As often said, beside every successful man, there is a woman. It has
just come to the fore that every successful politician has a woman of
great influence who plays along with him. If it was the man’s spouse, it
is considered better because courage and support are brood right from
home. This is more so, considering the fact that no woman will watch her
husband record a public and documented failure during his stay in
office.
Below are details of the women behind Nigeria’s current powerful politicians…
DAME PATIENCE JONATHAN:
As it stands now the biggest influence on the Nigerian political
landscape is undoubtedly President Goodluck Jonathan. President
Jonathan’s ascending political profile since the advent of this
democratic dispensation is a feat that is rarely achieved. Yet one
cannot glorify him and underestimate the role played by his spouse, Dame
Patience Jonathan. It is believed that Patience wields much influence
on Jonathan’s political decisions. For instance, it was
Rumoured recently in some quarters and carried by some media that
Lady Jonathan, who is known to be a strong advocate of women rights and
growth, might have influenced the expulsion of the Rivers State
governor, Rotimi Chibuike Ameachi, by the State chapter of the ruling
People’s Democratic Party (PDP) as there has been a face-off between her
and the Governor who are both indigenes of the State. Dame Patience
pursues the course for the empowerment and respect for the rights of
women with unprecedented zeal. She was known for this course even right
from when her husband was Deputy Governor of Bayelsa State.
Patience, who has a BSc. in Biology and Psychology from the
University of Port Harcourt, was born in 1957 into a respectable
Christian family of Lazarus Iwari-Oba in Port-Harcourt.
AMINA SAMBO (OFR):
Mrs Amina Sambo (OFR) is the wife of Vice President Namadi Sambo, and
therefore Nigeria’s Second Lady. She was Kaduna State’s First Lady
between 2007 and 2010 when her husband was governor of the State. As a
background influence to her husband, she must have been a good companion
and adviser, contributing to the political ingenuity that has seen him
to the topmost echelon of Nigerian politics today.
Mrs Amina Sambo was born in Riyom, Barikin Ladi Local Government Area
of Plateau State, Nigeria. She had her primary education at Girls
Boarding School, Gindiri, Plateau State, after which she enrolled for a
Nursing course before she had her secondary education. She is currently
the Executive Director of the Grassroots Health Organisation of Nigeria
(GHON).
She coordinated a national programme on the prevention of Vesico
honeypotl Fistula (VVF) towards safe motherhood in Nigeria, and was a
consultant on delivery at the Centre for Development and Population
Activities (CEDPA) projects in northern Nigeria. In view of her
outstanding achievements and contributions to national growth, she was
conferred with the award of Officer of the Federal Republic (OFR) by
President Jonathan.
HELEN DAVID MARK:
The Senate President, David Alechenu Bonaventure Mark is married to four
wives. They are Omale, Kate, Helen and Randa. Mark, who represents
Benue South federal constituency, is a former military governor of Niger
State. He was first elected into the Senate in 1999 and has clinched
the position till date. He is indeed, one of the influential political
figures in Benue State, if not the most powerful and sophisticated
politician in the state.
Senator Mark enjoys a lot of support from all his wives, one of whom
is Helen, who often identifies with him in his political struggles and
is often seen with him in official outings.
SENATOR (MRS) DAISY DANJUMA:
She is the wife of Theophilus Yusuf Danjuma, a retired General who, by
virtue of his philanthropic gestures has received various awards and
titles across the country; a man who is now seen by many as a political
benefactor and advisor to the political elites, especially those of
northern extraction. Senator (Mrs) Daisy, a former senator from Plateau
State, is a graduate of Law from Ahmadu Bello University.
In 2003, she was elected Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria
where she has served on various committees, most notably, as Chairman of
the ECOWAS Parliament’s Women and Children Committee and Chairman,
Senate Committee on Women Affairs and Youth Development.
