The Power Behind The Throne

Turai’s Influence Not Unusual

I read your story showing the tremendous influence Turai Yar’Adua has on her husband’s government. It is not surprising given the fact that Yar’Adua is often ill. She is the closest to the man and so it should be expected that she will have a say in how Umar Yar’Adua runs the country and the key appointments he makes. So long as she does not overdo things I do not begrudge her.

Ismaila Mohammed,
Abuja

Behind every successful man there is a woman, so says the old adage of our people (‘Hajiya Turai Yar’Adua: The Power Behind The Throne,’ TheNEWS, 1 September 2008 edition). That Hajiya Turai Yar’Adua is alleged to be in charge is no big deal. We have seen such happening in our domestic lives.

Tommy Akpome,
Ughelli.

You guys at TheNEWS will not stop feeding the Nigerian public with news items that cannot be substantiated. Is it wrong for the wife of a sick man to control the activities of her beloved husband? Afterall, she will be the one to face the music should anything awry happen to President Yar’Adua.

Ann Uwaka,
Abuja.

Why would Hajiya Turai not take charge of government? When we have a man who is not fit to be a local government councillor as the President of the country, that is what will happen. This is the follout of the kind of political system which operates in the country.

Femi Johnson,
Ikorodu.

That President Yar’Adua’s wife, Turai is the woman behind the throne is understandable. Turai’s husband is not fit enough, health wise, to effectively rule this country. So let the closest person who is fit enough be in charge. And to me, that person is his wife, Turai.

Emeka Ohe,
Enugu.

This country has got the kind of leader it deserves. During the 2007 election we all knew that Yar’Adua was too frail to be our president, yet we voted for him. Now that the President cannot perform, why are we crying over spilt milk?

Oluwole Adesina,
Ibadan.

It is very glaring that President Yar’Adua is too weak to be in charge. The person who is actually in charge is Turai his wife. But sadly enough, this is a situation that Nigerians must learn to cope with because unless the seat is vacant, there is no alternative. And as far as I am concerned, the seat is not vacant.

Efe Omonode,
Benin City.

It beats my imagination why President Yar’Adua should allow his wife to be in charge of affairs in Aso Rock. While some people may find it rational because due to his failing health he cannot fully exercise his powers, I believe the best option for him is to resign.

Mohammed Sanni,
Kano.

There is nothing wrong in Hajiya Turai Yar’Adua emerging as the power base of her husband’s government. At least everyone prays for a good wife to be behind one’s success and not failure. There is even a saying that behind every successful man there is a woman. I give kudos to Turai for being a good woman.

Yetunde Ayeni,
Badagry.

Thank God for someone like Hajiya Turai. I know that she is the type of woman every man should seek to have. She is definitely the heartbeat of her husband. She has been able to wave off pressure from the hawks who were seeking to cage her husband into taking some decisions that could have been unfavourable to the Nigerian masses.

Tayo Bamidele,
Ishaga, Lagos.

If our leaders could have somebody like Hajiya Turai Yar’Adua as wives, I am sure that most of them would not find themselves in the messy positions they are now finding themselves. Turai Yar’Adua is no doubt in charge of affairs at Aso Rock. With a husband whose health has become the subject of debate, someone has to take charge. That is exactly what Turai has been doing despite spirited denials by the presidential spokerperson.

Ahmed Rafi,
Kano.

For sometime, Turai Yar’Adua has been more visible than her husband. I didn’t quite pay any attention to it until the rumour about his battle to survive hit the newstands last week. Maybe the president should unofficially hand over the day-to-day administrative policy decision making to her while he recuperates. It might serve a better purpose.

Wale Adeosun,
Abeokuta.

What did Nigerians expect from a lame duck president? Turai is in charge because we have an incapacitated president. Please let her be.

Said Jamiu,
Sokoto.

Hajiya Turai Yar’Adua is not in charge at the Aso Rock Villa and she has never been. She is only acting the role of the President’s wife. In any case, in all her outings, she has never taken charge of duties meant for the President. If you don’t know, Mr. President is a man in control of his home front.

Abdullahi Dahiru,
Katsina.

Who is fooling who? Who is the soothsayer that predicts WAYEF has a life-span beyond that of the present, most-important feminine occupant of the Aso Rock Presidential Villa? How many billions of naira have been allocated to this WAYEF, back door or direct? And under which constitutional realm is WAYEF an appendage – the executive? Is WAYEF such a big social product that a particular Ministry under the executive arm of government can not handle? Of what significance is this gratuitous duplication? Is it a case of the primordial complex issue? Why is it that the so-called Nigerian first ladies always start image promotion projects which life span goes not beyond their period of occupancy of the Presidential Villa? And why is it that Nigerians remain a bunch of suckers for those that know next to nothing about something but only become aware (spuriously) the moment they sniff the air in the State House? For how long do we waste important resources on foolish if not near-criminal egotist self-promotion exercises? Do Nigerians have to wait for WAYEF to run its wasteful, fraudulent, egotist-induced, economically and socially irrational regime before being turfed out?

