THE FIRST LADIES OF NIGERIA: THE GOVERNORS’ WIVES
How much do you know about the First Lady of your state? Do you know that the wife of Governor Ajimobi of Oyo State is from Lebanon? And Governor Aregbesola’s wife’s favourite food is eba? And that there are FOUR First Ladies in Adamawa State? Read on and delve into the world of some of Nigeria’s most flamboyant women: the First Ladies. At the end, please tell us your opinion as to who the most beautiful is! Let’s roll!!!
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1. ABIA STATE
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| Chief (Mrs). Mercy Odochi Orji of Abia State |
‘My brother, if you don’t have God, you’ve not started in your life; God is everything. Anybody that trusts in God, he will be carrying you higher.’
‘I glorify God, he’s the architect of everything. Sometimes, I wonder why I’m the First Lady of Abia State because, I didn’t dream of it.’
‘They say I walk like a soldier, so I need to wear something free.’
Mrs. Orji is a lover of ankara wears and says she cannot wear short skirts or anything that will expose her body. Good!
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2. ADAMAWA STATE
At almost 70 years, Admiral MurtalaNyako of Adamawa state tops the chart with four wives, and all of them are given the official positions of a First Lady, even their official cars carry a common number plate which reads: ADGMH1. The four wives are well-educated and three of them actually have doctorate degrees. The four wives are:
-Justice BINTA NYAKO (in charge of Abuja Affairs)
-Dr. HALIMA NYAKO (in charge of the Health Sector),
-Hajia ZAINAB NYAKO (in charge of Political Affairs and Mobilization)
-Hajia ASMAU NANA NYAKO (in charge of the Home Front)
The four wives have their own first lady letter-headed papers printed for them on the orders of Governor Nyako. Gbogbo enjoyment! lol! Well, I tried my best but I was only able to see the pictures of one of them, and that is Hajia Zainab:
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| Hajia Zainab Nyako of Adamawa State |
3. AKWA IBOM STATE
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| Chief (Mrs.) Ekaette Unoma Akpabio of Akwa Ibom State |
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4. ANAMBRA STATE
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| Mrs. Margaret Peter Obi of Anambra State |
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5. BAUCHI STATE
Governor Isa Yuguda of Bauchi State has four wives. The fourth and the most recent of them is NAFISAT, daughter of the late President Yar’adua. Nafisat married him at the age of 21 in Katsina in 2009. According to the two of them, courtship started in 2008 when Yuguda paid a visit to the Aso Villa to see President Yar’adua for an official assignment.
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| Nafisat Yuguda of Bauchi State (daughter of late President Yar’adua) |
When Nafisat was to have her first baby named Umaru, she was airlifted
to the United States (who talk sey money no good?). Nafisat’s sister,
Zainab, is also a First Lady as she is the third wife of Kebbi State
governor, Usman Dakingari. Talk of sisters in power!| Sister First Ladies: Zainab Dakingari of Kebbi (left) and Nafisat Yuguda of Bauchi (right). Both are daughters of former First Lady, Hajia Turai Yar’adua. |
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| Nafisat Yuguda, First Lady of Bauchi State |
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| Nafisat Yuguda, First Lady of Bauchi State |
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| Nafisat Yuguda, First Lady of Bauchi State |
‘For example, many people died because they lacked five hundred naira (N500). When you don’t have money, you are disabled.’
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| Hajia Hauwa Abiodun Yuguda |
Check out the pictures of Bauchi’s first ladies above. Unfortunately, I
didn’t see anything on the first and third wives. Please help out if
you do have any info on the duo:)___________________________________________
6. BAYELSA STATE
Governor Henry Seriake Dickson is married to Rachael Dickson. That’s all I know…lol!
