naijaXclusive: Governor Peter Obi Retires From Politics

As often said, beside every successful man, there is a woman. It has just
come to the fore that every successful politician has a woman of great influence who plays along with him. If
it was the man’s spouse, it is considered better because courage and support
are brood right from home. This is more so, considering the fact that no woman
will watch her husband record a public and documented failure during his stay
in office. 
LEADERSHIP FRIDAY presents some selected Nigerian women who are considered
powerful themselves, and who also rally round their husbands. They are seen as
the women behind powerful politicians in Nigeria. They are: 
 
DAME PATIENCE JONATHAN: 
As it stands now the biggest influence on the Nigerian political landscape
is undoubtedly President Goodluck Jonathan. President Jonathan’s ascending
political profile since the advent of this democratic dispensation is a feat
that is rarely achieved. Yet one cannot glorify him and underestimate the role
played by his spouse, Dame Patience Jonathan. It is believed that Patience
wields much influence on Jonathan’s political decisions. For instance, it was 
rumoured recently in some quarters and carried by some media that Lady
Jonathan, who is known to be a strong advocate of women rights and growth,
might have influenced the expulsion of the Rivers State governor, Rotimi
Chibuike Ameachi, by the State chapter of the ruling People’s Democratic Party
(PDP) as there has been a face-off between her and the Governor who are both
indigenes of the State. Dame Patience pursues the course for the empowerment
and respect for the rights of women with unprecedented zeal. She was known for
this course even right from when her husband was Deputy Governor of Bayelsa
State. 
Patience, who has a BSc. in Biology and Psychology from the University of
Port Harcourt, was born in 1957 into a respectable Christian family of Lazarus
Iwari-Oba in Port-Harcourt. 
 
AMINA SAMBO (OFR): 
Mrs Amina Sambo (OFR) is
the wife of Vice President Namadi Sambo, and therefore Nigeria’s Second Lady.
She was Kaduna State’s First Lady between 2007 and 2010 when her husband was
governor of the State. As a background influence to her husband, she must have
been a good companion and adviser, contributing to the political ingenuity that
has seen him to the topmost echelon of Nigerian politics today. 
Mrs Amina Sambo was born in Riyom, Barikin Ladi Local Government Area of
Plateau State, Nigeria. She had her primary education at Girls Boarding School,
Gindiri, Plateau State, after which she enrolled for a Nursing course before
she had her secondary education.
She is currently the Executive Director of the Grassroots Health Organisation
of Nigeria (GHON). 
She coordinated a national programme
on the prevention of Vesico Vaginal Fistula
(VVF) towards safe motherhood in Nigeria, and was a consultant on delivery at
the Centre for Development and Population Activities (CEDPA) projects in
northern Nigeria. In view of her outstanding achievements and contributions to
national growth, she was conferred with the award of Officer of the Federal
Republic (OFR) by President Jonathan. 
 
SENATOR (MRS) DAISY DANJUMA: 
She is the wife of Theophilus Yusuf Danjuma, a retired General who, by
virtue of his philanthropic gestures has received various awards and titles
across the country; a man who is now seen by many as a political benefactor and
advisor to the political elites, especially those of northern extraction. 
Senator (Mrs) Daisy, a former senator from Plateau State, is a graduate of Law
from Ahmadu Bello University. 
In 2003, she was elected Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria where
she has served on various committees, most notably, as Chairman of the ECOWAS
Parliament’s Women and
Children Committee and Chairman, Senate Committee on Women Affairs and Youth
Development. 
 
HELEN DAVID MARK: 
The Senate President, David Alechenu Bonaventure Mark is married to four
wives. They are Omale, Kate, Helen and Randa. Mark, who represents Benue South
federal constituency, is a former military governor of Niger State. He was
first elected into the Senate in 1999 and has clinched the position till date.
He is indeed, one of the influential political figures in Benue State, if not
the most powerful and sophisticated politician in the state. 
Senator Mark enjoys a lot of support from all his wives, one of whom is
Helen, who often identifies with him in his political struggles and is often
seen with him in official outings. 
 
