Ebonyi State Government will soon acquire a 5.5-Megawatt biomass plant from Germany which would utilize rice husk and other available waste materials to generate electricity. Governor David Umahi, who made this known after inspecting two of the three state-owned modern rice mills, said that the plant would arrive the country in the next four months. He said that one megawatt of rice husk plant and another 500 kilowatt would arrive the state soon, adding that the government is ready to meet the daily water intake of the three rice mills located in the three senatorial zones of the state. The inspection visit took the governor to Iboko in Izzi Local Government Area and Ikwo, where he inspected the condition of the facilitates, on-going rehabilitation works and the production and packaging of various sizes of rice bags. Governor Umahi said that the essence of the visit was to have first-hand knowledge of the water needs of the mills especially for the parboiling sections which had attained over 80 percent completion. He assured that excavators would be deployed to the areas for dredging of available natural water sources to meet the water requirement of about 60,000 cubic metres. Umahi said that the state government has entered into an agreement with Akwa Ibom State to ship their rice to Ebonyi for milling. The governor was accompanied on the visit by the Speaker of Ebonyi State House of Assembly, Chief Francis Nwifuru and some Executive Council members. [myad]
First Lady, Aisha Buhari, is definitely working for the PDP. And we can now officially enthrone her as the matriarch of the Wailers. Now, don’t ask me if she has ‘officially’ joined the PDP yet. But to underscore the fact that Hajia Aisha is currently being tempted to publicly tear her APC membership card (OBJ on my mind), President Muhammadu Buhari told a press conference in Germany last week that “I don’t know the party my wife belongs to.”
So, officially, husband and wife are no longer in the same political party. My only problem for now is that I don’t know whether she belongs to the Makarfi/Wike faction or the Modu Sherrif faction. I also don’t know how much the umbrella people paid her to do what she’s doing.
Yes, if I or any other journalist or political commentator had said what Mrs. Buhari told BBC Hausa Service about Buhari and his government, I suspect the DSS, Police or EFCC would since have come calling. Yes, they might not resort to pulling down our doors or sneaking up on us like any gang of armed robbers and kidnappers would but bank accounts might have been frozen by now. And Lai Mohammed would be on air, talking about how we had been contracted and generously paid, by the PDP, to discredit Buhari’s government.
I think Aisha is coming from our rich and long production line of strong women in the corridors of power and leadership. Soft exterior, steely interior!
In Nigeria, we are not new to presidencies where the women wear the trousers and have the balls (if you’ll indulge me that expression). Those who were close to the Goodluck Jonathan’s would swear that it was Mama Peace that had the balls. I was not close to the Umaru Yar’Aduas, but I’ve heard stories about Hajia Turai. President Olusegun Obasanjo may have been as stubborn as a he-goat, but people close to the then first family attest that his beautiful wife, Stella, was one woman OBJ could not put down.
I don’t know how the military leaders coped with their own wives, but legend has it that IBB stood no chance of ever making it to Maryam’s bedroom again if he had insisted, with the then Armed Forces Ruling Council (AFRC), that Asaba should not be the capital of the then about-to-be-created Delta State.
As tough as the goggled Sani Abacha appeared to the rest of us in public, a very beautiful and seemingly harmless Mariam allegedly had him on a short leash. But all these are hearsay. Even in far away US, a quiet and beautiful Hillary was said to have sentenced her all-powerful American President husband, Bill Clinton, to sleeping on the couch when he strayed into browsing Monica Lewinsky’s website. Please, don’t believe anything I’ve just said.
If you know the power of women, you’d agree with me that it is not impossible that even the little PMB said about his wife belonging to the kitchen, his living room and ‘the other room’, may have been cleared by Aisha before PMB dared to say it.
The only tragedy, however, was that PMB said it while standing next to a certain Angela Merkel, Chancellor of his much revered ‘Western Germany’.
Yes, in an era where Theresa May recently emerged UK Prime Minister, and Hillary Clinton is clear favourite to succeed Barack Obama as President of the United States (meaning that three of the five most powerful nations in the world would be ruled by women simultaneously), a Nigerian president, whose brain was not frozen in the stone age (a president who, by the way, shares no blood ties with Donald Trump) tells the world that his wife belongs in the kitchen and “the other room’. Hmm.
