Aisha Buhari an unusual first lady ― Osinbajo

The Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, on Thursday, described the wife of the president, Aisha Buhari, as an unusual kind of First Lady who has introduced many firsts in her interaction with citizens.

He spoke during the presentation of the book titled “Aisha Buhari: Being Different,” written by Senior Special Assistant to the President on Administration and Women Affairs, Office of the First Lady, Dr Hajo Sani, at the State House Banquet Hall, Abuja.

Osinbajo said Mrs Buhari’s had brought in innovation that endeared her to the Nigerian public, including opening up her office through social media outlets and connecting with the public in real-time.

The Vice prequel: “Dr Hajo Sani has written a most engaging book on an incredibly fascinating person, Her Excellency Aisha Buhari, Nigeria’s First Lady. It’s unlikely that any First Lady in Nigeria’s history has, in such a few short years, captured the imagination of Nigerians as profoundly as Aisha Buhari.

“She’s, of course, the first First Lady to be on Twitter, on Instagram, and other social media platforms, getting her unfiltered views across to the Nigerian people and she’s probably the first to receive, in real-time, the opinions of Nigerians on her views.

“With her views, forthright, crisp, truthful and once in a while controversial, she has established an ongoing conversation with the Nigerian people.

“The issues that concern them most, the issues that concern us the most; good governance, security, putting food on the table, the education of our children, prompt payment of pensions to army veterans, drug abuse, the violation and victimisation of women and every once in a while she airs her own personal struggles, her annoyance, in a manner, probably unprecedented in the role of the First Lady anywhere.

“There is no question that Aisha Buhari is different. Her difference has been empowering for the Nigerian people and there is never any question that her comments come from a good place, a place of genuine love and respect for the Nigerian people and our several concerns.”

“I’ve observed with keen interest as she addresses many of the social concerns that have given her sleepless nights. She has therefore been a worthy partner and a beacon for some of the good things that Nigerians have come to identify with our government’, and I concur. I agree,” he added.

The Vice President described the book as a work summarising the past five years of the life of the First Lady in her husband’s administration.

He noted that the book explores the various aspects of the First Lady’s life; growing years, home front, life in public office, various sweet and sour encounters, as well as her philosophies and humanitarian ventures.

He added: “Hajo Sani’s book seeks to document the practical work that she has also done in the past five years, but it begins with a detailed, and I must say, a sensitive chronicle of her childhood years and her growth as a woman, a wife and a mother.

“It also highlights her evolution from a silent supporter of her husband’s political adventures to an active mobilizer and campaigner who played a major role in selling him to the Nigerian electorate.

“Then we also read in the book how, as First Lady, she founded the Future Assured Initiative, which promotes the welfare of women, of youth and children, driven by the Aisha Buhari Foundation. The Future Assured Initiative is inspired by her conviction that empowering women is a direct way of promoting the economic and social progress of a nation.

“We are also given a good picture of this steadfast advocate of women’s health issues, who has championed improved access to health care for women, especially in respect of maternal health, with the aim of reducing maternal mortality, particularly in rural communities.

In his remark, All Progressive Congress (APC) chieftain and former Lagos State governor, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, described Mrs Buhari as a constant voice of conscience speaking truth to those in power.

Tinubu, who was the chairman of the occasion, said she had restored dignity to the office of the First Lady, which he said used to be a subject of controversy.

He said: “Given the First Lady’s achievement, no one can reasonably question the role of a First Lady any longer. Remember that there were those who argued that the constitution does not assign any official role to the First Lady. With Dr Aisha Buhari, their concerns have been forever laid to rest.

“The first lady has played an uplifting, unifying role both in symbol and substance. She has been a voice of conscience calling us to be of our better self for the good of the nation and for the vulnerable among us.”

Among those who attended the book launch were Chairman of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF), Dr Kayode Fayemi; Director-General of the World Trade Organisation (WTO), Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala (recorded message); Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations (UN), Dr Amina Muhammed (recorded message); Wife of the Vice President, Mrs Dolapo Osinbajo; former First Lady, Dr Patience Jonathan; the Ooni of Ife, Imperial Majesty, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi; the Sultan of Sokoto, His Eminence, Sa’ad Abubakar III; and the wife of former Vice President, Amina Sambo.

YOU SHOULD NOT MISS THESE HEADLINES FROM NIGERIAN TRIBUNE

COVID-19: Nigeria Recorded 624 New Infections Last Week, Lowest In Over Five Months

Last week, Nigeria recorded 624 new COVID-19 infections which is the lowest the country recorded in five months, Tribune Online analysis shows.

The 624 new cases reported between March 28 and April 3 is a reduction from the 849 recorded the previous week…Aisha Buhari an unusual first lady ― Osinbajo

Aisha Buhari an unusual first lady ― Osinbajo