In a bide to justify special privileges for the Office of the First Lady, after the tenure of the President, the current outgoing First Lady, Aisha Buhari, has said wives of presidents also deserve the same entitlements as the President.
Mrs Buhari without basing her submission on any concrete reasons, other than pressure outside the paraphernalia of the office, said first ladies should be accorded these privileges just like their husbands or presidents, both during and after their tenure.
She said this while speaking at the launching of a book titled, ‘The Journey of a Military Wife’, authored by the President of the Defence and Police Officers’ Wives Association (DEPOWA), Vickie Anwuli Irabor.
Both serving and former presidents in Nigeria are entitled to certain privileges which include the provision of vehicles, sponsored medical treatment, and provision of some stipend among other benefits.
Speaking at the event held in Abuja on Friday, May 26, 2023, Mrs Buhari explained why these privileges should also be extended to wives of presidents.
She said, “I married my husband as the wife of a former president. I am going in a few days as a wife of a former president a second time.
“They should consider us as former first ladies. They should incorporate the first ladies, give us some privileges that we deserve as first ladies, not just the former presidents”.
Mrs Buhari commended Irabor for going through the pain of writing the book which she said will serve as a guide for and reference for officers’ wives.
She said, “It is a factual, emotional book that will help officers’ wives navigate their lives.
“It underscores women as agents of stability for the nation as the nation battled insurgency and other security challenges.
“It’s a guide and reference for military wives, and need for better support for military widows,” adding that “insights from the book will help readers appreciate the challenges of the military family”.