Incidentally, I agree with the senator who said the president’s comments were supposed to be a joke. Abeg, Madam Aisha,na joke Oga dey joke o!
But, I’m not calling for the president’s jugular. Let’s not stoke fresh fire for the president on the home front, because he already has enough problems, with the recession, the judiciary, Boko Haram, Niger Delta Avengers, the APC crisis and, of course, The Villa, which we now know, is under a spell, as the Satan’s own liaison office on Earth. [myad]
President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the nomination of 46 non-career Ambassadors-Designate. This is in addition to the earlier presidential approval for the nomination of 47 Career Ambassadors-Designate.
The second batch completed the list of the President’s nominees which reflected character and gender consideration.
The full list of all appointees and states which make a total of 93 is as follows:
The newly-crowned monarch of the ancient Benin Kingdom, Omo N’Oba N’Edo Uku’ Akpolokpolo Ewuare 11 has formally assumed the reign.
The Oba took a symbolic name and title today, Thursday at the presentation of staff of office ceremony, which was attended by the Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo, and the host Governor, Adams Oshiomhole. Also in attendance was the King of Ife, Ooni Adeyeye Ogunwusi, who shares the same ancestral Oranmiyan link with Ewuare. The coronation had earlier been performed secretly, according to the demand by tradition, before the presentation ceremony. The News Agency of Nigeria correspondent, who witnessed the event, reports that the crowning ceremony was performed at about 3am at Usama Palace, far from the prying eyes of cameras and newsmen. The crowning at the Usama palace was performed by the Usama N’ Ihiron, also known as the Edion, led by Chief Oliha. Chief Oliha was supported by other powerful rulers in the kingdom, including the Edion, Edohen, Ezomo, Ero, Eholo N’ Ire, Oloton and Edaiken. A mammoth crowd later escorted the new king from Usama palace to Orho-Okpata in Benin. The crowd had waited patiently while chanting songs of praises and incantation before the King came out exactly 1:05pm and finally left the palace by 1:20pm. As it is the ritual, the Oba of Benin walked through Oreogene and stopped by at Oloto palace, one of the seven Chiefs that performed the crowning ceremony at dawn. The Oba thereafter visited a shrine at Iwehen junction to pay homage. Then he walked through Ibiwe and later arrived at Urho-Okpota, where the crowning was officially performed by Chief Oliha of Benin. Among the dignitaries were Iweghe, Iwebos, Ibiwe chiefs and youth, Ogbelaka chiefs, Isiemwenro guild, Ifieto, and Edigin N’Okakun. The new monarch had relocated on October 11 to Usama palace to perform coronation rites after spending three days at Urho-Okpota. He was presented a staff of office by Governor Oshiomhole. The new Oba was born on October 20, 1953 and crowned on his birthday. He has three wives.
Meanwhile, President Muhammadu Buhari has pledged the full support of the Federal Government for the Royal Destiny Trust programme of the newly installed Oba of Benin, Ewuare II. Buhari, represented by Vice President Yemi Osibanjo, made the pledge at the coronation of the Oba in Benin on Thursday. The President, who congratulated the new monarch, also prayed for his success. Buhari said: “On behalf of the president and government of the federal republic of Nigeria, I congratulate you on this momentous and historic occasion. “We assure you of our full support, especially for the royal destiny trust programme for youth employment and poverty alleviation which your royal majesty has set out.” Buhari described the late father of the new Oba as a principled and forthright Nigerian. He said the father contributed to the development of the country, urged Oba Ewuare II to sustain the legacy left behind by his ancestors. Buhari also said: “It is the responsibility of this illustrious legacy that your royal majesty bear from this day forward. “Consequently, this ceremony is not merely a celebration of the pump and pageantry of history. “Your walk through your kingdom to this place of your coronation speaks of the great obligation of privilege; the obligation of protecting the cultural rights of the people and promoting their wellbeing. “We are gratified that your meritorious service as Nigeria ambassador to various nations and your sterling works in the oil and gas industry stand you in good stead to fulfill these obligations. “All of those who know you are convinced that you will discharge these responsibilities with great wisdom and integrity that your great ancestors have all displayed.” The President also congratulated Governor Adam Oshiomhole on being the first Edo State man to hand over a staff of office to a new Oba. He said: “Today, your name finds a notable place in the rich history of Edo monarchy.” [myad]
The Nigeria Bar Association has advised judges who are currentlt facing corruption allegations to proceed on compulsory leave until they are proved innocent of the charges. This is against the Association’s earlier stand, condemning the arrest of the judges and asked NBA members to boycott court proceedings.