HAJIYA INNA MARYAM CIROMA:
Former minister of Women Affairs and current Acting Managing Director,
National Inland Waterways Authority, Hajiya Inna Maryam Ciroma, is the
wife of former minister of finance, Alhaji Adamu Ciroma. Hajiya Inna was
born on September 11, 1954 in Biu, Borno State. She attended Ahmadu
Bello University (ABU), Zaria, where she graduated in 1978 with a degree
in Political Science. She later obtained a Post Graduate Diploma in
Public Administration, perhaps, in her desire to sharpen and equip
herself for the task of public service and administration.
Having had several careers cutting across federal civil service,
private entrepreneurship and investment, there is no doubt that she is
very exposed. Her husband, Adamu Ciroma, is also a former governor of
the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). He was the chairman of the Obasanjo
2003 re-election Campaign Organisation. This shows how the Ciromas are
considered politically weighty and relevant by Obasanjo who was, then,
very desperate for his re-election bid. Of course, he needed no less
political personalities than the Ciromas whose role in capturing the
north was considered un-negotiable.
There is no doubt that Adamu Ciroma is an old pillar in Nigerian
politics. In 1979, he was a presidential aspirant on the platform of the
National Party of Nigeria (NPN). However, he did not scale through in
the party primaries. He also served as NPN secretary. Ciroma was,
at other times, minister of Industries and Agriculture. Behind this
unwavering politician who was a respected senior cabinet member during
the Shagari administration, Hajiya Inna is the woman that provides all
sorts of encouragement and support.
HAJIA HAUWA DANBABA SUNTAI:
The rave of the moment, Hajia Hauwa Danbaba Suntai is the wife of
Governor Danbaba Suntai of Taraba State. Hauwa, a Shuwa Arab from Borno
State, is the reliable storehouse of the Taraba governor who was
involved in an air crash in October last year in Yola, Adamawa State,
when he was reported to be flying himself in a private jet. Hauwa has
been standing by her husband throughout his ordeal, practically
demonstrating that what he needed mostly to recover is, perhaps, the
affection and emotional therapy of a dear one. During this same time,
Hauwa gave birth to twins in USA where her husband was receiving
treatment after he was transferred from a German hospital where he was
initially admitted.
Just last weekend, her husband was flown into the country from John
Hopkins Hospital, USA. Following this, many are still in doubt if the
governor is physically fit to function in his capacity as the governor
of the state. It therefore, looks similar to the Umaru Musa Yar’adua
sickness saga when Turai was practically doing everything possible to
rule the country by proxy, thereby, safe-guarding her husband’s
position.
Similarly, Hauwa Suntai is being rumoured to be playing the same role
to ensure that her husband’s seat is retained. Despite that the Taraba
State acting governor, Alhaji Garba Umar, is officially carrying out the
constitutional duties conferred on him in the governor’s absence,
Hauwa’s influence in the Taraba government house cannot be denied.
DAME JUDITH AMAECHI:
Dame Judith Amaechi is the wife of Governor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi of
Rivers State. She is the founder, Empowerment Support Initiative (ESI), a
non-governmental organisation concerned with campaigns against
HIV/AIDS, protecting the rights of women and children and promotion of
gender equality as well as girl-child education.
Dame Judith was born on December 24, 1970. She attended Federal
Government College, Abuloma in Port Harcourt, Rivers State. She later
attended Rivers State University of Science and Technology, where she
graduated in Urban and Regional Planning. Her husband has suffered high
degrees of political crisis in recent times ranging from the imbroglio
involving his official aircraft and officials of the Nigerian Civil
Aviation Authority (NCAA) in Akure, Ondo State, an attempt to unseat him
as the chairman of the Nigeria Governor’s Forum (NGF) which pitched him
against President Goodluck Jonathan and Governor David Jonah Jang of
Plateau State, to the recent violence that took over his state assembly
in what was unexpected of civilised lawmakers of this century.
Not forgotten is the rift between Amaechi and the commissioner of
police in Rivers, Mr Mbu J. Mbu which was interpreted by many as a
stage-managed and tele-guided scenario. It is interesting to note that
while the wranglings lasted, Dame Judith, like the proverbial rock of
Gibraltar, stood closely by her husband with a rare philosophical
calmness and in a manner that seems to assure him: “don’t worry; the
coast will soon be clear and safe”.
