An executive activist on many fronts, Aisha was born several years ago in Adamawa state, North-east Nigeria, to the respected family of Alhaji Muhammadu Ribadu, a granddaughter of the nation’s first Minister of Defence, and married to President Muhammadu Buhari in 1989.
With a boy and four girls, Aisha has, since 1989, been bestriding the landscape like a colossus and has stood with her husband through thick and thin to the present position of the husband being re-elected in 2019 general elections as President for a second term.
In 1995, she opened the Hanzy Spa, the first Northern Nigerian beauty parlour, in Kaduna State, after obtaining a Diploma in Beauty Therapy from the Carlton Institute in the United Kingdom.
She also published a book, ‘The Essentials of BeautyTherapy: A Complete Guide for Beauty Specialists in 2014.’ As an advocate of human rights, and the wife of the President, Aisha has continuously donated funds to assist families of victims of Boko Haram insurgency after more than 250 girls were kidnapped by the militant group in 2014.
The role taken by the First Lady has never been seen in the history of this country when a wife of the President speaks truth to power and throws salvo at the President himself when the need arises.
It is, in fact, a new thing, character and attitude ever seen across the globe as the First Lady represents the President and they are seen as one and not to talk about publicly coming out to condemn the programmes of the administration of the husband.
This is, indeed, germane and out of this world and an entrenched attitude and crusade that must be encouraged and championed across the globe for the citizenry to enjoy the dividends of democracy.
It is, indeed, new and a welcome development, instead of finding basis to misinterpret her actions and advocacy for transparency and good governance.
Mrs. Aisha Buhari first made public appearance, wearing an expensive looking watch which led to some to ask whether she was undermining President Buhari’s man of the people image, and was also criticised on social media for attempting to shake hands with the revered Alafin of Oyo, a paramount traditional ruler in South-west of Nigeria.
As the saying goes, “Phenomenal women are the back-bones of great nations.”
A woman like Aisha Buhari has carved her name in gold and in history. This woman is more than a beautiful face; she is educated, confident, sociable and a great role model for young girls and women alike across Africa, who are drawn to her for her dogged resolve to stand for the truth and fight for the down-trodden due to her large heart of compassion and love for humanity.
Her life philosophy is: “If there is no corruption in governance and public life, there would be enough resources in any nation to meet the important needs of the common people, including women and the youths.”
As such, this philosophy has continuously guided her actions and interactions with humanity till date.
Mrs. Buhari is an advocate of equal rights, respect and the full support of education for women and girls. At each given moment and occasion, she continuously shows and stresses how much Nigerians can achieve when we educate the women folks with so much emphasis and determination.
She also disapproves of child marriages before the age of 17 and homosexuality, and has supported so many Internally Displaced Persons, IDPs, that returned to their communities with relief materials including food stuff, clothing, beddings, plastic materials, mats, blankets and building materials.
Over 25 trailers loads of roofing zinc, roofing and noggin wood, assorted nails, asbestos ceiling were distributed to date at the Northeast while the proceeds of her book launch at over N55 million were given to the parents of BuniYadi Boys and Chibok girls.
She also spent part of the money for the construction of an orphanage home and school premises primarily for the children in the IDP camps and the recruitment of additional qualified teachers and psychologists to change the orientation, and rehabilitate the children and elders within the camps.
The informal title of the First Lady has always been bestowed on the wife of the Nigerian President. Since the election of the current President, Muhammadu Buhari in May, 2015, Aisha Buhari became Nigeria’s 15th First Lady.
Since Independence, Nigeria has witnessed the emergence of different First Ladies, while calls have been made for the scrapping of the office due to the criticism attached to the office as a result of the occupants.
But since the present occupant Mrs. Aisha Buhari came on board, she has, in her everyday actions, shown that there is more to the office of the First Lady.
She is a leading crusader of change in politics, policies and good governance regime; she believes it is the desire of her husband to rid the country of inefficiencies and corruption and as such taken up the gauntlet for policy integrity and advocacy.
Her every move as the softer side of her husband, has been very positive and commendable to say the least; as most actions, reactions and advocacy including criticisms by the first lady have never been rebuffed by the President, signaling an endorsement and support.
The iconic visit by the wife of the President to the Nigerian soldiers injured on the line of duty while fighting the dreaded Boko Haram insurgents is still very fresh in our minds and has also raised issues concerning the role First Ladies play in the administration of their husbands.
From her family background to the centre of limelight (politics), the wife of the President, Aisha, has conquered and said it all as an executive activist on many fronts starting from her home as African Lady and an amiable wife to the President on the political terrain where a lot of Nigerians are looking up to her for succour and mentorship.
She has, on several occasions, spoken the truth to power either from the grassroots of the Northeastern Nigeria to Aso Rock Villa, where the president bestrides like a colossus.
Aisha Buhari has always been at the vanguard of an agenda-setter and a pace-setter in the new dispensation, not minding whose ox is gored in order to get the nation working again.
By Omoba Kenneth Aigbegbele, a human rights activist and public affairs commentator
