African ‘Demo’ With Difference: Analysis of Unconstitutional Celebrated Position of ‘First Lady’ In Africa (Published)
First Lady recognition in African democracy related with similar historical, social and political antecedents seems predestined. The paper is a discourse on the illegal and aberration of conspicuous appearance and influence of first lady in African democracy. In this study, Social Divisions Theory was used to explain inequality as a social construction, in and of itself as justification for breach of constitution based on internalized belief about what the gender difference means socially. The study examines the constitution position on who constitute executive arm of government in the Federal, States and Local Government Areas respectively. The study evaluates the perceptive of the political class and gender advocate on the emergence of first lady in Africa politics which indicates a total departure from western democracies. The study employed both primary and secondary sources of data collection. Interviews were conducted among past political leaders which include former governors, past national assembly members, Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) and gender advocacy groups, while secondary source of data includes publications, articles, textbooks, newspapers and internet materials on the subject studied. The study observed that first lady unconsciously assumed the position of executive. Data were analyzed using descriptive methods and content discussion. It concludes with adherence to constitution will enable operation of modern presidential democracy like western world in Africa (Nigeria).
Keywords: African ‘demo’, Democracy, executive arm, first lady, gender emancipation