HAJIYA INNA MARYAM CIROMA: 
Former minister of Women Affairs and current Acting Managing Director, National Inland Waterways
Authority, Hajiya Inna Maryam Ciroma, is the wife of former minister of
finance, Alhaji Adamu Ciroma. Hajiya Inna was born on September 11, 1954 in
Biu, Borno State. She attended Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, where she
graduated in 1978 with a degree in Political Science. She later obtained a Post
Graduate Diploma in Public
Administration, perhaps, in her desire to sharpen and equip herself for the
task of public service and administration. 
Having had several careers cutting across federal civil service, private
entrepreneurship and investment, there is no doubt that she is very exposed.
Her husband, Adamu Ciroma, is also a former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria
(CBN). He was the chairman of the Obasanjo 2003 re-election Campaign
Organisation. This shows how the Ciromas are considered politically weighty and
relevant by Obasanjo who was, then, very desperate for his re-election bid. Of
course, he needed no less political personalities than the Ciromas whose role
in capturing the north was considered un-negotiable. 
There is no doubt that Adamu Ciroma is an old pillar in Nigerian politics.
In 1979, he was a presidential aspirant on the platform of the National Party
of Nigeria (NPN). However, he did not scale through in the party primaries. He
also served as NPN secretary. Ciroma was, 
at other times, minister of Industries and Agriculture. Behind this
unwavering politician who was a respected senior cabinet member during the
Shagari administration, Hajiya Inna is the woman that provides all sorts of
encouragement and support. 
 
HAJIA HAUWA DANBABA SUNTAI: 
The rave of the moment, Hajia Hauwa Danbaba Suntai is the wife of Governor
Danbaba Suntai of Taraba State. Hauwa, a Shuwa Arab from Borno State, is the
reliable storehouse of the Taraba governor who was 
involved in an air crash in
October last year in Yola, Adamawa State, when he was reported to be flying
himself in a private jet. Hauwa has been standing by her husband throughout his
ordeal, practically demonstrating that what he needed mostly to recover is,
perhaps, the affection and emotional therapy of a dear one. During this same
time, Hauwa gave birth to twins in USA where her husband was receiving treatment
after he was transferred from a German hospital where he was initially
admitted. 
Just last weekend, her husband was flown into the country from John Hopkins
Hospital, USA. Following this, many are still in doubt if the governor is
physically fit to function in his capacity as the governor of the state. It
therefore, looks similar to the Umaru Musa
Yar’adua sickness saga when Turai was practically doing everything possible to
rule the country by proxy, thereby, safe-guarding her husband’s position. 
Similarly, Hauwa Suntai is being rumoured to be playing the same role to
ensure that her husband’s seat is retained.  Despite that the Taraba State
acting governor, Alhaji Garba Umar, is officially carrying out the
constitutional duties conferred on him in the governor’s absence, Hauwa’s
influence in the Taraba government house
cannot be denied. 
 
DAME JUDITH AMAECHI: 
Dame Judith Amaechi is the wife of Governor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi of
Rivers State. She is the founder, Empowerment Support Initiative (ESI), a
non-governmental organisation concerned with campaigns against HIV/AIDS,
protecting the rights of women and children and promotion of gender equality as
well as girl-child education. 
Dame Judith was born on December 24, 1970. She attended Federal Government
College, Abuloma in Port Harcourt, Rivers State. She later attended Rivers
State University of Science and Technology, where she graduated in Urban and
Regional Planning. Her husband has suffered high degrees of political crisis in
recent times ranging from the imbroglio involving his official aircraft and
officials of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) in Akure, Ondo State,
an attempt to unseat him as the chairman of the Nigeria Governor’s Forum (NGF)
which pitched him against President Goodluck Jonathan and Governor David Jonah
Jang of Plateau State, to the recent violence that took over his state assembly
in what was unexpected of civilised lawmakers of this century. 
Not forgotten is the rift between Amaechi and the commissioner of police in
Rivers, Mr Mbu J. Mbu which was interpreted by many as a stage-managed and
tele-guided scenario. It is interesting to note that while the wranglings
lasted, Dame Judith, like the proverbial rock of Gibraltar, stood closely by
her husband with a rare philosophical calmness and in a manner that seems to
assure him: “don’t worry; the coast will soon be clear and safe”. 
 