HAJIYA JUMMAI BABANGIDA ALIYU:
Hajiya Jummai Babangida Aliyu is the wife of Governor Mu’azu Babangida
Aliyu, the Chief Servant of Niger State, as often referred to. Her
husband is one of the most powerful politicians in the country. Aliyu
was elected governor of Niger State in April 2007 on the platform of the
People’s Democratic Party (PDP). He was re-elected for a second term on
April 26, 2011. Therefore, by 2015, he would have governed the state
for eight years.
Also, Governor Aliyu is the incumbent chairman, Northern States
Governors’ Forum, a formidable political forum to reckon with. At the
pick of the crisis that rocked the NGF, Aliyu, not minding whose ox is
being gored, stood his ground and maintained that the embattled governor
Chibuike Amaechi should be recognized as the elected chairman of the
forum, going by votes cast.
Hajiya Jummai, popularly known as Madam Chief Servant of Niger State,
following the nomenclature carved by her husband, is the fountain of
courage behind Governor Aliyu. Some of the initiatives she introduced in
the state are Women Empowerment, Reforming Prisoners, minimizing and
addressing the issue of sexual abuse and ensuring that every Niger child
is computer literate.
HAJIYA NANA KASHIM SHETTIMA:
Hajiya Nana Kashim Shettima is the wife of Borno State governor, Alhaji
Kashim Shettima. Recently, Nana took a bold and exemplary step by
empowering no less than 500 women in the state with soft loans to enable
them start petty trading activities. Using Support for Widows, Orphans
and Tsangaya (SWOT) Foundation, a pet project founded by her, she was
able to bring succour to the less privileged women , most of whom were
victims of the serial insurgent attacks and destructions unleashed on
the state by the Boko Haram sect.
Recently, during the Ramadan, she distributed cash and food items to 400 Muslim widows and orphans in Borno.
Her husband, Governor Shettima, would have been thrown into a state
of political convulsion following the eruption of violent attacks in his
state if he were not a man of strong will, added to the support of a
wife like Nana. It can be rightly said that since Shettima came to
office, he had not had opportunity to peacefully drink water and drop
the proverbial cup, having inherited a state that has, overnight, become
a training camp and breeding ground for the insurgent group.
However, in good and bad times, Governor Shettima is sure of one thing – the moral support and encouragement of his wife, Nana.
AISHA BUHARI:
Hajiya Aisha Buhari is the articulate wife of General Muhammadu Buhari.
She was born in Adamawa State to the family of Nigeria’s first minister
of defence, Muhammadu Ribadu. She is also a granddaughter of the first
Chiroma of Adamawa. Hajiya Aisha attended Ahmadu Bello University (ABU),
Zaria, where she bagged a Bachelor’s degree in Public Administration.
She also attended Carlton Institute of London and the Academy Esthetique
Beauty Institute of France, Dubai, where she obtained a Postgraduate
Diploma in Cosmetology and Beauty Therapy.
She is also a graduate of International Affairs and Strategic Planning.
Over the years, as General Buhari continued to pursue his
presidential aspiration, she has always done everything within her reach
to support him and ensure that he wins election. She once assured
Nigerian women during a fund raising dinner for female candidates of the
defunct Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) that if her husband won
the presidential election, that women will be given the priority they
deserved which would focus on their health, education, and being given
opportunity to contribute to the growth of Nigeria. What else can a
woman do to further fortify the political fortress of her husband more
than what Aisha has done?
JUSTICE (MRS) FATI ABUBAKAR:
Justice (Mrs) Fati Lami Abubakar shares in the fame of her husband,
General Abdussalami Abubakar (Rtd) who ended the long military rule in
Nigeria by voluntarily handing over power to a democratically elected
civilian president. It is one historic gesture that makes these
Abubakars unique in Nigeria’s political history. With the growing
popularity of the position of First Lady, one would have thought that
Lady Abubakar would advise for a stay-on.
However, Justice (Mrs) Abubakar is a success story on her own. She is
the first female lawyer, Solicitor-General and Attorney-General of
Niger State respectively. She is currently a Judge of the High Court of
Niger State.
