Aisha Buhari an unusual First Lady and agent of unity - Osinbajo, Tinubu

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has described the First Lady, Hajia Aisha Buhari, as an unusual person whose spontaneity has redefined the role of the office.

The Vice President spoke on Thursday during the presentation of the book titled “Aisha Buhari: Being different” by Senior Special Assistant to the President on Administration and Women Affairs, Office of the First Lady, Dr Hajo Sani, at the State House Banquet Hall, Abuja.

Osinbajo noted she had taken steps outside the box of what used to be the personage and traditional roles in Nigeria’s presidential history, adding that her unusual approaches had endeared her to the public.

According to him, Mrs. Buhari has regaled the Nigerian public with many firsts, including opening up her office through social media outlets and connecting with the public in real-time.

“It’s unlikely that any First Lady in Nigeria’s history has, in such a few short years, captured the imagination of Nigerians as profoundly as Aisha Buhari.

“She’s, of course, the first First Lady to be on Twitter, on Instagram, and other social media platforms, getting her unfiltered views across to the Nigerian people and she’s probably the first to receive, in real time, the opinions of Nigerians on her views.

“With her views, forthright, crisp, truthful and once in a while controversial, she has established an ongoing conversation with the Nigerian people.

“The issues that concern them most, the issues that concern us the most; good governance, security, putting food on the table, the education of our children, prompt payment of pensions to army veterans, drug abuse, the violation and victimisation of women and every once in a while she airs her own personal struggles, her annoyance, in a manner, probably unprecedented in the role of the First Lady anywhere.

“There is no question that Aisha Buhari is different. Her difference has been empowering for the Nigerian people and there is never any question that her comments come from a good place, a place of genuine love and respect for the Nigerian people and our several concerns.

“But it’s unlikely that Aisha Buhari would ever be forgotten and even if there was a chance of this happening, this well written attempt to document her life and times and her contributions as First Lady to national life, through the causes that she has promoted, removes that possibility,” the Vice President

Earlier in his address the National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Asiwaju Bola Tinubu has heaped praises on First Lady, Aisha Buhari, who he described as an agent of unity and development.

He hailed her for dignifying the office of the First Lady, which he said used to be a subject of controversy.

Tinubu, who chaired the presentation, said: “Given the First Lady’s achievement, no one can reasonably question the role of a First Lady any longer. Remember that there were those who argued that the constitution does not assign any official role to the First Lady. With Dr Aisha Buhari, their concerns have been forever laid to rest.

“First lady has played an uplifting, unifying role both in symbol and substance. She has been a voice of conscience calling us to be of our better self for the good of the nation and for the vulnerable among us.”

Buhari, who is in London for routine medical check-up, is being represented by his Chief of Staff, Prof Ibrahim Gambari.

Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo, his wife, Dolapo as well as Deputy Senate President, Ovie Omo-Agege; and Mrs Folorunsho Alakija who is the Special Guest of Honour, are some of the dignitaries at the event.

Nigerian Air Force Airstrikes Eliminate ISWAP Leaders Amir Abu-Rabi, Mohamer Likita

 The Nigerian Air Force has eliminated top leaders of the Islamic State of West Africa Province (ISWAP) and scores of their fighters in Borno state.

According to the report, the brutal and precision-guided airstrikes were conducted by the Air Task Force Operation Lafiya Dole.

The report further revealed that the airstrikes targeted three major ISWAP hideouts at Kusuma, Sigir in Ngala, and Arijallamari in Abadam local government areas of Borno state.

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Accordingly, the strikes neutralized the two terrorist leaders Amir Abu-Rabi and Mohamer Likita, and dozens of their bodyguards and fighters.

While Abu-Rabi coordinated tax collection on behalf of the ISWAP in Lake Chad, Likita is among commanders coordinating attacks on military formations.

A military intelligence officer quoted in the report said:

“The attacked locations, especially Kusuma and Sigir were notorious havens used by ISWAP for coordinating and training fighters on preemptive attacks on military positions and civilian areas.

“Some of the recent attacks at Damasak, Malam Fatori, Munguno, Dikwa, and Marte axis were coordinated from the areas.

“The airstrikes and artillery bombardments on the ISWAP camps have pushed the surviving and wounded terrorists to Jibularam and Sabon Tumbu riverbank areas.”

The breakthrough by the Air Force comes almost a week after its aircraft on a routine mission in Borno state was declared missing.

NAF spokesman, Air Commodore Edward Gabkwet in a tweet seen by Legit.ng late Wednesday, March 31 said the Alpha Jet was no lost radar contact.

A day after, the Chief of Air Staff (CAS) Air Marshal Oladayo Amao arrived in Maiduguri, the Borno state capital to coordinate search and rescue efforts.

On arrival, Air Marshal Amao was briefed on ongoing search and rescue efforts by those on ground.

Meanwhile, after NAF has dismissed claims by the terrorist group, Boko Haram, that its fighters brought down the jet.

The Air Force said the aircraft crashed due to an accident while accusing the insurgents of deliberately doctoring a video to give a false impression that the aircraft was shot down.