*The tango between Turai and Patience over land
Though the African First Ladies' Summit have come and gone, however, the sordid fact remains that even the convergence of wives of all the Presidents of the world may not be enough to mend the frosty relationship currently existing between two "First Ladies" Nigeria has seen in recent times.
Remarkably, despite that the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999, as amended, which is our grand norm, does not recognize the existence of anything like the office of the "First Lady", yet, wives of past and present leaders of Nigeria never cease to parade themselves as primus-inter-pares among other women in the country.
Most of them had at different occasions, expended jaw dropping sums of money on supposed national cum international events, with some of them initiating schemes that often elapse into oblivion once the administration of their husband ends.
Little wonder why a committee headed by a former Chief Justice of Nigeria, CJN, Justice Alfa Belgore, in a report it recently submitted to President Goodluck Jonathan, recommended the immediate scrapping of "Office of the First Lady"
According to Belgore, "the Committee noted the response from the State House on the Office of the First Lady and recommends that since the office does not operate under any legal framework, that the operation and funding (both in kind and cash) of such offices at all levels of government should be discouraged and abolished forthwith." With today's ruling parties acrioss board, that is wishful thinking
From a mere status in the First and Second Republics, the "First Lady" phenomenon has metamorphosed into a power broking one.
It particularly became part of the polity in 1986 through the wife of the then military head of state, Gen. Ibrahim Babangida, late Mariam. Since then, wives of subsequent leaders, military or civilian and even wives of Governors, have continued to glamorize the position.
Despite the fact that formal budgetary provisions are not made for the office, however, they are very generously funded with public funds. More so, the various first ladies are allocated a retinue of aides who are paid from public funds. These are beside their pet projects which are equally funded by the government.
Reminiscent of the Babangida era when the "First Lady" introduced the Better Life for Rural Women programme, it has become a tradition for spouses of successive Presidents and Governors, to introduce one form of pet project or another, which critics said served as conduit pipes for the siphoning of public fund since such programs make little or no impact on the lives of the average Nigerian woman.
Aside the perceived successive white elephant projects embarked by the "First Ladies", the current tussle between Patience Jonathan and Turai Yar'Adua over a juicy plot of land in the heart of Abuja, has further introduced a new dimension to the insidious folly in such high places.
More disheartening is the entanglement of two serving Ministers in this uncanny ruckus that has exposed the country to public ridicule and opprobrium.
The two "First Ladies" had plunged into cold war after the Certificate of Occupancy for a parcel of land originally allocated to a Non-Governmental Organization, NGO, "The Registered Trustee of Women and Youth Empowerment Foundation, WYEF", a pet project initiated by Turai, was revoked by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Senator Bala Mohammed, and re-awarded to Patience for the construction of a Secretariat of the "First Ladies Peace Mission."
It was gathered that the Registered Trustees of WYEF had applied and was granted an allocation of plot 1347 located at the Cadastral Zone A00, Abuja, after paying the sum of N184.529, 438 as statutory Right of Occupancy and was duly issued with the C of O by the FCT Minister.
Under the terms of grant, Turai's NGO was given three years to develop the property based on approved building plans.
After the payments of the various levies, WYEF reportedly paid additional sum of N76, 936,210.00 as building plan fees after which the grant and approval of the building plans were made and given to it in line with the Abuja master plan.
Meanwhile, shortly after Turai's NGO engaged a building company, Al-Cooks Nigeria Limited to develop the property for the sum of N13, 516,013,797.58, the FCT Administration led by Bala Mohammed, on November 1, 2011, asked it to pay additional bill of N18, 529,438, which was also paid.—Where are these monies coming from?
WYEF decried that after the various payments were made, the FCT Minister, without reason, issued it with a notice of revocation of the said property, which Turai had already earmarked for the building of a "Training/ Vocational Center." The said letter of revocation was allegedly backdated with effect from October 27, 2011.
Afraid that Patience, being the incumbent "First Lady", may arm-twist her with the machineries of government currently at her disposal, Turai, quickly ran to court to seek redress. Joined as defendants in the suit marked FCT/HC/CV/2591/2010, filed before an Abuja High Court sitting at Bwari, were the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mohammed Bello Adoke, the FCT Minister, and the Abuja Geographic Information System, AGIS.
Sequel to the suit, the court, presided by Justice Peter Affen, issued an order restraining the defendants from carrying out further activities at the site.
Meantime, while the order of the court was still subsisting, the defendants, in defiance, probably acting on the basis of an "order from above", commenced construction work on the land situated beside Nanet Suites in Abuja.
The action prompted counsel to WAYE, Innocent Lagi, to quickly initiate contempt proceedings against the respective defendants.
Nevertheless, before hearing could commence on the contempt charge, the AGF, quickly approached the court, urging it to discontinue the matter with a view to allowing the warring parties to explore the possibilities of an out-of-court settlement of the land dispute.
The AGF made the plea after his bid to persuade the presiding judge to vacate the restraining order he earlier issued in favour of Turai, failed.
Counsel to the AGF, Mr Baba Sa'idu, told the court that his client had already reached out to the aggrieved party for an amicable settlement of the dispute.
Adducing reasons why the case should be abandoned, Adoke contended that "the previous allocations were duly revoked and a fresh allocation made out to the African Peace Mission in overriding interest." Emphasizing that Patience had already concluded plans to use the plot for her own program, the AGF, said: "The invitations to the members of the African Union's First Ladies Peace Mission had already gone out and it would be most humiliating for Nigeria in the diplomatic circle to make an about-turn at this time, given, the time constraint to effect any other changes in venue."
Though Justice Affen subsequently adjourned the case till September 24 to receive the report of settlement between the parties, however, it is obvious that the relationship between the two "First Ladies" may never remain cordial owing to their eerie quest for state properties.
Meantime, the Congress for Progressive Change, CPC, has described the African First Ladies' summit which took place on the disputed piece of land, as "another frittering of scarce resources."
A press release that was issued by the National Publicity Secretary of the party, Rotimi Fashakin, on Wednesday read: "The CPC has noted, with utter disgust, the hosting of the African First Ladies under the aegis of the African First Ladies for Peace Mission (AFLPM), which is billed to take place between July 24 and July 27, 2012. Nigeria's First Lady, Dame Patience Goodluck-Jonathan is hosting the fiesta.
Vanguard Nigeria
I don't know why 2 important personality in Nigeria will engage in such cheap argument.I heard Turai is the one saying the truth, meaning Patience is just a trouble maker.
they are just behaving like kids.i didn't believe it when i heard.Nigerians will just laugh at their foolishness.