because she appears to reveal all the dirty and soiled
undergarments of Aso Villa to the chagrin of President Muhammadu Buhari.
In October, in the heat of the
controversy effectuated by an interview granted by Fatima Mamman Daura,
daughter of the ‘’cabal honcho’’ to sully Aisha, I expressed concern regarding
the knotty problem the first lady was dealing with at the villa.
To me, it was clear Mamman
Daura’s daughter leaked the video recording of Aisha in her most distressed
state to embarrass her.
Also, I considered it duplicitous
that the ‘’cabal’’ was in conflict with the First Lady and at the same time
cozying up to the president and huddling in his kitchen.
I had asked: Can the cabal love
the president more than his wife? Can they be for the president but against his
wife? Does loyalty not come with full compliments? Is disloyalty to the wife of
the president, loyalty to the president?
I believe the president and his
wife share intimacy by dint of marriage. She is naturally his biggest influencer;
whispering sweet ‘’nothings and somethings’’ in his ear during pillow talk.
But as a matter of fact, Aisha is
now coming off as an angry black first lady. Her concerns as regards her family
affairs, may or may not be genuine, but she has become catty in handling them.
I advise Aisha, the matron of the
villa, to take lessons in grace, temperance and carriage from Michelle Obama,
former first lady of the US.
The office of the First Lady is a
pivotal one. It should bring the zing to the administration. It should be that
‘’soft and cuddly touch’’ of the administration. The office should also be the
staunchest promoter of the government and not an outlet for exhibiting
hypocritical tigritude.
At the weekend, the First Lady
accused presidential aides of not ‘’defending the government’’ enough.
According to her, ‘’aides are
supposed to take action against the offenders, or to take action or to take
charge or be in control, or caution people, they keep mute. But when it comes
to unnecessary things, people will start talking from the presidency.”
I find this amusing. Aisha
herself has been the biggest demarketer of the administration. I will give
instances.
In May, the First Lady ridiculed
the N500 billion social investment programme initiated by her husband’s
government. She said it failed in the north.
“I was expecting the N500bn to be
utilised in different methods in the north for the aim to be achieved. I don’t
know the method they used, but most of the northern states do not get it. My
state does not get it.’’
In October, 2016, Aisha said she
might not support Buhari’s re-election — that he is a titular head being
puppeteered by three people – the cabal.
In November at the National
Islamic Council meeting in Abuja, she spared no verbal attack for anyone,
cutting down every organ and institution of government with her tongue.
But is it the place of the First
Lady to reprimand aides appointed by the president in the open? Do they report
to her? Were they appointed by her?
I am really concerned. Does Aisha
really know how government functions? Beyond her criticisms of the
administration, which I must say resonate with me as a critic, she appears to
be classically ignorant of the operations of government.
Really, Aisha has shaped up to be
that lady of the manor who commands obedience by heckling, cursing and
caterwauling.
I saw through the veneer of her
hypocrisy when she spoke in support of the draconian social media bill.
According to her, the first family ought to be protected from the irritations
of social media.
She even reprimanded Lai
Mohammed, minister of information, in public for not taking action on those she
conceived to be offenders on social media. It was clear to me that her attacks,
even on the administration, were for an insular end – not that she loved the
people.
I advise Aisha, the matron of the
villa, to take lessons in grace, temperance and carriage from Michelle Obama,
former first lady of the US.
She could also choose to see a
role model in the late Mariam Babangida.
*Fredrick Nwabufo is a writer and journalist. He is on
Twitter as @FredrickNwabufo
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So they get an ibo man to write in support of them. These people are interestingly manipulative and ibo unity still has a long way to go.
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