Speaking at a valedictory session held in honour of Sotonye Denton-West, a retiring appeal court judge, in Abuja, on Thursday, Abubakar Mahmoud, President of NBA, advised the accused judges to cease performing judicial functions until their innocence has been proven.
“My Lords, distinguished ladies and gentlemen, permit me digress a little. I am sure that many here will be expecting me to make further statements on the ongoing events affecting the nation’s judiciary,” he said.
“I have, in the course of the last two weeks or so, made several statements and remarks on these developments. Our position is therefore well-known. We have emphasised our commitment to safeguarding the independence of the nation’s judiciary.
“That is corruption in the judiciary. On Thursday 13th of October at the meeting of bar leaders comprising past NBA presidents, past general secretaries and past attorneys-general of the federation, we reviewed very carefully the developments after listening to detailed briefings from both the attorney-general and minister of justice as well the secretary of the National Judicial Council.
“One of the resolutions we took was to set up a Task Force to urgently review the current developments and come up with clear specific recommendations on how best to clean up the nation’s judiciary and rebuild confidence of Nigerians in our law courts. I am expecting the report of that task force in two weeks.
“In the meantime, we have continued with our consultations and engagements. We will be coming up with bold and clear recommendations, which we will pass to the National Judicial Council and the Government.
“In the interim, however, particularly having regards to what appears to ongoing accusations and counter-accusations between some of the judges and other personalities or agencies, it appears to the NBA that it is extremely important that the NJC takes very urgent steps to safeguard the public image and sanctity of the courts.
“We therefore strongly recommend that, without prejudice to the innocence or otherwise of the judges involved in the ongoing investigations, they should be required to recuse themselves from further judicial functions or required to proceed on compulsory leave until their innocence is fully and completely established or until the conclusion of all judicial or disciplinary proceedings.
“We believe this will be necessary in order to protect the sanctity and integrity of judicial processes that may involve the judges concerned and safeguard the public image of the institution.”
The judges are Sylvester Ngwuta and John Okoro (supreme court); Adeniyi Ademola and Nnamdi Dimgba (federal high court); Mohammed Tsamiya (appeal court, Ilorin); Kabri Auta (high court, Kano) and Muazu Pindiga (high court, Gombe).
On October 8, the Department of State Services (DSS) arrested the judges after raiding their homes, claiming it recovered huge amounts of money, including foreign currencies from some of them. [myad]
There is mass purge in the Nigeria Customs Service as 29 senior officers, including a Deputy-Comptroller of Customs, five Assistant-Comptrollers, seven Chief Superintendents of Customs and four Superintendents have been dismissed.
The officers were dismissed today, Thursday, for various acts of gross misconduct and other acts considered to be capable of compromising national economy and security. Ten other officers were retired from Service while the appointment of one was terminated even as four officers were given written warnings to be of better conduct while another four who were investigated and tried for some offences were exonerated. The Comptroller-General of Customs, retired Colonel Hammeed Ibrahim Ali had made it clear upon his assumption of duties that the Service will not compromise on Corruption and indiscipline among the officers.
In line with this, the structure and process for investigation of offences was strengthened to handle cases reported promptly and professionally.