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7. BENUE STATE
Architect (Mrs.) YEMISI DOOSHIMA SUSWAM is the First
Lady of Benue State. Married to Gabriel Suswam in 1998, she
is also one of the most fashionable Nigerian women. Her
quotes:
‘God has been the secret. God that gives the burden will give
the capability to bear the burden. God did not make a
mistake by putting us there, He has a reason and everyday,
we look up to Him for counsel and guidance.‘
‘I thank God that I read the course architecture in the
university. They always want you to be a medical doctor but
I could not do medicine because I could not stand the sight of
blood. Even up till now, I cannot stand the sight of blood. I
get easily put off and irritated by the sight of blood.’
‘The fear of God is the beginning of wisdom, anyone who
forgets God, will be getting more foolish on a daily basis.
When you have the knowledge of the word of God, you are
fulfilled.
‘I was born by a woman who is thoroughly fashionable. She
does not make mistakes combining whatever she wore. My
mood determines what I want to wear. I wear clothes that
other people will see and appreciate.‘
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8. BORNO STATE
Hajia NANA KASHIM SHETTIMA is the wife of Borno State
Governor. She finished from the University of Maiduguri (UNIMAID) where
she bagged a Bachelor of Arts degree in English Language. She is also a
diploma holder in Mass Communication. She once paid the fine of N400,000
(four hundred thousand naira) for the release of 46 convicted inmates
at the Maiduguri Maximum Prison. She is also a farmer.
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9. CROSS RIVERS STATE
An Ibo woman, Mrs. OBIOMA IMOKE is the love of
Governor Liyel Imoke of Cross Rivers State. Born in 1963, she is a
lawyer and an old student of the Federal Government College (FGC),
Enugu.
She is a mother of four and has pleasantly surprised
many with the dramatic loss of her weight. She now looks fitter and
trimmer than ever as against her massive frame in the past. Her dad is
the first anaesthesiologist in Nigeria.
A last born and a lover of ankara, her name Obioma, means ‘good heart’.
Her quotes:
‘He had this way of looking at me….like this silly girl, I can expect anything coming from you.‘
‘I disliked going to offices to ask people for jobs, so that was out of the way, that was not how I wanted to make money.‘
‘Yes, he was my first boyfriend. I think we were
one of those lucky people who found their soul mates early in life and
just knew it. I always said ‘If I don’t marry him, then I’ll never marry
another.’‘
‘I’ll tell you, if you are interested in long-distance
relationship, you should talk to me about it. My husband
made our relationship interesting; he would record his voice
and send it to me in school. My friends and I would listen to
it and giggle, and I would also do the same thing and send
to him. He did the most interesting things.‘
Mrs Imoke is a mother of four.
‘First, it’s the grace of God, you can’t do it without God. He is
a good man and allows me express myself. He is quiet but a
very deep person, and he is also a planner. I have been
married to him for 19 years and he is very kind. We dated
for 18 years and he’s more of a friend and father to me. ‘
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10. DELTA STATE
Deaconess SHEILA ROLI UDUAGHAN holds the forte at
Delta State Government House as the lady behind the doctor governor. It
was an amazing demonstration of love in October 2011 when she turned 50
(see pix). Her daughter got married when she turned 22 and Mrs. Uduaghan
is always proud to mention this to anyone. Let’s hear her joor:
‘I am a very restless person but somehow I
discovered I could really respect him. It has always been difficult to
tell me something and get me to do it, very difficult. But with him, I
discovered I was able to succumb and respect him. And that was what
attracted me to him. If I am around, I do the personal things like serve
his meals. Nobody cleans our bedroom, nobody makes our bed. I still
attend to a lot of those personal things. ‘
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| During her 50th birthday celebrations. |
‘Everybody believes that as long as you are a
governor’s wife, you have the solution to everything. They equate you to
God and it can be really overwhelming. Phone calls come in at all hours
of the day. Relaxation is not in my dictionary.‘
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| Mrs. Uduaghan |
‘As a wife, I don’t kill myself over burdens that should
naturally be borne by my husband. That is why I don’t have
any parcel of land or house anywhere in my name of kill
myself over possessions. That to me, is my husband’s
responsibility. It is left to him to decide whether we (the
governor’s biological family) should live in a house or not .”