HAJIYA JUMMAI BABANGIDA ALIYU: 
Hajiya Jummai Babangida Aliyu is the wife of Governor Mu’azu Babangida
Aliyu, the Chief Servant of Niger State, as often referred to. Her husband is
one of the most powerful politicians in the country. Aliyu was elected governor
of Niger State in April 2007 on the platform of the People’s Democratic Party
(PDP). He was re-elected for a second term on April 26, 2011. Therefore, by
2015, he would have governed the state for eight years. 
Also, Governor Aliyu is the incumbent chairman, Northern States Governors’
Forum, a formidable political forum to reckon with. At the pick of the crisis
that rocked the NGF, Aliyu, not minding whose ox is being gored, stood his
ground and maintained that the embattled governor Chibuike Amaechi should be
recognized as the elected chairman of the forum, going by votes cast. 
Hajiya Jummai, popularly known as Madam Chief Servant of Niger State,
following the nomenclature carved by her husband, is the fountain of courage
behind Governor Aliyu. Some of the initiatives she introduced in the state are
Women Empowerment, Reforming Prisoners, minimizing and addressing the issue of
sexual abuse and ensuring that every Niger child is computer literate. 
 
HAJIYA NANA KASHIM SHETTIMA: 
Hajiya Nana Kashim Shettima is the wife of Borno State governor, Alhaji
Kashim Shettima. Recently, Nana took a bold and exemplary step by empowering no
less than 500 women in the state with soft loans to enable them start petty
trading activities. Using Support for Widows, Orphans and Tsangaya (SWOT)
Foundation,  a pet project founded by her, she was able to bring succour
to the less privileged women , most of whom were victims of the serial
insurgent attacks and destructions unleashed on the state by the Boko Haram
sect. 
Recently, during the Ramadan, she distributed cash and food items to 400
Muslim widows and orphans in Borno. 
Her husband, Governor Shettima, would have been thrown into a state of
political convulsion following the eruption of violent attacks in his state if
he were not a man of strong will, added to the support of a wife like Nana. It
can be rightly said that since Shettima came to office, he had not had
opportunity to peacefully drink water and drop the proverbial cup, having
inherited a state that has, overnight, become a training camp and breeding
ground for the insurgent group. 
However, in good and bad times, Governor Shettima is sure of one thing – the
moral support and encouragement of his wife, Nana. 
 
AISHA BUHARI: 
Hajiya Aisha Buhari is the articulate wife of General Muhammadu Buhari. She
was born in Adamawa State to the family of Nigeria’s first minister of defence,
Muhammadu Ribadu. She is also a granddaughter of the first Chiroma of Adamawa.
Hajiya Aisha attended Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, where she bagged a
Bachelor’s degree in Public Administration. She also attended Carlton Institute
of London and the Academy Esthetique Beauty Institute of France, Dubai, where
she obtained a Postgraduate Diploma in Cosmetology and Beauty Therapy. 
She is also a graduate of International Affairs and Strategic Planning. 
Over the years, as General Buhari continued to pursue his presidential
aspiration, she has always done everything within her reach to support him and
ensure that he wins election. She once assured Nigerian women during a fund
raising dinner for female candidates of the defunct Congress for Progressive
Change (CPC) that if her husband won the presidential election, that women will
be given the priority they deserved which would focus on their health,
education, and being given opportunity to contribute to the growth of
Nigeria.  What else can a woman do to further fortify the political
fortress of her husband more than what Aisha has done? 
 
JUSTICE (MRS) FATI ABUBAKAR: 
Justice (Mrs) Fati Lami Abubakar shares in the fame of her husband, General
Abdussalami Abubakar (Rtd) who ended the long military rule in Nigeria by
voluntarily handing over power to a democratically elected civilian president.
It is one historic gesture that makes these Abubakars unique in Nigeria’s
political history. With the growing popularity of the position of First Lady,
one would have thought that Lady Abubakar would advise for a stay-on. 
However, Justice (Mrs) Abubakar is a success story on her own. She is the
first female lawyer, Solicitor-General and Attorney-General of Niger State
respectively. She is currently a Judge of the High Court of Niger State. 
A second child of the late Waziri of Minna, Alhaji Umaru Audu and Hajiya
Nana Asma’u, Justice Abubakar was born in Minna, Niger State. From college, she
gained admission to study law at Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife,
graduating with an LLB in 1975. 
 