A second child of the late Waziri of Minna, Alhaji Umaru Audu and
Hajiya Nana Asma’u, Justice Abubakar was born in Minna, Niger State.
From college, she gained admission to study law at Obafemi Awolowo
University (OAU), Ile-Ife, graduating with an LLB in 1975.
JUSTICE (MRS) MARY ODILI:
The mention of Nigeria’s strong politicians can never be complete
without the mention of Peter Odili, the immediate past governor of
Rivers State, who is said to have nurtured the incumbent governor,
Rotimi Ameachi. Justice Mary Odili is the woman that has been behind
Odili as his wife. Mary is currently a Justice of the Supreme Court of
Nigeria.
Justice Mary Odili was born on May 12, 1952 at Amudi Obizi
Ezinihitte, Mbaise Local Government Area of Imo State. She attended
University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Enugu Campus (UNEC), where she obtained
her Bachelor’s degree in Law (LL.B Hons) in 1976. She had held several
judicial positions at one time or the other in Rivers State, Abuja,
Kaduna and so on. This legal giant was appointed a Justice of the
Supreme Court of Nigeria on June 23, 2013.
AMBASSADOR BIANCA OJUKWU:
Ambassador Bianca Ojukwu is the wife of Biafran warlord and vibrant
politician, late Chief Odumegwu Ojukwu. Before his death, Ojukwu was a
national leader of All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA), on which
platform he had contested for presidency but did not win.
Controversies seem to trail this ethereal beauty, lawyer and business
woman and the Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria Pageant winner in 1988,
Miss Africa and the first black woman to win Miss Intercontinental,
Bianca Ojukwu.
Bianca Odinaka Olivia Ojukwu is the daughter of the legal luminary
and former governor of the old Anambra State, late Chief Christian
Chukwuma Onoh, of Ngwo, Enugu State. She met the late Ojukwu when she
was 22.
MORENIKE FLORENCE SARAKI:
Morenike Florence Saraki is the wife of late Dr. Olusola Saraki, former
governor of Kwara State and a politician that wielded enormous power and
control in Kwara State. She is the mother of Senator Gbemisola Saraki
and stepmother of the former governor of Kwara State, Bukola Saraki.
Florence has been around her husband during his political struggles.
The exit of Saraki who has been a stabilizing and rallying factor in the
house might pave the way for Florence, the only wife, to be the new
force in the family politics.
MRS. MARGARET PETER OBI:
The was born Margaret Brownson Usen. She got married to governor Obi in
1992. Margaret is the brain behind her husband’s National Gender
Affirmative Action which encouraged at least fifty per cent slots to
women under Obi’s administration. Margaret is known for her humility
despite her intelligence which she kept hidden while working intensively
and inconspicuously to garner support for her husband’s administration.
She is also known for her fierce devotion to women empowerment and
child protection activities.
She facilitated the distribution of equipment grants to women
cooperatives that are engaged in dry season faming. Thus, promoting
their access to factors of production and enhancing their capacity to
support their families. She also facilitated the establishment of Family
Courts in the state’s Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development
(MWAPD) to deal with issues of child abuse and violation of women’s
rights especially widows’ right to inheritance.
SENATOR OLUREMI TINUBU:
She is the wife of former Lagos State governor, Bola Asiwaju Tinubu and
the National Chairman of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN). In 2011,
she contested and won the Lagos Central Senatorial Candidate of the ACN.
Claims of her husband, the ACN National Leader imposing Oluremi on
Lagosians as a 2015 gubernatorial candidate for the economic capital
without observance of the party’s primary election surfaced in recent
months. In June, 2013, in a public address on Channels Television,
Oluremi Tinubu dismissed the claim that she has set her sights on
governing seat of Lagos, saying, “My husband did it for eight years … I
don’t think I have the strength to say I want to govern the present
state of Lagos.”
A man and hiscdaughter lost their lives after their Toyota jeep
in which they were travelling fell off the Ikota Bridge in Ajah and
plunged into a lagoon.