Oluyole Ayemojuba,
Toronto, Canada.

We thank God that Nigerian womanhood is developing to a stage that has produced women like Hajiya Turai Yar’Adua. There is no doubt that this charming and highly intelligent first lady of Nigeria is doing her best for the good of this nation now and in the future. Hajiya Tuari Yar’Adua should be given every support to achieve her glorious objectives for humanity. It is providential that Turai and her beloved husband have come out of the teaching profession, from which background they have acquired the desirable traits of dealing fairly with their fellow human beings to the glory of God. It is said that teachers never die, they simply fade away, after producing their desirable replacements.

Bassey Okon,
Calabar

There is nothing wrong with a President’s wife aspiring to do one thing or the other, either for altruism or ego. Trouble begins when a first lady is funded with public funds. I hope the case of Turai Yar’ Adua will not come to that.

Jimoh Adaramody,
Akure.

Turai Yar’ Adua will have to choose between being another Imelda Marcus Jacquiline Kennedy. History will record her so.

David Edremoda,
Benin City

Whatever anyone may say about Turai Yar’ Adua, let her use all her contacts and resources to help the poor.

Tunji Ilemobade,
Ilesha

Behind a successful man, there is a woman. Then we pray that Turai will be a positive influence on President Umar Yar’ Adua so that he will govern well.

Abdulrahim Jimoh,
Damaturu.

TheNEWS must resist the temptation of trying to portray Mrs. Yar’ Adua as the woman behind the throne. Afterall a woman is as powerful as the husband’s want her to be. A weak husband begets a strong wife. And vice-versa.

Kanayo Ejike,
Onitsha.

Please leave Turai alone to manage her home by herself. Whether we like it or not, the fact remains that Turai is not only in power but in government. And all power belongs to Allah and only Allah alone and he alone can dispense or take away power.

Muda Salau,
Oshogbo

Turai Yar’Adua no doubt is the defacto president and commander-In-Chief. But do you blame her? That is what you get when the president is always rushing to Germany for medical check-up or check out. As long as Yar’ Adua remains a sick man, nothing would change in Aso Rock.

Martins Okafor,
Aba.

Mrs. Turai Yar’Adua is stepping into the void left by her ailing and weak husband who happens to be the President. Nature abhors vacuum and what a man cannot do, who says a woman cannot do, and even better?

Segun Olaosho,
Ibadan.

Let the truth be told once and for all. Turai Yar’ Adua is not actually doing anything new or strange. Like Turai, like Mariam Abacha or Mariam Babangida or even Stella Obasanjo. It’s in their character to call the shots. While their husband listen to the rhythm.

Clement Agbonta,
Benin City

The story of Turai Yar’ Adua reminds me of that of Emelda Marcus, the infamous first lady of the Philipines. Though Turai has not manifested yet her love for shoes and handbags, who knows, what Turai is in love with?

Israel Okonta,
Lagos.

Re: The Trial Of Bode George

In saner climes, the likes of Bode George would have hidden their faces in shame because they are a national disgrace and bad influence to the society, especially to the youths of this generation who are in dire need of credible role models. But it is unfortunate that here in Nigeria, nothing is taken seriously, coupled with the fact that the ruling PDP is an all-comers affair and so, lacks party discipline to control her erring members. I will not be superised if Bode George is discharged and acquitted tomorrow and saddled with another responsibility of trust.

Emeka Anucha,
Onitsha

Re: Visit To A Land That Works

I read Babajide Kolade-Otitoju’s Travelogue on Ghana in the 11 August edition titled: Visit To A Land That Works. Yes! Ghana is a nice place to be. Even though they do not have resources like we do in Nigeria, yet with what they have, you do not need anybody to explain to you how resources are utilised. A drive through Accra is a sweet experience, with all the nice road-side trees, neat and well structured road network. Until sometime in 2006, it was completely strange to hear of power outage. Even after the problems with power, it was being modestly rationed and rotated. Let our leaders bury their overbloated pride and be humble enough. We have a lot to learn from this quiet and nice country called Ghana

Olumuyiwa Isaac,
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Re: Yerima’s Post-office Trauma

There is no iota of truth in the statement credited to the Hon. Commissioner for Information, Zamfara State, Alhaj Dan Maliki, in some newspapers that the former governor of the state, Senator Ahmed Sani was trying to “destabilize the state.” Senator Ahmed Sani could not have for any reason, try to destroy a house that he helped to build from the foundation. Senator Ahmed Sani has said often times, that he meant well for the administration of Governor Shinkafi which in the first instance, he installed, through the grace of God.

On the allegation of uncooperative attitude by Ahmed Sani towards peaceful resolution of the “perceived crises” between him and Shinkafi, it should be stated as a matter of truth, that as a respecter of traditional institution and their beholders, Senator Ahmed Sani, has continued to honour invitations from respected Emirs to sort issues out. All fathers pray for the success of their children and would want them to surpass them in their endeavours. This is Yarima’s wish for Shinkafi as his political son.

Olumide Lawal,
Special Assistant, Media & Public Affairs, to Senator Ahmad Sani Yarima.