THE WOMEN WHO WOULD BECOME NIGERIA'S FIRST LADY; AN INTIMATE PROFILE OF PATIENCE JONATHAN AND AISHA BUHARI

In the next few days one of Dame Patience Jonathan who is presently Nigeria's First Lady and Hajia Aisha Buhari will call the shots as regards the office of wife of Nigeria's President for the next four years.

Not one who can be pushed aside, Patience Jonathan has commandeered her husband’s bid for a second term like a General on the battlefield. Her dignified, confident pose at campaign rallies are matched only by her aggressive command of emotional and spiritual gimmicks in rousing a crowd. Many may regard her as one without a fluent command of the English Language, but Patience Jonathan is a woman of the crowd. Everywhere she goes, she commands attention. And with her blunt and sarcastic choice of words, she has proven over and over again that she understands the politics of her people.

On the other hand, Aisha Buhari is not a politician. Beautiful, soft-spoken, and calm, she appears to shy away from the glaring lights of the media, compared to her counterpart. The intense race dragged her into the murky waters of local politics, and although she has not floundered and fumbled, she has also not sparkled and delighted. Her strongest point appears to be the diplomatic ambience which comes with her personality. Her command of the English Language does not appear to be deeply flawed; and lots of Nigerians, especially the young ones, seem to think of her as an epitome of what Nigeria’s First Lady should look like.

ABOUT PATIENCE JONATHAN
She was born in 1957 into the Christian family of Chief Lazarus Iwari-Oba in Port-Harcourt, Rivers State, earned her school certificate in 1976, and passed the WASSCE in 1980. In 1989, she obtained the NCE in Mathematics and Biology from the Rivers State College of Arts and Science, Port Harcourt. She then proceeded to the University of Port Harcourt where she studied Biology and Psychology.

Patience Jonathan started her career as a teacher at the Stella Maris College, Port Harcourt and later became administrator at Sports Institute, Isake. From there she moved to the banking sector in 1997, where she established the first community bank in Port Harcourt called the Akpo Community Bank. She served as Marketing Manager of Imiete Community Bank. She returned to the classroom briefly again as teacher. Eventually she was transferred to the Bayelsa State Ministry of Education, where she served until 29 May 1999, when her husband became the deputy governor of the state. On 12 July 2012, she became a permanent secretary in Bayelsa State. She and her husband have two children.

ABOUT AISHA BUHARI
She was born in Adamawa State into the family of the first Minister of Defense, Hon. Mohammadu Ribadu. A thoroughbred Fulani woman, she is a granddaughter of the first Ciroma of Adamawa. A woman with a royal pedigree, Aisha Buhari was raised in the tradition of philanthropy which has been a guiding principle in both her private and public life.

An alumna of the Ahmadu Bello University where she bagged a degree in Public Administration, her quest for more education took her into the field of Physiotherapy and Beauty Therapy. She is a graduate of International Affairs and Strategic Planning. She is also an alumna of the famous Carlton Institute of London and the Academy Esthetique Beauty Institute of France, where she earned a Post-graduate Diploma in Cosmetology and Beauty Therapy. A philanthropist, she has encouraged and supported her husband in politics and private enterprise. Her marriage is blessed with children.

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