On the hypocrisy of Aisha Buhari’s politics

The late United States Republican Senator Margaret Chase Smith once said: The right way is not always the popular and easy way. Standing for right, when it is unpopular, is a true test of moral character.” A review of the political roles of Nigerian first ladies that have walked the corridors of power of the Aso Rock Villa since the democratic dispensation would invariably be a depressing one.

Those who are familiar with First Lady Aisha Buhari’s interventions during the first tenure of her husband, President Muhammadu Buhari, would recently notice a contrast in her political disposition capable of placing a question mark on her person and office. The two recent events that encapsulated her misdemeanour were during the All Progressives Congress (APC) campaign periods of the recently concluded Kogi State gubernatorial election and the November 29 Abuja events that marked the General Assembly of the Nigerian Supreme Council of Islamic Affairs (NSCIA).

Before venturing further, I must confess that I am one of those who lauded Mrs Buhari’s gallantry contributions to the democratic welfare of Nigeria, especially during those times it seems the cabals in her husband’s government and those in their political party wanted to sink the country into servitude. She was also the one who exposed the corruption in the State House Clinic, and some other impunity in Nigeria’s polity.

On the contrary, however, her participation and self-lowering acts in the Governor-elect Yahaya Bello’s re-election were things many Nigerians are yet to reconcile with her person. High-level of godfatherism and presidential favouritism that marred the electoral process were things everybody expected the First Lady to castigate and condemn, but she did not.

In the past, Mrs Buhari decried cabal interference and mediocrity in her husband’s government, which manifested fourfold in Kogi prior to the elections. Consequently, one expected her to advocate for change of gubernatorial candidacy or to distance herself from the champagne, instead she begged the misruled and tormented Kogi electorate to re-elect the architect of their suffering under the guise that the incumbent would perform better when re-elected. It was American author Jim Butcher who said: “Evil is not the real threat to the world. Stupid is just as destructive as evil, maybe even so, and it is a hell of a lot more common. What we really need is a crusade against Stupid. That might actually make a difference.”

Everybody knew how the Kogi election turned out. If the First Lady is really a proponent of democracy and development, why must she reckon with failure because of politics or friendship? Is the victory of her candidate really the victory of the electorate? One would probably expect her to soon publicly beg the governor-elect to pay salaries, build infrastructures and revamp the economy of that state.

As if the Kogi shenanigan was not enough, Mrs Buhari took her syllogism to the religious space. As one of the guests of NSCIA, she was quick to broadcast her regrets and frustrations as regards the rots in the political leadership and security of the country her husband has piloted its affairs for over four years now. She was canny enough to almost exclude her husband from the blame, throwing everything at the face of the vice present, governors and ministers.

“My husband has three years to go. We should fasten our seat belts, get up and do the needful or we will all regret it very soon… Most of us cannot go to our villages and sleep with our two eyes closed,” she lamented, adding at some point that, “The vice president is here, ministers are here. They are supposed to do justice to the situation. People cannot afford potable drinking water in this country. We have ministers, we have governors.”

It should interest the First Lady that the current insecurity situation in the country is as a result of her husband’s mediocre performance as the commander-in-chief of the armed forces, his inability to execute pragmatic economic policies that would create jobs, and his inability to curtail banditry and herders-related crimes. It should also interest her that many of the insecurity and corruption issues are caused by governors and ministers elected and selected by rigged elections and faulty constitutional laws. The amended Electoral Bill is still sitting on her husband’s desk awaiting his approval. Imagine the political, security and electoral frauds the amended Electoral Bill could address, yet her husband is reluctant to approving it. It is obvious she knows who she should be addressing her regrets and frustrations to.

Many people and organisations have been advocating for electoral reforms and restructuring of Nigeria, but seldom has Mrs Buhari say anything in these regards. For someone who claims she has the best interest of Nigeria at heart, electoral processes that would produce selfless leaders should be premium to her. It is hypocritical to keep mum when elections are hijacked or to support failed politicians and come out later to shed crocodile tears when things are not working.

Furthermore, seldom has the First Lady said anything about the tribalistic and nepotistic manner her husband is running the country. Recently, the lopsided promotion of thirteen commissioners of police to the rank of assistance inspectors general of police shocked many Nigerians. In Daura only, the hometown of First Lady and her husband, the University of Transport, a Federal Polytechnic and an Air Force Reference Hospital have been either inaugurated or launched.

Lasisi Olagunju, in his recent Nigerian Tribune column article titled ‘From Daura to Lagos, they eat up the little ones’, did not only lament about this nepotistic flamboyancy, he also warned: “When every good thing in a village goes home with the village head, just sit back and watch how goodness finds a seat in such a place.” It is not enough for the First Lady to openly condemn governors and ministers for the ill state of the country, while she could not advice encourage or admonish her husband to do that which she craves others to do. The change Nigeria needs must be initiated by her husband.

In the same NSCIA event, she advocated for the regulation of social media— citing how China, with about 1.3 billion people had done so—which is something commendable. However, China is not a democratic country. Nigeria needs the full presence of social media to expose the inactions and excesses of politicians and public office holders. Democracy dies in darkness. Social media is the light Nigerian democracy needs to blossom. Hate Speech Bill and Social Media Bill are bills the First Lady needs to champion, not things to be frowned at.

Farooq Kperogi’s recent Saturday Tribune column article titled ‘What everyone is missing about the ‘hate speech’ bill’ is worthy of her time. A week later, in the same column, Kperogi wrote ‘Buhari’s plan for Sowore, social media bill, and Aisha Buhari’s hypocrisy’, exposing how Mrs Buhari explores social media for her politics and how she used it to thwart the alleged wedding arrangement between her husband and Sadiya Umar Farouq, the Minister of Humaniteran Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development. “People close to Aisha told me it was actually Aisha and her social media handlers who instigated the social media hype over the wedding in other to embarrass Mamman Daura and ultimately thwart the wedding. And they succeeded,” Kperogi said.

Like I mentioned early in this reflection, Aisha Buhari is one of the women that have contributed to the democratic growth of Nigeria. However, she should be wary of her politics so as not to portray hypocrisy. Charity begins at home. If she could not influence her husband towards solving the problems she is complaining about, then her position as the First Lady and her politics are almost inconsequential. This were the admonition of American Senator Smith comes into play. Previous Nigerian first ladies are gone with their noises and loots. One hopes First Lady Aisha Buhari would make a difference.

Kingsley Alumona is with the Nigerian Tribune