First Ladies As Meddlers

By Isaac Asabor 

Overzealous wives of politicians are beginning to meddle in functions that constitutionally fall within the purview of their husbands and this has in the recent times become worrisome. The reason for this cannot be far-fetched when the following view-points are taken into consideration.

First and foremost, their husbands were elected into political positions by the people based on the confidence reposed in them. Also, given the political antecedents of most of these politicians, the people saw them as those who may be able to fulfill their promises to the people; their wives were not elected into political offices. Also, given the same electioneering situation which their husbands faced before being considered to be voted for by the people, there is the likelihood that most first ladies that are today meddling in governance would fail woefully, even at their wards.

Secondly, the unrestrained manner these women arrogate constitutionally defined and assigned responsibilities to themselves may likely usurp the functions of technocrats and professionals in ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) that are duly and constitutionally charged with carrying out the responsibilities the first ladies are  today meddling in. Though their intentions seem altruistic, it may become an avenue of looting public funds.

We should not forget so soon that most African countries are operating democratic system of government. Democracy, as popularly defined, is the “government of the people, by the people and for the people.” Simply put, it is a system of government that gives people equal representation in government. It is a system of government that gives voice to the people. If I may ask, Who are the first ladies representing, and who voted them into power to be performing the functions they now arrogate to themselves? My opinion may not go down well with numerous readers but the truth must be told that first ladies do not seek our consent to be performing the roles they are presently performing considering the fact that nobody voted them into any elective position. That their husbands occupy political positions does not automatically make them assume positions they are not entitled to.

Would it not have been better for the wives of politicians that intend serving the nation in the spirit of patriotism and labour of love to do so by seeking elective positions that would constitutionally give them the various platforms to help in building the nation? Must they become intrusive because they want to serve the nation?

In my view, it would have been more appropriate for any association of first ladies to be registered as a non governmental organization (NGO) and abide by  the guidelines which NGOs duly follow to source for funds. Normally, NGOs solicit for funds from donors that cut across the public and private sectors and from individuals and notable philanthropists who appreciate the dream projects of the NGOs. In my opinion, it is not proper for any association in the guise of first ladies association to be unconstitutionally siphoning funds from public treasury at a time when budgetary provisions for MDAs are not fully implemented.

Suffice it to say that when first ladies’ pet projects are registered as NGOs, the masses would be in a position to know the actual area of interest which the wife of any politician has chosen, and how she would be sourcing for funds from donors. With this, I believe there would be evidence of transparency that would be potent enough to disabuse the minds of the generality of the people who are always suspicious about the source of funds for projects initiated by first ladies. For God’s sake, they should stop making the people to be cynical each time they literarily hold their jamboree in Abuja.

The just concluded meeting of the African First Ladies Peace Mission in Abuja, no doubt, has seemingly raised dust of cynicism among the populace that tongues are still wagging and people are still discussing the source of the funding and the sincerity of purpose of the event which many saw as a razzmatazz. Ironically, the event that was convened to engender peace and security ended up making many Nigerians more skeptical of the rationale behind the idea of First Ladyship.  The reason for this cannot be far-fetched given the unprecedented pomp that characterized the event.

Be that as it may, our politicians across the African continent should stop being unduly uxorious to the detriment of the people that voted them into various political positions. They should always have it at the back of their minds that the people did not vote their wives into political positions. Therefore, I am urging some of our politicians to call their wives to order by literarily clipping their wings as some of our first ladies are poised to fly beyond our political horizon. That would be too bad for our democracy. We may one day wake up to hear that our constitution has been amended to make provision for first ladies to automatically become director-generals and managing directors of government agencies without due recourse to due process as specified in the laws of our nation. It would not come to me as a surprise in future if an aspiring politician decides to choose his wife as his running-mate.

In the light of the saying that “Behind any successful man, there is a woman”, it also stands to reason that “Behind any unsuccessful man there is a woman.” For instance, there was a woman behind Muammar Ghadaffi before he met his waterloo. There was a woman behind Laurent Gbagbo. There was a woman behind Samuel Doe before he met his demise. Further more, in the biblical days Delilah was behind Samson’s downfall while Sarah used the power of love to compel Abraham to commit the sin of marrying his house-maid, Haggai.

Jezebel caused the downfall of King Ahab. In Shakespeare’s Macbeth, Lady Macbeth caused the fall of Macbeth.

The foregoing view-point becomes necessary in this context as there is every indication that our politicians do not learn from history. Events are documented in history books for people to learn from, but not for our politicians.

Years back, a first lady in Philipines, Mrs. Imelda Marcos, was reputed to have acquired more than 2000 pairs of shoes by virtue of her husband’s political position. Her husband,  Ferdinand Marcos ruled Philipines with an iron fist from 1966 to 1986.  In our own nation, a former governor’s wife was found guilty and sentenced as pronounced by a Court in far away United Kingdom for a monumental fraud committed by her husband while he was the governor of an oil producing state in our nation. I believe if the former first lady had called her husband to order, particularly without being his accomplice, they would not have found themselves in the sorry situation which they are today.

Our politicians should be told that our nation is not a church where pastors, without the consent of other ecumenical ministers and workers, usually mandate their wives (reverently called mummies) to take over their priestly roles whenever they feel like. Today, first ladies are beginning to take over the official and constitutional responsibilities already assigned to technocrats and professionals appointed by the governments.

Finally, I would like to advise our political leaders, particularly those in the executive arm of government that they should separate love from politics which impinges on the lives of millions of people. Succinctly put, uxoriousness and politics can never go together. They should endeavour to fulfill their political promises rather than encouraging their wives to  hold jamborees at will,

•Asabor wrote from Lagos. •E-maile: [email protected]