JUSTICE (MRS) MARY ODILI:    
The mention of Nigeria’s strong politicians can never be complete without
the mention of Peter Odili, the immediate past governor of Rivers State, who is
said to have nurtured the incumbent governor, Rotimi Ameachi. Justice Mary
Odili is the woman that has been behind 
Odili as his wife. Mary is currently a Justice of the Supreme Court of
Nigeria. 
Justice Mary Odili was born on May 12, 1952 at Amudi Obizi Ezinihitte,
Mbaise Local Government Area of Imo State. She attended University of Nigeria,
Nsukka, Enugu Campus (UNEC), where she obtained her Bachelor’s degree in Law
(LL.B Hons) in 1976. She had held several judicial positions at one time or the
other in Rivers State, Abuja, Kaduna and so on. This legal giant was appointed
a Justice of the Supreme Court of Nigeria on June 23, 2013. 
 
AMBASSADOR BIANCA OJUKWU: 
Ambassador Bianca Ojukwu is the wife of Biafran warlord and vibrant
politician, late Chief Odumegwu Ojukwu. Before his death, Ojukwu was a national
leader of All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA), on which platform he had
contested for presidency but did not win. 
Controversies seem to trail this ethereal beauty, lawyer and business woman
and the Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria Pageant winner in 1988, Miss Africa and
the first black woman to win Miss Intercontinental, Bianca Ojukwu. 
Bianca Odinaka Olivia Ojukwu is the daughter of the legal luminary and
former governor of the old Anambra State, late Chief Christian Chukwuma Onoh,
of Ngwo, Enugu State. She met the late Ojukwu when she was 22. 
 
MORENIKE FLORENCE SARAKI: 
Morenike Florence Saraki is the wife of late Dr. Olusola Saraki, former
governor of Kwara State and a politician that wielded enormous power and
control in Kwara State. She is the mother of Senator Gbemisola Saraki and
stepmother of the former governor of Kwara State, Bukola Saraki. 
Florence has been around her husband during his political struggles. The
exit of Saraki who has been a stabilizing and rallying factor in the house
might pave the way for Florence, the only wife, to be the new force in the
family politics. 
 
MRS. MARGARET PETER OBI: 
She was born Margaret Brownson Usen. She got married to governor Obi in
1992. Margaret is the brain behind her husband’s National Gender Affirmative
Action which encouraged at least fifty per cent slots to women under Obi’s
administration. Margaret is known for her humility despite her intelligence
which she kept hidden while working intensively and inconspicuously to garner
support for her husband’s administration. She is also known for her fierce
devotion to women empowerment and child protection activities. 
She facilitated the distribution of equipment grants to women cooperatives
that are engaged in dry season faming. Thus, promoting their access to factors
of production and enhancing their capacity to support their families. She also
facilitated the establishment of Family Courts in the state’s Ministry of Women
Affairs and Social Development (MWAPD) to deal with issues of child abuse and
violation of women’s rights especially widows’ right to inheritance. 
 
SENATOR OLUREMI TINUBU: 
She is the wife of former Lagos State governor, Bola Asiwaju Tinubu and the
National Chairman of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN).  In 2011, she
contested and won the Lagos Central Senatorial Candidate of the ACN. 
Claims of her husband, the ACN National Leader imposing Oluremi on Lagosians
as a 2015 gubernatorial candidate for the economic capital without observance
of the party’s primary election surfaced in recent months. In June, 2013, in a
public address on Channels Television, 
Oluremi Tinubu dismissed the claim that she has set her sights on governing
seat of Lagos, saying, “My husband did it for eight years … I don’t think I
have the strength to say I want to govern the present state of Lagos.”

Women Behind Nigeria’s Most Powerful Politicians

As often said, beside every successful man, there is a woman. It has just come to the fore that every successful politician has a woman ...