The first lady, Mrs Remi Tinubu (let’s call her Madam Tinubu) seems to crave the second term in office even more ravenously than her husband. Her activities in the last couple of months points to a woman who would stop at nothing to ensure victory for her husband.
In fact, no other spouse of a Nigerian president or leader has been more visible on the hustings or done more to win a reelection for her husband.
Remarkably too, no first lady before her has wielded more power or coveted the national treasury more than Madam Tinubu.
On account of these, many Nigerians are wondering whether Madam Tinubu is catching the Jezebel blues. Or perhaps, getting inspiration from the legends of the great Madam Tinubu.
One of the most dramatic public spectacles recently, was the popping of what many considered an energy pill in her husband’s mouth in the course of APC’s Presidential campaign inauguration in Kaduna October, 24th.
The brief, sneak action which trended like harmattan fire saw Nigerians alarmed and bemused at the same time. While some commentators who gave the benefit of the doubt suggested jokingly that it may not be the energy booster many thought it to be. They conjectured that it may well be something like a ‘Love pop’!
But whatever it may be, the president didn’t present well at that material time. He looked frazzled, and wasted with eyes bulging as if they were about to fall off their sockets.
Many therefore conclude that whatever it may be, it had to be a ‘booster.’
While the energy pop issue was still on, Madam Remi trended controversially again when she gifted APC youth leaders several brand new SUVs. At the cost of about N150 million each, many are peeved that Madam Tinubu spends money as if the Nigerian Mint is now domiciled in her residence.
And why would youths get such luxury vehicles if they are not motivation for dark assignments during the forthcoming elections?
For someone who had admonished Nigerians to engage in such menialities such frying bean cakes, what is this stupendous gift in aid of?
It is especially troubling in a regime that has stripped Nigerians of the most basic subsidies they had enjoyed, hitherto.
Notably, Madam Tinubu has carried out more campaign shuttles than even the chairman and directors of the campaign council. From Imo to Anambra, Enugu, Edo through Sokoto, she has been in a whirlwind shuttle so far.
At every stop, she has a load of what she calls empowerment cash to disburse. She has been more active than even the Vice President and the ministers in charge of the emergency agency and social mobilisation.
Further, in the ceaseless peregrinations of an evidently ailing president Tinubu, Madam Tinubu has virtually taken over the reins of power. It is said that nature abhors vacuum, power is even more sensitive. Power is like molten iron, it is not allowed to grow cold without the desired mold.
So in the Aso Rock Presidential Villa, Madam Tinubu is getting used to wielding power.
While power is not formally devolved to the vice president and while he is ensconced and sequestered in the out-house like an outcast, far removed from the presidential precincts, it is only logical that Madam Tinubu will call the shots, willy-nilly. And has she relished the alternate-president position?
Not one to shy away from power, we now see her public portraiture adorned with the flag of Nigeria and coat of arms. We have seen her receive ambassadors in official capacities and we all witnessed how many aspiring governors sought and got her endorsement to be nominated as APC candidates in the coming elections.
Her body language betrays her stealth authority. Brash and ill-tempered, Madam Tinubu once upbraided a sitting governor in public. At a function in the governor’s domain, she chided him to be brief at the podium lest she rid him of the microphone.
Most troubling, Nigerians have remained mouth-agape as she amassed billions of naira in the most obscene case of abuse of status as wife of the president in Nigeria’s history.
In the guise of running some nebulous foundation, Madam Tinubu has coralled wealthy individuals, contractors and corporates far and wide to stash billions in her slush funds. It is probably from these funds that such gifts as the latest SUVs are purchased.
Contemplating the Jezebel Syndrome
History is replete with women who usurped the sovereign powers of state. The reasons for such grand treason are as varied as they are surreal.
Some are because the husband, the sovereign, may be weak. Some are as a result of debilitating ailments of the head, which create vacuum in power dynamics of a state; while yet others are as a result of the inordinate ambition of the wives.
Queen Jezebel in the Bible, the most notorious example, overawed a weak king Ahab who had embraced her pagan god (Baal) against the wish of the God of Israel. Though she remains the archetype of women of power and negative influence across times, there are a thousand and one examples in the annals.
Empress Wu Zeitian of China is a typical example of women who turned their marriage to a stepping stone to absolute power. From being a concubine to Emperor Gaozong, Wu became queen and gradually took control of power as her husband’s health failed. She ruthlessly eliminated rivals and eventually became an emperor.
History records Mary 1 of England (Bloody Mary), married to King Philip 11 of Spain. With blood in her eyes, she became exceedingly powerful and so ruthless that she was recorded to have executed hundreds of protestant Christians for alleged heresy.
Isabella of France (she-wolf), wife of king Edward 11 of England led a rebellion against her husband leading to his abdication of the throne. Thereupon she led England as Regent for three years with her live-in man till his son (Edward 111) was ready to be King.
Fulvia’s megalomania pushed Mark Anthony to destruction, in ancient Rome. Ditto for Lady Macbeth and her husband Macbeth.
Marie Antoinette, spouse of Louis vi was living extravagantly while France faced economic crisis. This ignited the French Revolution and the attendant beheading of Queen Marie and King Louis.
Back home, Efunroye Tinubu (better known as Madam Tinubu) was a wealthy produce and slave merchant who became a kingmaker. She married a deposed Oba Adele and unctioned by her wealth and influence, she was propelled to leading roles in colonial Lagos politics. She ran into a storm with the British colonialists when she continued to smuggle slaves even after abolition.
And in recent history, Turai Yar’Adua and a small cabal concealed the chronic illness of President Yar’Adua, causing him to shuttle Saudi Arabia for treatment until he died ignominiously and the body was flown in at night.
Last, but by no means the least, Maryam Babangida was said to have been so furious on the day his husband, General Ibrahim Babangida capitulated and ‘stepped aside’ under intense pressure. Maryam was reportedly so very angry at the imminent and abrupt exit from power that she locked down Babangida by the collar and tore his singlet; calling him a coward!
But Babangida knew the game was up. He defied his wife and made a dramatic exit from power. He is still alive.
It is noteworthy that apart from Turai and Maryam, the other examples were mainly in medieval times and under monarchies. Nigeria remains a democracy no matter how imperfect. It is practically impossible for a spouse (wife) to usurp sovereign powers today. Let that point be made in case anyone is nursing an idea.
Finally, many Nigerians are currently full of loathing for the first family. The reason is that after a disastrous first term, many expected ailing President Tinubu to step down and anoint a healthy and younger successor. That is honour, history and dignity meshed into one. But honour is a rare attribute among the Nigerian elite.
Nigerians expected Madam Tinubu to take her husband away to safety and deserved rest instead of popping stuff in his mouth. It doesn’t matter to her that Nigeria is drifting, heading to a rock. Perhaps she doesn’t know. It doesn’t matter to her that she has no role in Nigeria’s constitution and her activities largely amounts to a treasonous and justiciable breach.
Lastly, she apparently lacks the depth and range to understand that while she’s at her akara statecraft, mountains of basic things are neglected by the Tinubu administration. For instance, more babies die at birth and maternal mortality is rife. Many more Nigerians are dying unnecessarily. That’s blood in her hands, willy-nilly.
Let us all be wary of the Jezebel Syndrome before it’s full blown.
Osuji was editor at The Guardian, THISDAY and NEWAGE…