‘My inspiration is from God. That is what keeps me on and
what I’m doing is a heavenly assignment and I will make
sure that it does not fail.‘
‘You know, God does not make mistakes. If he were to be like
me, maybe our home would be on fire all the time. Being up
there has really helped in curtailing my excesses. He is a
man of few words. If I didn’t marry him, I would have
married and divorced many times by now. ‘
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11. EBONYI STATE
Born in 1948, Chief (Mrs.) Josephine Elechi is married to the
Ebonyi State Governor, Chief Martin Elechi. They have four
children, three males and one female. She likes cooking,
music and travelling. She is Izzi by tribe.
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May her soul rest in peace.
12. EDO STATE
The tale of First Lady in Edo State is a tragic one.
That is because Governor Adams Oshiomhole (the Comrade Governor) no
longer has a First Lady. He lost his dear wife, Mrs. CLARA OSHIOMHOLE to
breast cancer. A very simple woman, she was truly a pillar of support
for her husband. A mother of five (Cyril, Janet, Winnie, Emmanuel and
Steve), she died a few days to the traditional wedding of the family’s
second daughter in December 2010.
When the news of her demise reached Governor
Oshiomhole, he left his office and wept bitterly. Although she died
relatively young, two of her kids are medical doctors, one is an
accountant while two are in the university. A very gentle woman, she
bore the pains of cancer silently for about three years before she
finally lost the battle. She was 54.
Hear what her husband has to say a year after her death:
”Life is tough in a quiet moment when you are back
in your house, and you realize that you are all by yourself because,
whether you like it or not, your first adviser is your wife. There are
things that no one else can tell you except your wife. And, for most
families, if there is one adviser you can trust, that the advice she
gives is an honest advice, it may not be the correct advice but it is
honest in the sense that she wishes you well. She is part of you as a
wife. In a moment like this, you will get home but you will suddenly
found out that you are completely by yourself. There are couples of
things you will want to discuss with her and she is not there. It is
hard, it is tough. But there are things you just have to reconcile
yourself with, like they say, you pray that God just gives you the
strength to accept what you cannot change.
Additionally, you have children who are grown up,
the girls have all married. The boys are either in school or on their
own because they have all grown up. So, you suddenly found out that you
are alone in the house. It can be quite lonely, it can be emotionally
stressful. But we can’t blame God, we can’t complain.”
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13. EKITI STATE
Enter Erelu BISI ADELEYE-FAYEMI, the woman behind the bespectacled
and smiling governor of Ekiti, Kayode Fayemi. Very polished and
articulate woman, she is also the co-founder of the African Women’s
Development Fund (AWDF). Her quotes:
‘I agree that it is not appropriate to stop the convoy just
because I want to buy Gala. I however do not agree with the assumption
that because I am the wife of a governor, my IQ has dropped to single
digits.‘
Laff wan kill me for that one o…lol!
‘ My main responsibility is to support my husband.‘
#GBAM!#
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14. ENUGU STATE
Now in her early 30s, Mrs. CLARA CHIBUZOR CHIME is the wife of
Enugu State Governor, Sullivan Iheanacho Chime. She grew up in Katsina
State and the northern influence is sometimes reflected in her
dressings. Interestingly, she hates politics but is in love with gold.
Nice combination, I must say! She dislikes politics because it is a game
full of deceit and intrigues.
15. GOMBE STATE
The First Lady in this northern state is Hajia ADAMA DANKWAMBO.
Governor Dankwambo was the former Attorney-General of the Federation.
Sadly, I could not see any of her pictures. Got one?
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16. IMO STATE
16. IMO STATE
Mrs. NNEOMA NKECHI ROCHAS OKOROCHA is the Imo State First Lady.
Her quotes:
‘The grace of God has been sufficient. Once you rely on God and
remain focused and look up to Him, God will always help you,
particularly over the issue of ensuring that women are carried along in
the affairs of the state.’
