As former presidents, vice, state governors and their deputies are granted lavish retirement benefits, the outgoing First Lady, Mrs. Aisha Buhari, has pressed for certain privileges to be accorded the wives of former presidents after leaving office.
She made the appeal at the launch of a book ‘The Journey of a Military Wife’ written by the president of the Defence and Police Officers’ Wives Association (DEPOWA), Mrs. Vickie Irabor, in Abuja yesterday.
Buhari mentioned such privileges to include the provision of vehicles, stipends, and sponsored medical treatments, among others.
She contended that first ladies deserve such privileges just like their husbands or presidents in office and out of office.
“I married my husband as the wife of a former president. I am going in a few days as a wife of a former president a second time.
“They should consider us as former first ladies. They should incorporate the first ladies and give us some privileges that we deserve as first ladies…”
Turning to the book, Buhari commended the author saying “it is a factual, emotional book that will help officers’ wives navigate their lives.”
“It underscores women as agents of stability for the nation as the nation battled insurgency and other security challenges.
“It’s a guide and reference for military wives, and the need for better support for military widows, the insights from the book will help readers appreciate the challenges of the military family.” she added.
In his remarks, husband of the author and chief of defence staff, Gen Lucky Irabor, commended the DEPOWA president for writing about the experiences of military families.
He said the book would aid the military to formulate a policy document on the welfare of military families.
For his part, the chief of naval staff, Vice Admiral Awwal Gambo, who spoke on behalf of the service chiefs, commended the author for establishing a guide and reference for military wives.
He said the book launch was an opportunity to set aside a day to celebrate military women, noting that a good military wife manages the home to enable the husband to focus on military duties.
Also speaking at the event, the former First Lady, Mrs. Maryam Abacha commended Mrs. Irabor’s efforts and called for greater cooperation among military families.
Recalling the good times she had as a military officer’s wife, Abacha said: “I married my husband a long time ago. I married him as a civilian before he joined the army. We went through the war. He became commander, then GOC. We always prayed to God for the soldiers and the nation.
“Those days in the 60s the mess was a friendly place where we learnt a lot and exchanged ideas. I pray that NAOWA, DEPOWA and others continue to thrive. I am very proud to be a soldier’s wife and very proud of the legacies we left.”
Chairperson of the occasion, Mrs. Daisy Danjuma, relieved the experience of military wives and experiences of some military officers as well.
Daisy, who is married to the former minister of defence, Gen Theophilus Danjuma, said: “We celebrated good times and mourned when some were executed during coup d’etat.
“Army officers do not prevaricate when they want to marry. They give their wives room to develop and acquire more education. You know job and postings, you have to be strong.”
In her speech, Mrs. Irabor said wives of military officers are unsung heroines.
She said they are not celebrated in spite of being the ones operating behind the scene to support the career of their spouses in securing the nation.
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