How I will operate as Nigeria’s First Lady – Buhari’s Wife

Aisha Buhari, the wife of the presidential
candidate of the All Progressives Congress
(APC), Muhammadu Buhari, has said her
husband will not tamper with the office of
the ‘First Lady,’ if it is constitutionally
recognised.
Mrs. Buhari told newsmen on the sidelines of
the inaugural meeting of the APC women
presidential campaign initiative held in
Abuja on Saturday.
The wife of the APC presidential flag-bearer
was reacting to her husband’s promise to
scrap the office of the first lady because it is
unconstitutional and allegedly being used to
steal public fund.
According to her, where such does not exist
constitutionally, she will limit her roles to the
traditional functions of visiting orphanages
and caring for society’s downtrodden as the
first lady.
“`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.
“If the office of the first lady is
constitutionally recognised, 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.
“Wives of presidents have some traditional
roles, like receiving guests, visiting
orphanages, helping the less privileged
people.
“They also lead in the fight for the right of
women and malnourished children, infant
mortality rate, kidnapping and girl-child
trafficking,’’ she said.
While inaugurating the initiative, Mrs Buhari
urged the women to unite and cooperate with
the men by mobilising women at all levels to
ensure success at the February polls.
She urged them to double their efforts in
educating other women on how to cast their votes and at the
same time be civil in their conducts.
“As I am talking to you now, more than 55 percent of
registered voters are women hence, it is imperative to have
initiatives like this to mobilise fellow women at the
grassroots.
“The meeting will plan campaign activities that will show case
the potentials of the women wing in selling the programmes
of our great party to the women.
“This will include mobilising women by creating voters
awareness, particularly in the area of registration, collection
of PVC, identifying the party logo and how to cast their
votes,’’ Buhari said.
Also speaking, the wife of the party’s vice-presidential
candidate, Oludolapo Osinbajo, stressed the need to assist
women and the less privileged in society.
“I am happy that I am a mother, a wife and a sister. It is time
to do more than we have been doing; encourage other women
so that we all can be mothers of Nigeria.
“Mothers heal, comfort, nurture, provide, and sacrifice. We
have this virtue in us and by the grace of God; we will be
given the opportunity to express who we are as women.
“We are the ones who set the standard in the family; We
decide whether our children will be honest or dishonest.
“We have this opportunity to effect change, not only to
change the things that are happening in this nation, we have
the opportunity to change ourselves,’’ Osibanjo said.
Present at the inauguration were the wives of the governors
of Rivers, Imo and Nasarawa states, the national coordinator
of #BringBackOurGirls campaign, and a host of other APC
women and supporters.