The Antagonistic Antics Of Aisha Buhari By Bala Ibrahim

For the umpteenth time, the First Lady, Aisha Buhari is drifting into the dangerous domain of public politics, this time around choosing to throw decorum to the wind, by attacking her elders and the code of practice, in the duties of public relations personnel.

I don’t want to go deep into the long time frustration of the first lady with Mallam Mamman Daura, the president’s long time friend, confidant and nephew, and a man with an enviable record that is respected by all who know him, because of his kind and gentlemanly considerations. But I would confront her, for daring to erroneously teach us the business of public relations.


In a statement personally signed by her, and sent to the press, Aisha has accused Mallam Mamman Daura of issuing a directive to Mallam Garba Shehu, an equally respected journalist and the presidential spokesperson, to refuse the recognition of her office, the office of the First Lady.


Had the statement stopped there, people like me may not like to join issues with the First lady, because as the wife of the president, she commands my respect, and is entitled to all the respects accorded the president in culture and constitution. But Aisha had gone into areas that are alien to her calling or areas unfamiliar to the etiquettes of a house wife.


I don’t know how sound she is in journalism and the business of public relations, but as far as public knowledge is concerned, she is not recognized by any of the public relations institutions in Nigeria. You can not say so of Garba Shehu, a lecturer in journalism, former MD, The Triumph Newspapers, former president, Nigeria Guild of Editors and presently the spokesperson of the most respected elected president Nigeria ever had.


By his antecedents, Mallam Garba had risen to the position that can compete with the zenith of the media practice career any where in the world, having practiced both Media relations and public relations at personal and corporate levels. This a feat that is attained only by people of great talent, skill and strength.


Aisha’s statement came with an implied insult, not just to Garba shehu the media guru, but to all with passion for the profession. Aside casting aspersions on Mr. Shehu, whom she accused of being privy and part of the plan to destabilize the first family, she attempted to touch or even teach him the principles of public practice and the principles behind the profession of public relations, when she said:


“Nigeria’s development is hinged on the ability of public officials to execute their mandates professionally, and to be shining examples in their various areas of endeavor. It is not a good sign when officials abandoned their responsibility and start clutching at straws. As spokesperson of the President, he has the onerous responsibility of managing the image of the President and all the good works that he is executing in the country. Rather than face this responsibility squarely, he has shifted his loyalty from the President to others who have no stake in the compact that the President signed with Nigerians on May 29, 2015 and 2019”.


This is completely unacceptable. Aisha Buhari does not know the business of public relations better than Mallam Garba Shehu. She must equally know that, as far as the Nigerian constitution is concerned, there is nothing like the office of the first lady. The Constitution of Nigeria does not create an office for the country’s First Lady or potential First Gentleman.


If she is talking about the signing of any pact between the president and the rest of Nigeria, the position of Mallam Mamman Daura, Mallam Garba Shehu, myself and any other Nigerian, are not less in roots, stem and branches, than her own position. She is not higher in status, as far as the constitution concerned, except for the courtesy accorded her as the wife of the president. And ordinarily this should even make her more humble to we, the electorates.


If Aisha wants to go to war with people because they refused to recognize her office, she should extent the war to the constitution as well, which is unequivocal about her non existence.


Before his election in 2015, Buhari said he would not allow for the office of the First Lady, and all through his first term in office, Aisha was always referred to as, Mrs Buhari or the wife of the president. However, after the re-election of PMB, Aisha Buhari changed the nomenclature through a statement, saying she should henceforth be referred to as the First Lady, and her office be referred to, as the ‘Office of the First Lady.


Aisha’s antics have long been seen by many as being openly antagonistic to the president and the established fulani matrimonial values. Nigerians are only respecting her because she is married to PMB, and our culture and religions, enjoined us to hold the institution of marriage in esteem.


If she wants to wail or test the public wits, I would advise her to venture into politics in her private capacity.


That is where she would come to know the difference between achieved status, and associated status.