The Customs boss was quoted as saying at Management meeting convened to consider the report of the Disciplinary Committee that investigated the cases: “we will give all officers fair hearing in line with the principle of natural justice. We will however insist that sanctions be punitive, not only to match the offence committed, but to serve as deterrent to others. “The process leading to the actions taken on the officers was painstaking in line with the Public Service Rules (PSR). All the officers were served with Queries indicating offences committed and made appearances before the Special Investigation Committee. The Committee’s recommendation was discussed and approved by the Customs Management. “The recommendation was thereafter referred to the Presidency for ratification, in the absence of a substantive Board for the Nigeria Customs Service. All the officers affected in the exercise have been communicated accordingly.” The Comptroller-General warned officers that punitive sanctions will continue to be used to discipline officers who refuse to embrace change. Officers affected in this exercise were investigated for involvement in improper examination and release of containers without proper documentation and payment of duties, illegal release of goods in advance before the arrival of vessels, collection of bribe to release prohibited items, release of export prohibitions, fraudulent sale of seized items, use of fake certificates and bribery to secure auctioned goods. Last week, seventeen Junior officers were similarly dismissed from service for offences like bribery, drug addiction, use of fake certificates and absence from duty. [myad]
Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, has inaugurated the Ekiti Grazing Enforcement Marshall (EGEM), to enforce the recently signed Prohibition of Cattle and other Ruminants Grazing in Ekiti State Law, with a mandate to rid the State of the menace of herdsmen.
The governor vowed, while inaugurating the Marshall today, Thursday, that he will not sit back and watch when Ekiti people are being killed, their wives and daughters being raped and their sources of livelihood being destroyed under the guise of cattle rearing. The governor had earlier in August, signed the Prohibition of Cattle and other Ruminants Grazing in Ekiti State Bill, 2016 into law on August 29, 2016, after the bill was duly passed by the State House of Assembly.
The law provides amongst others that; “No person shall cause or permit any cattle or other ruminants belonging to him or under his control to graze on any land in which the Governor has not designated as ranches, no cattle or other ruminants shall by any means move or graze at night and that cattle movement and grazing are restricted to the hours between 7:00 am and 6:00 pm. The law also prescribed punishments for offenders, such as charging of any herdsmen found in possession of firearms and other offensive weapons with terrorism, payment for property or farm products destroyed by the cattle by the herdsmen and keeping of confiscated of cattle at Government cattle ranches. Fayose said that it is only timid leader that allow his people to be killed while they fold their arms on the altar of politics, adding that the lives of 5,000 cows cannot be equated with those of human beings that are being killed daily by herdsmen across the country.
“Supporters and beneficiaries of open grazing have argued that cows, like human beings have rights to move freely in any part of Nigeria and one question I have always ask is; what happens if poultry farmers, pig farmers, ostrich farmers or even snake farmers decide to exercise this same rights to freedom of movement of their animals? “Imagine a situation where snake farmers also release their snakes to the streets and other people’s farmlands to look for what to eat as being done by cattle farmers. “The reality we must all face is that cattle farming is not different from fish farming, snake farming, poultry farming, snail farming, etc. Therefore, if fish farmers are providing their own ponds and poultry farmers building their own pens, while also buying feed for their animals, there is no reason cattle farmers should not also provide their own ranch and feed their cows without encroaching on other people’s farmlands. “Isn’t it even shameful that in this age that people celebrate their city centre, we now adorn our own with cows and their dung, such that cows are even competing space with human beings in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and other cities in the country? “Therefore, here in Ekiti, if you must practice cattle farming, you do so at designated locations. We have taken it upon ourselves to champion this course of grazing control because no responsible leader will sit back and watch when his people are being killed, their wives and daughters being raped and their sources of livelihood being destroyed under the guise of cattle rearing. “In line with the law, any cow found destroying people’s farmlands will be confiscated and sold with proceeds handed to people whose farmlands were destroyed while herdsmen found with arms will face terrorism charge. “The police and other security agencies have the duty to enforce the Prohibition of Cattle and other Ruminants Grazing in Ekiti State Law, 2016 as well as other laws duly made by the State, by seeing to it that offenders are arrested and prosecuted accordingly. “To complement the police and other security agencies, we have set up the Ekiti Grazing Enforcement Marshals (EGEM), trained them and have them well equipped. I therefore inaugurate them today and urge them to perform their duties in the overall interest of Ekiti State and its people. “Members of the public also have a duty to join in the crusade to free our State from the menace of herdsmen by offering information to the Grazing Enforcement Marshals. In this regard, telephone numbers will be made available to the public.” The inauguration of the special marshall was witnessed by all major stakeholders in the state, including traditional rulers, chiefs, local hunters, police, army, civil defence, private sector unions, among others. [myad]
Younger brother of a Nigerian journalist, Dele Giwa, who was murdered via time bomb 30 years ago, Tunde Giwa has said that he knows the killer.
