1. Introduction
Over the years in this country and other
countries, the wives of Heads of Governments have played major roles in the
governments of their various countries. These ladies of style and flamboyance
have become so visible in the governments of their countries, yet no person can
point to any law specifically creating roles for them save the fact that they
are wives of the sitting Head of State, such as President or Prime Minister as
the case may be. Some of these women have done so well in their countries in
charity works and other spheres of life that they are internationally acclaimed,
while some, like in the case of Philippines turned themselves into Jezebels of
modern times. Therefore, there is the
need to give legal framework to this position particularly in Nigeria where
wives of Governors of the States and Local Government Chairmen also go by the
title of “First Lady” in their various jurisdictions. It is our thinking that
if the roles of the First Lady are itemized in a section of the constitution or
any other law, they will be more focused and the country will be better for it.
Consequently,
this paper attempts to look at who is a First Lady i.e. the meaning of First
Lady; the origins of the title; notable roles played by First Ladies
in the past, before we conclude with a case for the First Lady by way of
legislation given them powers and functions so that they can be accountable at
the end of their tenure unlike what is happening in Nigeria today where First
Lady projects are personalized.
2. The Meaning and Origins
The
word “First Lady” refers to the wife of a sitting Head of State in the
United State of America. The acronym is “Flotus”
meaning First Lady of the United States.[1]
The title, which was first used in the United State of America, was associated
with Marta Washington who was referred to as The Inaugural Holder of the title
on the 30th of April, 1789. She was addressed as “Lady Washington”.
According to legend, the title “First Lady” in written form was used in 1849 to
describe Dolley Madison at her funeral in an eulogy delivered by President
Zachary Taylor. The words also appeared in a diary where William Horward Russel
made an entry dated November 3, 1863 referring to the “First Lady in the Land”.
The title gained nationwide recognition in the United States in 1877 when a
Newspaper Journalist Marcy C. Ames referred to Lucy Web Hayes as the “First
Lady of the Land” while reporting the inauguration of the husband Rudaford B.
Hayes as the President of United States of America. By 1930s, the title had
spread from the United States to other countries of the world.
It is instructive to note that in
the US, the wife of the Vice President is sometimes referred as the “Second
Lady” of the United States. It is also instructive to note that several women
who were not presidents’ wives have served as First Lady in the United States
of America, and this occurs where the President was a Bachelor or a Widower or
where the wife of the President was unable to fulfill the duty herself. In such
situations, female relatives or friends of the President used to occupy such
position. Such was the case of Marta Jefferson Randoff during Jefferson’s
Presidency; Mary Harrison Mckee during Harrison’s Presidency upon her mother’s
death and lately Chelsea Clinton when the mother was too busy as a Senator of
the United State.[2]
It is noteworthy to say that in
Nigeria, the concept of First Ladyism was part of our colonial history where
the wives of our colonial officials such as Lady Lugard and others performed as
the hostesses of the State House from 1914 to September 30 1960 when Lady
Robertson quit the stage. On her quitting stage, Flora Azikiwe played the role
and handed over to Victoria Aguiyi Ironsi. The wife of General Gowon who took
over from Ironsi’s wife was a little visible. Other First Ladies from General Murtala
Mohammed’s wife to the Obasanjo years as a Military Head of State to Alhaji
Shehu Shagari and General Buhari were not very visible and remarkable. It could
be said that it was from 1985 when Maryam Babangida became the wife of Military
President Babangida that the position became alluring, vibrant and very
purposeful as the woman traversed all aspects of social life of the common
woman and in fact women in general by the introduction of “Better Life for
Rural Women”.[3]
Ever since that time, the position has been held by Mrs Maryam Abacha, Justice
Fatima Abubakar, Late Mrs. Stella Obasanjo, Mrs. Turai Yar`Adua and now Dame (Dr.)
Patience Goodluck Jonathan.
3. The Role of First Ladies
It is important to state from the onset
that the position of the First Lady is not an elective one, carries no
statutory duties and no salary equally, but they have been visible in the
governments of their countries. In the government of United States of America
where it started, some of the First Ladies have been known for one project or
the other which touched the life of the people. Lady Dolley Madison, who
popularized the First Ladyship in America was said to have engaged in assisting
orphans and women to better their lot. Many orphans and destitute women of her
time received benefits of numerous dimensions. She was said to have risked her
life saving iconic treasures during the war of 1812. Another lady of note,
Eleanor Roosevelt in the 1930s virtually took over the government of the United
States of America because of President Franklin D. Roosevelt illness which kept
him paralyzed. Lady Bird Johnson was involved in environmental protection and
beautification. Pat Nixon encouraged volunteerism and traveled extensively
abroad just as Betty Ford supported Women’s right in all its ramifications. In
the same vein, Roseline Carter aided people with mental disabilities just as
Nancy Reagan founded the “Just Say No to Drug” awareness campaign and only
lately, Mitchelle Obama is concerned with tackling obesity among children. In
Nigeria, particularly from 1985, Maryam Babangida used her “Better Life for
Rural Women” programme to fight for the social needs of rural women and
children in Nigeria. Such programmes as National Programme on Immunization for
all child killer diseases, soft loans for rural women to farm, girl -child
education and campaign for women to take part in political activities such as
elections and representation in government and appointive basis (ratio) became
frequent features of the Nigerian government at all levels. Wives of local
government Chairmen and Governors became visible and took up offices in local
government headquarters and State Capitals. It became compulsory for the
Minister of Women Affairs to be a woman who must relate directly with the First
Lady for the execution of programmes involving women and children. Maryam
Babangida so dressed elegantly that she was loved by every person though she
was wife of a military Head of State.
