“I married my husband as the wife of a former president. I am going in a few days as a wife of a former president a second time,” Mrs Buhari narrated.”They should consider us as former first ladies. They should incorporate the first ladies, give us some privileges that we deserve as first ladies, not just the former presidents.”

The first lady made this call at President of the Defence and Police Officers’ Wives Association (DEPOWA), Vickie Anwuli Irabor’s book launch in Abuja on Friday.

Though Nigerian Constitution does recognise the office of first lady, Mrs Buhari’s advocacy for privileges for wives of former presidents contradicts calls by critics who see huge severance packages and privileges attached to public offices as an unnecessary burden on the country.

Former presidents, former vice presidents, governors and their deputies enjoy large severance packages and privileges after four year tenure in Nigeria, a practices that cost the country and states huge fortune.