Tunde Giwa, said that Dele Giwa’s family has not been lessened 30 years after he was murdered because the killer has not been brought to justice. Dele Giwa was one of the founding Editors of Newswatch Magazine.
Tunde said that the family continued to live in pain seeing that Giwa’s killer, “who everyone knows” was still around and walking freely.
The made a passionate appeal to journalists in the country not to allow the case to be forgotten, adding that just like every other Nigerian, he knew Giwa’s killer and could mention his name.
Tunde spoke on behalf of the Giwa family yesterday,Wednesday at a colloquium organized by the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Lagos State Council to mark the 30th anniversary of Dele Giwa’s death.
Also present on the occasion, which held at the Multipurpose Hall, Radio Lagos/Eko FM, Ikeja, were Giwa’s widow, Funmi, and his daughter, Aisha, who was said to be only a few months old at the time Giwa was killed.
Tunde, who described his slain elder brother as the breadwinner of the family, said the family had not remained the same since he was murdered.
He called on journalists in the country to help the family get justice.
“You people should help us to unravel the mystery surrounding the death of Dele Giwa. Everybody knows the person that killed him. He’s there walking freely around. I can mention his name if you want.
“Please, help us…The day I see the killer arraigned in court, I will be the happiest person on earth.”
In his welcome address, the Chairman of the NUJ, Lagos State Council, Mr. Deji Elumoye, said it was sad and regrettable that 30 years after Giwa was killed by a letter bomb, no arrest had been made and no one had been prosecuted.
He said it was sad that journalists had become the most conspicuous butt of inhuman treatment not only in Nigeria but on the entire African continent.
He demanded, on behalf of the NUJ, that the Federal Government should order the Inspector-General of Police to reopen investigation into Giwa’s assassination.
“It is a matter of worry that journalists could become subjects of attacks in the course of carrying out their duty as members of the Fourth Estate of the Realm.
“Not quite long ago, a photo journalist, Mr. Benedict Uwalaka, and the Executive Director and Chairman, Badagry Prime, were killed with the complicity of security agents.” [myad]
A group calling itself Union of Niger Delta Youth Organization for Equity, Justice and Good Governance has emerged to explain that the $15 million which the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) recently seized from Dame Jonathan, wife of former Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan were contributions at various times for 15 years, to her.
“The funds in question were legitimate gifts from her friends and well-wishers over the last 15 years which she had been saving in order to utilize to upgrade family businesses and concerns which had been somewhat dormant by reason of the long period of her husband service as a public officer in Nigeria.”
The explanation was contained in court papers filed by the group, suing a Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) on behalf of Dame Patience. SERAP had filed a suit in court to compel the attorney-general of the Federation to take a legal action against Mrs. Jonathan.
The Niger Delta Youth group, on behalf of Dame Patience, filed a suit number FHC/L/CS/1349/2016 before a Federal High Court in Lagos, alleging “campaign of calumny by SERAP against her.
The group said: “The funds in question were legitimate gifts from her friends and well-wishers over the last 15 years which she had been saving in order to utilize to upgrade family businesses and concerns which had been somewhat dormant by reason of the long period of her husband service as a public officer in Nigeria.
“The gifts were given in small contributions by several persons some of whom she cannot even now recall over this period of 15 years sometimes in as small a gift as N250,000 Naira. In order to preserve the value of these funds which she did not require for any purpose at the time she changed them into foreign exchange and kept them as cash for a long period in her home safe in Port Harcourt and Abuja.
“It was when the family home in Otuoke was burnt down by hoodlums under the instigation of political adversaries in 2010 that she began to think about banking these gifts which had now grown to large sums in United States Dollars. In 2010 she therefore summoned one of her husband’s domestic aides, Waripamo-Owei Emmanuel Dudafa to assist her in opening bank accounts into which the funds could be deposited.
