Earlier this week, there was news that the wife of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Senator Oluremi Tinubu has officially resumed her office at the Aso Rock villa as the First Lady of the federal republic of Nigeria.
This is a clear case of introducing what was never there and was never part of the constitution into our political system as there is no such position or office as the office of First Lady of the federal republic of Nigeria provided for by the constitution or other legislative enactments.
Every political office in our political system is provided for by the constitution and other enacted legislations so as to avoid confusion and usurpation of power/functions by political jobbers and desperadoes.
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It is the president of the federal republic of Nigeria that was sworn in by the Chief Justice of the federation and never the wife or with the wife. First Lady is a ceremonial title and ceremonial position with no real office or clear-cut duties except being the wife of the president, therefore, allocating an office at the presidential wing for the First Lady is an aberration. She is merely the wife of the president and nothing more.
If the wives of all elected or appointed officeholders decide to wield executive offices or executive political power what will now come of our political space? Your guess is as good as mine.
Nigerian politicians should be careful of the precedents they set because it will definitely come back to hunt them. Allocating an official and executive power to the wife of the president or to the wives of the governors of the state is one of the precedents that if allowed to flourish will lead to chaos and confusion.
I have searched and still searching the constitution and other laws and there is nowhere it is written that “there shall be the office of the First Lady of the federal republic of Nigeria who shall be the wife of the presidents”. No provision as such.
This serves as a reminder for all elected and appointed government officials to tread with caution and stop making a mockery of our constitutions and laws; if this is allowed to continue, we might wake up to see the office of the first son or office of the first daughter of the federation all wielding official and executive powers.