Where Is The First Lady?
By Emmanuel Obisue
It is surprising, and further suspicious, that Nigeria’s First Lady who is renowned for her vocal advocacy against every shortcoming in her husband’s governance, is now mute, and has been missing in action for several months. Even if her vocal nature had always been greeted with mixed reactions, especially from the Villa cabal — most of whom oppose her views on critical national issues, and term it as disloyalty to her husband and his party, the entire nation misses her in that regard.
We have not forgotten that since his emergence as President, Muhammadu Buhari was mostly criticized, than praised by the first lady. Already accused by Nigerians for not being in full charge of his administration, Aisha’s actions were considered a further reflection of public opinion as per Buhari’s government.
Whether she answers the ‘First Lady’ or not, she has mostly never been referred to as such, given the hypocritical and pseudo-styled nature of this administration. One would have expected an exalted office for the wife of the president of Africa’s most magnanimous country. Of course it had been so in past governments. But if the president could tell the world that the two most important roles of his wife are kitchen and bedroom services, then the relegation of Aisha may be the case of the more you look, the less you see.
While many theories have been attributed to her disappearance, a recent report by Sahara Reporters alleged that the first lady relocated to Dubai in September last year after the wedding of her daughter, Hanan. The reason for her relocation, as claimed by that report, was that madam Aisha stated categorically that the Villa, as well as Nigeria, was no longer safe for her.
Again, we recall that Aisha was barred from speaking to the press by her husband’s in-law and trusted ally, Mamman Daura and was subsequently bullied by the cabals as reported by Sahara Reporters in December 2020. According to the online medium, this concern was triggered by a shooting incident which occurred in June, and stirred panic amongst the occupants of the Aso Villa. Reports of a crisis in Aso Villa had filtered the air, after a security detail of Aisha removed one of Buhari’s Personal Assistant, Sabiu ‘Tunde’ Yusuf, after he reportedly refused to embark on a mandatory 14-day isolation period upon returning from a trip to Lagos at the time.
According to the report which quoted undisclosed sources, shortly afterwards, the first lady’s ADC, Usman Shugaba, in an attempt to apprehend Yusuf, reportedly fired gunshots while the president’s aide escaped to the residence of Daura where he would later spend the night. Yusuf soon ordered the arrest of Aisha’s ADC and other security details alleged to be in connivance. Buhari who was deeply angered by the embarrassing crisis in the Villa, would then order a probe into the security breach inside his official abode.
Buhari was reportedly preparing to fire his security details and some top aides for the roles they all played in dragging the Presidency into the mud. It was gathered that Buhari decided to take the step after Daura and one of his closest confidants, were seen weeping as he made his way to his office. Daura was said to have informed Buhari that his security aides were not only after Yusuf’s life, but his as well. Buhari then gave the nod for all persons involved in the alleged threat to the lives of the two men to be removed. Inside sources said the president’s move further stirred the bad blood among different power blocs in Aso Villa, especially with the first lady vowing to take a pound of flesh for being embarrassed by Yusuf and other ‘cabal’ members.
Again, the recent abduction of the over 300 school girls in Zamfara, reminded Nigerians of the unusual silence from the Villa. She would have reacted. Unlike her usual self, the first lady had become silent on so many critical issues, especially the rise in kidnapping in Northern Nigeria where she originates from. While questions were been asked, popular journalist, Kemi Olunloyo suggested they the president and first lady were divorced. A very suggestive claim it was, but then can any theory as to why the first lady is suddenly off the radar be out rightly dismissed?
Her absence has been evident for at least two months. It could be more. The Daily Trust had also reported that madam Aisha quietly left the country for Dubai, on a medical check-up. While several efforts to get her spokesperson, Aliyu Abdullahi, to speak on the matter failed, another of her aide, Kabiru Dodo, willingly opened up on the absence of the first lady. He reportedly spoke in Jalingo, Taraba State.
The dazzling and outspoken Aisha’s absence became even more obvious due to her inactiveness on the social media space, especially on Facebook and Twitter where she is always active. Hitherto, different aides have been distributing relief materials to the needy in various states across the country on her behalf, under the aegis of the Aisha Buhari Foundation.
Dodo, who spoke on the unfolding development while presenting some items to widows on behalf of the first lady, faulted the report that the she left the country because of rising insecurity. “The first lady travelled for her medical trip, she did not flee the country because of insecurity. What people are saying is baseless and worth nothing to be considered,” Dodo said in December last year.
Her absence was again highlighted when she recently attained the golden age of 50. No activity, whether elaborate or low-key, was held to mark the birthday. All this while, no word has been heard from the president’s wife. Even on her social media handles, she was quiet. There was also no birthday message or post by her children.
However, some prominent Nigerians, greeted her warmly on social media. The likes of Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, and his wife, Ibijoke; Enugu State Governor, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi; wife of Imo State Governor, Chioma Uzodimma; wife of Osun State Governor, Kafayat Oyetola; wife of Nasarawa State Governor, Silifat Abdullahi; SA to the President on African First Ladies Peace Mission, Mairo Tanko-Almakura; and former Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire, and a host of others.
While Nigerians are brooding in doubt as to the whereabouts of Hajiya Aisha, this is not her first instance of disappearance. She had created a similar scenario in 2019, when she stayed out of the country for over two months, after leaving the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia where she had performed pilgrimage for London, for medical attention.
A quick check on her social media handles revealed notable absence since last year. On her official Tweeter handle @aishambuhari, her last post was a retweet on November 25 last year, in commemoration of the International Day for Elimination of Violence Against Women. Our check on her Facebook page further revealed that her last post was on October 17 last year, when she posted a video of her husband having a meeting with the erstwhile Service Chiefs.
Another source in the presidency, confided to the Daily Trust that the last he heard about Mrs Buhari, was that she was receiving medical attention abroad. “Your observation is valid. One would have expected madam to be around today to celebrate this landmark birthday but she is not here.
“Honestly, the last I heard about her was that she was receiving medical attention abroad. I have not heard any other thing. I want to tell the whole world that I do speak to her daily and she is ready to return to the country as soon as she is done with the medical treatment abroad,” the presidency official said.
