What amazes me though is the nature of Nigerians; they can never be pleased. It is true that the First lady is a public figure but I think whatever she chooses to do with her "personal" life is her own "personal" problem. I have heard so many people say that the office of the First Lady of the Federation is unconstitutional and it is an office created to embezzle public funds. If you ask me, I totally agree with this point of view and I have sat down and have pondered on her office and how it affects me as a tax paying citizen of this country.
The first lady, even though a public figure, is not an elected official. I cannot remember her ever standing as a candidate in all the poor elections we have had in this country; she just happens to be the wife of the president. And as the wife of the president, I believe that her role in most cases is purely domestic. When she travels with the president for an international meeting, I am always almost certain that she is not expected to give a talk at such meeting. The president apparently needs her to perform other "chores". When she receives other first ladies of various countries, she only receives them in her capacity as a member of the "Association of First Ladies", which Association if you ask me, is not different from the usual solidarity expressed amongst women who find themselves in the same line of business (take the Association of Market women for example). At best, her role as the wife of the President and the First lady is merely to give support to her husband. That is why I do not bother myself with her whereabouts when I do not see her for a period of time. I would definitely not feel the same way though, about my elected representative at the National Assembly who never attends a parliamentary sitting for many weeks and yet collects all the allowances arising therefrom. Nigerians! If you did not vote the First lady into any office, and if her office is unconstitutional and therefore non-existent, why do you now bother yourself about her whereabouts? Why the sudden interest.
This poor woman who has been the subject of ridicule and sarcasm since the days of her "umblerra" speech has continued to be in the spotlight for one reason or another. After that epoch speech during her husband's presidential campaign, the presidency was forced to instruct the nation's broadcast outfit to always edit her speeches before airing them. The first lady was also compelled to reduce the number of public functions she attends and refrain from making speeches thereat because of Nigerians and their bad mouth. When she was made a Permanent Secretary in the Bayelsa State Civil Service even without an iota of knowledge of what goes on in her Ministry, there was another public outcry. A few months ago, she was accused of Buying 200 exotic cars for the African First ladies who came visiting her in Abuja. The accusation was so much that the Presidential image maker was almost fired for failing to conceal such "classified information". His failure led to the appointment of a bulldog with a certain reputation for devouring anyone that gets in the way of its master. Now the tongues of Nigerians are at it again. This time they have accused her of travelling to a foreign land for some cosmetic surgery.I must point out though, that it is not the fault of Nigerians. It has been the practice of successive administrations to keep the well being or otherwise of the occupants of Aso Rock and their affiliates highly classified/top secret. Not too long ago, we had a president who suffered from some kidney problem so much so that he became unfit to rule the country but information about his health was hoarded more than the oil subsidy beneficiaries hoarded fuel products. Eventually he died in office even after some of our so-called religious leaders paid him a visit and came back to tell Nigerians that he was hale and hearty. Many years before that, our erstwhile, goggle-wearing head of state died in office. The circumstances surrounding his death is yet to be known. While some say he was offered apples by some exotic Indian dancers, others say he died from acute exhaustion arising from a hot session with some Indian prostitutes. After that, we had a first lady who "obviously" died after an unsuccessful cosmetic surgery. Till now, that story has not been refuted. Now we hear of the ill health of our dear Dame and the Presidency is trying to cover up the state of her health. Will you blame Nigerians for speculating the nature and state of her health? The presidency should know by now that when you leave Nigerians in the dark, they come up with theories.
For me, I see no shame or big deal in anybody falling ill; it is a natural course of life. The body is structured to work that way, so why conceal the state of your health especially as a public figure? Unless of course a certain person is squandering public funds trying to look prettier or the nature of sickness is so shameful that it cannot and should not be spoken of. I'm not even sure whether I should wish the Dame a quick recovery because the Presidency has said over and over again that she's not sick, she's "hale and hearty". If she is the way they say she is, then I presume she's on vacation somewhere and like I said before, since she's not an elected or appointed official and definitely not my Representative in the National Assembly, it is really none of my business. I wish her lots of fun wherever she's lounging.
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