“Unknown to her the said Dudafa in a bid to be discreet about the owner of the funds decided to bank the funds in the names of companies owned by him. When she discovered this she was constrained to continue with the names of the companies when she was advised that it did not make any difference as to the ownership of the funds since the director of the company would appoint her as sole signatory to the accounts in question.”
“When in 2016 Dudafa was arrested and detained she had no fear for the funds as she realized that the funds could not be attributable to him once it was discovered that she was the sole signatory to the said accounts. It was therefore a rude shock to her when she discovered that a no transaction order had been placed on the accounts by the EFCC in the belief that the funds belonged to Dudafa.
“She instructed her solicitors to further write to the EFCC to inform them that the funds belong to her and that they formed a part of her legitimate earnings over the last 15 years. It was this letter that was leaked by the EFCC to the media that became sensationalised and led to the plaintiff’s vilification and attack by ignorant persons who had no information about the matter.”
“SERAP is playing to the public gallery in order to gain the notoriety it has achieved over the past years. SERAP has done this mostly by intervening in high profile issues without regard to the rights of persons it claims to protect. SERAP jumped into the fray of ignorant accusations being made against Mrs Dame Patience Jonathan in the public media and has begun a campaign of calumny against her using online, print and electronic media to publish to the public unfounded and malicious allegations that she stole the funds in question and ought to be prosecuted.”
The suit accuses SERAP of using online, print and electronic media to publish to the public unfounded and malicious allegations that she stole $15m (US) and ought to be prosecuted.
SERAP executive director, Adetokunbo Mumuni said the organization received Patience Jonathan’s court papers, dated 6 October 2016, from a bailiff on Tuesday
“The court papers also indicate a prayer for an order of interim injunction restraining SERAP from taking any further steps in further vilification, condemnation and conviction of the Former First Lady Mrs. Dame Patience Jonathan, in all public media and in the use of the judicial process for that purpose by the extremely publicised pursuit of any application for the coercion of the Attorney General of the Federation to prosecute the Plaintiff/Applicant for owning legitimate private property, pending the hearing and determination of the Originating Summons.”
“The suit is seeking an order directing SERAP to stay all action and to desist forthwith from proceeding against Mrs Dame Patience Jonathan, with any process whatsoever, pending the hearing and determination of the Originating Summons.
Mumuni said, “SERAP categorically rejects these misleading and entirely unfounded accusations against us by Mrs Patience Jonathan and her group, and we will vigorously oppose the suit in court. SERAP will never, in the discharge of its mandates, succumb to any intimidation, harassment and attacks in any way, shape or form. We are now consulting with our lawyers and will be preparing shortly our defence in court.”
“At no time did SERAP suggest or even hint that Mrs Jonathan was guilty of the allegations against her. On the contrary, what SERAP has said is that the fact that the $15m found in the four accounts belong to Mrs Jonathan raises serious suspicion or at the very least a prima-facie case of unexplained wealth/illicit enrichment, and imposes an obligation on Mrs Jonathan to explain and justify the source(s) of the $15m.”
“To be sure, SERAP is not engaged in any campaign against Mrs Jonathan or any other politically exposed persons for that matter. Our suit was filed against the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice Mr Abubakar Malami, SAN, and not Mrs Jonathan. It’s a joke to accuse SERAP of trying to coerce the Attorney General to perform his constitutional duty, as this is for the court to decide.”
Few weeks to the Presidential election in America, the Republican presidential candidate, Donald Trump is already smelling defeat as he accused his rival from the Democrat, Hillary Clinton of colluding with media to rig the election.
Trump therefore gave an indication that he not accept the result of the election if he loses. In a fiery third and final presidential debate, Hillary Clinton had accused him of being a “puppet” of Russian President, Vladimir Putin. Trump, who was responding to a question on whether he would respect the result of the election, said: “I will tell you at the time. I’ll keep you in suspense. Trump also faulted the voter register for the poll, saying: “if you look at your voter rolls, you will see millions of people who are registered to vote” who shouldn’t be registered, Trump said. He said not only was there widespread corruption, but that Clinton “should not be allowed to run. It is crooked. “She is guilty of a very, very serious crime. She should not be allowed to run and just in that respect, I say it is rigged.” Clinton, on her part, described Trumps’ statement as “horrifying.” She said that such statement amounted to Trump “talking down our democracy. “Every time Donald thinks things are not going in his direction, he claims whatever it is, it is rigged against him. “The FBI conducted a yearlong investigation into my emails that concluded there was no case.” [myad]
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Ebonyi State Government will soon acquire a 5.5-Megawatt biomass plant from Germany which would utilize rice husk and other available waste materials to generate electricity.
