The forthcoming Gen. Muhammadu Buhari-led Federal Government will,
like the current administration, parade many women believed to be
influential.
The outgoing administration of President Goodluck Jonathan boasts of
an array of influential women, who command much respect even among
their male counterparts. Apart from the President's wife, Dame
Patience Jonathan, who pundit said was always interested in official
matters and those who get elective and appointive positions, it was
said that the influence of the Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi
Okonjo-Iweala; and the Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani
Alison-Madueke, made Jonathan's administration popular.
The two ministers currently head sensitive ministries in Jonathan's government.
Likewise, the inauguration of Gen. Muhammadu Buhari as Nigeria's new
President on May 29 will throw up another set of influential women.
Some of the women were believed to have invested their energy in the
March 28 pre-election campaigns in which the All Progressives Congress
presidential candidate won.
The women, parading what may be described as robust credentials,
braved all odds to contest in elections like their male counterparts
to represent the people of their various political constituencies or
districts.
A few of them, according to observers, will wield a lot of influence
in the incoming administration by the virtue of their positions as the
wives of the President or vice-president, while others will hold sway
because of the offices they occupy in the APC executive committee.
Aisha Buhari
The 44-year-old wife of the President-elect, Hajiya Aisha Buhari, will
automatically become the country's new First Lady on May 29 after her
husband's inauguration.
The Adamawa State born cosmetologist attended the famous Ahmadu Bello
University, Zaria, where she earned a Bachelor of Science degree in
Public Administration.
Though some people have described the member of the United Kingdom
Vocational Training and Charitable Trust and the International Health
and Beauty Council as an introvert, she is said to be a consummate
politician and strong believer in the project Nigeria. The alumnus of
the famous Carlton Institute of London and the Academy Esthetique
Beauty Institute of France did tell everyone during the pre-election
campaigns that her husband, if elected, would give women opportunities
to contribute to the development of the country.
Hajiya Buhari demonstrated her passion for the development of Nigerian
women at a campaign rally recently in Edo State, where she assured
women that her husband would initiate policies that would guarantee
their improved living standard.
She said, "I am here to let Edo women know that when my husband is
elected into office as President, insecurity, the girl-child
trafficking, the plight of the widows in the South-East will be looked
into.
"There must be a cultural design that can accommodate the widow. A
design that would make the girl-child comfortable wherever she is in
this country.
"The portion of the girl-child is to have a high standard and moral
society for her to live in, get married, have children, train them and
also mould them to become future leaders."
Dolapo Osinbajo
Little was known about Dolapo Osinbajo until her husband emerged as
the APC vice-presidential candidate.
The grand-child of the late sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, is the leader
of the Ladies Fellowship of the Redeemed Christian Church of God,
Jesus House Paris, Banana Island, Lagos.
Described as humble and submissive wife by those who are close to her
family, she supported her husband in 2007 to establish "The Orderly
Society Trust," a non- governmental organisation dedicated to the
promotion of Christian ethics and orderliness.
While others sought political offices to touch the people's lives,
Mrs. Osinbajo yearned for a different avenue to reach the larger
society, especially the poor. She therefore wrote and launched a book,
"They Call Me Mama."
Read more at PUNCH:
http://www.punchng.com/politics/influential-women-to-watch-in-buharis-govt/
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