After
Mrs. Babangida, came Miriam Abacha in 1993 who floated her own outfit and did
her best to reach the much she could. Following Mrs. Abacha was Hon. Justice
Fati Lami Abubakar who established WRAPA of the Women Right initiative, then
Mrs. Stella Obasanjo from 1999 to 2005, established the Health Care Trust
which was aimed at taking care of the health needs of abnormal children and of
course their mothers. In the year 2007, Turai YarAdua stepped in and introduced
her own brand of programme which was aimed at uplifting women and children. In
the year 2010 precisely by May, Dame Patience Goodluck Jonathan floated her Women
for Change Initiative which was/is aimed at ensuring greater women
participation in politics. She went to all parts of the country, making a case
for women to be elected as Councillors, into the State Assemblies, as National
Parliamentarians, Governors and if possible President. Women were given cash
and supported with goodwill to take part in especially the 2011 election.
The
wives of state governors have not fared less. For example, the wife of the
former Edo State Governor Mrs. Eki Igbinedion introduced Ida Renaissance
which was aimed at discouraging young girls from going to Europe where they go
to prostitute in Italy and other European nations. The programme was so
successful that many ladies have been brought back to the country and
rehabilitated to take up genuine businesses. Skill acquisition centres were
established in all parts of the State to prevent the young girls from leaving
the state for the so-called greener pastures.
In Ebonyi State, the wife of the
first executive governor, Mrs. Eunice Ukamaka Egwu established the Widow
Care Centre which was aimed at taking care of widows, widowers and their
children. Currently, the Governor’s wife in Ebonyi State, Chief Mrs. Josephine
Nwuzor Elechi has established her own pet project called MCCI, meaning Mother
and Child Care Initiative, which has made Ebonyi State International
Centre of VVF treatment. Here women who have had tearing of their organs during
abnormal childbirth have been treated, repaired, rehabilitated and sent home.
At the last count, over 1500 women have been so treated irrespective of state
of origin.[4]
In
similar vein, other state governors’ wives and local government chairmen have
one programme or the other touching on the lives of women and children and even
men.
4. Way Forward
In the light of the above, and
particularly of the fact that these First Ladies have operated at their whims
and caprices without legal co-ordination, we hereby propose that a legal
framework be put in place to harmonize this useful institution. Consequently,
we propose as follows:
First,
the constitution should be amended to recognize the position of the First Lady
at the Federal and State levels with their duties and or functions itemized. This
will enable us to have accountability in this institution. A situation where
the wife of the President comes on board and decides to pick whatever programme
that tickles her fancy is quite wasteful. In some situations, these Ladies
particularly at State levels establish their ‘pet projects’ as private
enterprise outside government control thereby converting indirectly the funds
of the State. Examples of these are everywhere to be seen starting with the
Child Care Trust which is established at Bwari Abuja and Widow Care Abakaliki
to mention but a few.
Secondly,
as a fallout from the above, if the functions of the First Lady are captured
within the law, it will not be easy for a new First Lady to start thinking of a
new programme. Only God knows what could have been the case if each President
or Governor is given chance to adopt his own pet project instead of taking over
and governing the State as provided in the constitution and the laws made by
various State Houses of Assembly nationwide.
Thirdly,
a legal framework for the operation of First Ladies will outline the sources of
revenue which the First Lady should use while in office. A situation whereby
the First Lady uses her position to coerce private businessmen and contractors
and top civil servants to contribute money for the said pet project is one of
the engines of corruption. This is because contractors to government and top
public officers who want to retain their positions are coerced into making
donations which are never accounted for and which is only known to the First
Lady. No wonder most of these programmes particularly at the States die as soon
as the originator leaves office hence legal framework will ensure continuity
and act as a check against corruption.
5. Conclusion
The position of First Lady appears to be covered
by constitutional convention, but the position seems to have grown in relevance
and should no longer be left as a matter of convention. A specific constitutional
provision or some sort of legal recognition for the position and roles will
strengthen the First Family and become more useful to the Nigerian State. In
this sense, Nigeria will be breaking the ground by being the first country to
formally recognize legally the office of the First Lady with its attendant
advantages.
[1] “First Ladies of
United States” – Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia http..//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/President_of_United_States_of_America
(assessed 22/4/2012).
[2] Ibid.
[3] K. Ajayi, The
Concept of First Lady and Politics in Nigeria, Council for the Development
of Social Science Research in Africa (CODESRIA) 4th March, 2010
www.codesria.org
[4] Culled from
FRCN programme of 21st April, 2012.