Aisha Buhari: New Face Of The Opposition? By Steve Nwosu
First Lady, Aisha Buhari, is definitely working for the PDP. And we can now officially enthrone her as the matriarch of the Wailers. Now, don’t ask me if she has ‘officially’ joined the PDP yet. But to underscore the fact that Hajia Aisha is currently being tempted to publicly tear her APC membership card (OBJ on my mind), President Muhammadu Buhari told a press conference in Germany last week that “I don’t know the party my wife belongs to.”
So, officially, husband and wife are no longer in the same political party. My only problem for now is that I don’t know whether she belongs to the Makarfi/Wike faction or the Modu Sherrif faction. I also don’t know how much the umbrella people paid her to do what she’s doing.
Yes, if I or any other journalist or political commentator had said what Mrs. Buhari told BBC Hausa Service about Buhari and his government, I suspect the DSS, Police or EFCC would since have come calling. Yes, they might not resort to pulling down our doors or sneaking up on us like any gang of armed robbers and kidnappers would but bank accounts might have been frozen by now. And Lai Mohammed would be on air, talking about how we had been contracted and generously paid, by the PDP, to discredit Buhari’s government.
I think Aisha is coming from our rich and long production line of strong women in the corridors of power and leadership. Soft exterior, steely interior!
In Nigeria, we are not new to presidencies where the women wear the trousers and have the balls (if you’ll indulge me that expression).
Those who were close to the Goodluck Jonathan’s would swear that it was Mama Peace that had the balls. I was not close to the Umaru Yar’Aduas, but I’ve heard stories about Hajia Turai. President Olusegun Obasanjo may have been as stubborn as a he-goat, but people close to the then first family attest that his beautiful wife, Stella, was one woman OBJ could not put down.
I don’t know how the military leaders coped with their own wives, but legend has it that IBB stood no chance of ever making it to Maryam’s bedroom again if he had insisted, with the then Armed Forces Ruling Council (AFRC), that Asaba should not be the capital of the then about-to-be-created Delta State.
As tough as the goggled Sani Abacha appeared to the rest of us in public, a very beautiful and seemingly harmless Mariam allegedly had him on a short leash. But all these are hearsay. Even in far away US, a quiet and beautiful Hillary was said to have sentenced her all-powerful American President husband, Bill Clinton, to sleeping on the couch when he strayed into browsing Monica Lewinsky’s website. Please, don’t believe anything I’ve just said.
If you know the power of women, you’d agree with me that it is not impossible that even the little PMB said about his wife belonging to the kitchen, his living room and ‘the other room’, may have been cleared by Aisha before PMB dared to say it.
The only tragedy, however, was that PMB said it while standing next to a certain Angela Merkel, Chancellor of his much revered ‘Western Germany’.
Yes, in an era where Theresa May recently emerged UK Prime Minister, and Hillary Clinton is clear favourite to succeed Barack Obama as President of the United States (meaning that three of the five most powerful nations in the world would be ruled by women simultaneously), a Nigerian president, whose brain was not frozen in the stone age (a president who, by the way, shares no blood ties with Donald Trump) tells the world that his wife belongs in the kitchen and “the other room’. Hmm.
Incidentally, I agree with the senator who said the president’s comments were supposed to be a joke. Abeg, Madam Aisha, na joke Oga dey joke o!
But, I’m not calling for the president’s jugular. Let’s not stoke fresh fire for the president on the home front, because he already has enough problems, with the recession, the judiciary, Boko Haram, Niger Delta Avengers, the APC crisis and, of course, The Villa, which we now know, is under a spell, as the Satan’s own liaison office on Earth. [myad]