For the first time since the return to civil rule in 1999, wives of the two frontline presidential candidates have been criss-crossing the country, canvassing for support for their husbands. The First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan, and Hajia Aishat Buhari, were in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, recently to campaign. ADEKUNLE JIMOH, who saw them in action, examines the style of the duo.
Wives of the two main contenders in this week’s presidential elections Hajia Aishat Buhari and Dame Patience Jonathan have been touring the states of the federation to canvass for votes for their husbands; President Goodluck Jonathan of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (rtd), who is the standard bearer of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Last week, Mrs. Jonathan and Mrs. Buhari were in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, to convince woman to vote for their husbands.
Mrs. Buhari and her entourage were in the ancient town on Monday. During the visit, they paid traditional homage to the Emir of Ilorin, Alhaji Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari. The team also paid a courtesy call on Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed in Government House.
Mrs. Buhari’s convoy was allegedly attacked by suspected PDP hoodlums around Emir’s road in the metropolis.
After meeting with the governor, the wife of the APC presidential candidate had a town hall interaction with women. The meeting was primarily to sensitise and educate the womenfolk on how to identify the logo or symbol of the APC on the ballot paper.
Throughout the visit, Mrs. Buhari carried herself with a measure of elegance. Her speeches were delivered with panache, calmness and maturity. Interestingly, it was also devoid of caustic diatribes against her husband’s opponent.
Conversely, for Mrs. Jonathan, it was a different ballgame. From her utterances, she saw the contest as a do-or-die affair. She was desperate, abrasive, combative and venomous.
Mrs. Buhari said: “As you are all aware, women are the major voters. Women constitute 55 per cent of the number of registered voters in Nigeria. Our duty is to educate the women since we are the major voters, on how to vote, educate them about the party and the logo because now the party has become a very big party.
“It is very important to educate the electorates to look out for our party symbol, the broom. Our major supporters are the masses, who have been supporters of the APC flag bearer over the years. He was in the defunct All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) and the defunct Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), two of the three major parties that came together to form the APC. This sensitization would make it easy for people who are not literate to identify our party symbol on the ballot paper.
“My message to the governor; I remember the period before the merger was consummated. I could remember when we came to Ilorin, the only statement I heard from him is that I will confer with the distinguished senator and the former Governor, Dr. Abubakar Saraki, That shows how disciplined he is as a seating governor, not to take decisions on his own, without consulting the leader of the party in the state.
“I think Kwara State is so lucky to have him a governor; he knows that he has a leader, unlike in other states where the successors and sitting governors are not in good terms with their predecessors, which is not good; politically it is not healthy. We thank the Almighty Allah for letting him know that he has a leader and he did not forget him, and he cannot do without consulting him as a senior or mentor.”
In contrast, Patience Jonathan told the crowd of women and youth at the campaign arena that God had told her the APC will lose the election. She also defended the office of First Lady, arguing that contrary to claims by the opposition that there is provision for the office.
Apparently referring to last week’s attack on the convoy of Mrs Buhari, wife of the APC presidential candidate in Ilorin, the First Lady took swipe at leaders of the APC, saying they deliberately planned the campaign itinerary of Mrs Buhari to collide with her own itinerary, all in a bid to create an atmosphere for violence between the two camps.
She however warned wives of political leaders to always avert trouble in their campaign, pointing out that the election is mostly a contest among men and that women can only serve as observers and peace makers.
Her words: “The PDP is not rattled. As far as we are there; there is no need for trouble. You know that Mama Peace, your mother, is peace-loving, so the children must also be peace-loving. Women are peace-makers and nay a woman that makes trouble is not worthy of being called a woman.
“Before I went to Edo State, the APC was there, all to make trouble. I have always been telling them that like to make trouble. I wanted to go to Edo, they were there. Why? To make trouble! I wanted to come to Kwara, they were there. Why? To make trouble! As I was coming today at the airport, they were also coming, so that there will be trouble. But, I told my security people that I am a Mother of Peace, so let them go in peace. We wives of political leaders should not make trouble. So, even if they come to you to make trouble, don’t fall for their trick.
“Kwara is PDP. They only stole the mandate because the Government House they are occupying today is in the name of the PDP. We shall take it over. Every day they change from one name to another and very soon they will change to Ebola and then death will come. My God that I serve has told me that they will fail. So, don’t be deceived; don’t listen to their lies.
“There is office for wife of the President, but they were saying there is none. But, soon they brought one ‘Hajia’ as the wife of the APC presidential candidate and she is now saying, don’t worry my husband made a mistake; we shall make provisions as necessary. Don’t believe what they are saying, hold to what you have because it is better that what you are yet to see.
While making reference to Buhari’s age, she said: “I am a person that will tell the truth. I will not abuse people, but if you are old you are old. So, leave it to younger people.”
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This Chai woman will never learn to go straight to d business of d day but to abuse all this is coming to an end less dDan 3days she will go back to her okirika market to sell her. crayfish very local and a trouble maker and not a mother a mother don’t wish to see any children dying even if u don’t like him or her may God forgive her.