‘When I got married to him, he was somewhat doing well but
actually had nothing. Even at that point, most people, especially my
people, did not believe in the marriage but somehow I persuaded them
that this is the person God wanted me to marry. By the special grace of
God, I have six biological children -three girls and three boys -and
almost 5,000 adopted children.‘
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17. JIGAWA STATE
Sule Lamido is the Governor of Jigawa State. A father of eleven
children, he has two wives: Hajiya AMINA LAMIDO and Hajiya MARYAM
LAMIDO. For now, their pictures are not available.
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18. KADUNA STATE
Born on 20th May, 1953, Mrs. AMINA ELIZABETH YAKOWA is the First
Lady of Kaduna State. An educationist, she finished from the Ahmadu
Bello University (ABU) as a history student. She has four children and a
set of twin grandchildren.
Her quotes:
‘I remain grateful to God for choosing Yakowa for me as husband.
I am glad to tell you that we have been married now for about 35 years
and the union has been very blessed. Sometimes, I get confused on how to
describe him. Whether he is a husband or a father or a brother or a
friend? Honestly, where he met me and where he has taken me, it is not
everyman that can do that.‘
‘If you don’t seek the face of God before marriage, you should
know that it will not last. Young people today are in a hurry and don’t
seek the face of God before making their choice. During our time, we
listened to our parents‘
‘He likes tuwo. Anything that has to do with tuwo and beans. So,
anything you bring out of beans or tuwo of any kind. You cannot do
without tuwo for him everyday. These are his favourite dishes and I cook
myself.
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20. KATSINA STATE
19. KANO STATE
Governor Rabiu Musa Kwakwanso is known for strictly keeping his
wife from the public. Well, like he did in his first term, he has also
done it this time around, and he did it so well that I could not even
find her name -not even a trace! Kano readers, kindly help Iyaniwura’s
Blog (http://
20. KATSINA STATE
Hajia (Dr.) FATIMA SHEMA is in charge here. One of her programmes
involved the purchase and distribution of 2,800 goats to women. In one
particular phase of the programme, she gave 600 goats to 200
HIV-positive women. The goats were imported from Algeria, Morocco and
Niger Republic.
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21. KEBBI STATE
Hajia Zainab Usman Dakingari (daughter of late President Umar
Yar’adua) is the third wife of the Kebbi State Governor. They married in
2008. Details are sketchy about the other wives. This is a trend I have
noticed among some northern governors. Information about their wives
are painfully difficult to get!
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22. KOGI STATE
Kogi State Governor, Captain Idris Wada has two FirstLadies: Hajia
HALIMA LADI WADA (first wife) andFARIDAH IJEOMA WADA. Hear Hajia Halima:
When I can
afford it, I play golf.
afford it, I play golf.
Picture of the second wife was not available, as much as I tried 
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23. KWARA STATE
Deaconess OMOLEWA AHMED is the First Lady in Kwara.
Hear her:
‘It has been tough; quite tough. Before I assumed office, I
thought I knew how people were suffering. But coming into office, I
realized that I didn’t know or knew too little. That is where these
people have found themselves; not that we are better of. We should
constantly be reminded that we are just privileged by God.’
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24. LAGOS STATE
Married to one of the best-known governors in Nigeria, Dame (yes,
she is a dame too!) ABIMBOLA EMMANUELLA FASHOLA is a very simple woman
who needs little introduction.
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25. NASARAWA STATE
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| Receiving gifts of foodstuff from women. |
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| Presenting materials to an orphanage. |
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| With a sports trophy for Nasarawa youths. |
Nasarawa State is the only one in the Federation with a Congressive
for Progressive Change (CPC) governor. The first First Lady is SALAMATU
UMARU TANKO AL-MAKURA while the second is Hajiya MAIRO UMARU TANKO
AL-MAKURA but her picture is not available. Kindly send Iyaniwura one if
you have
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26. NIGER STATE
The First Lady is Hajiya JUMMAI MU’AZU BABANGIDAALIYU (Madam Chief Servant).
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27. OGUN STATE
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| Olufunsho Amosun of Ogun State |
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| Stepping in style. |
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