The Unaired Part of Mrs Buhari's Interview By Jaafar Jaafar

The Unaired Part of Mrs Buhari's Interview

By Jaafar Jaafar

At the heat of the intense pressure mounted on the BBC to stop airing the remaining part of the controversial Aisha Buhari interview a few days ago, I had the privilege of listening to the interview before it was fully aired.

My good friend, the Head of the Abuja bureau of the BBC, Naziru Mika'il Abubakar, invited me to his office for comment on the interview, and directed that it be played to me before recording my comment.

Listening to the president's wife passionately expressing herself on how her husband runs Nigeria left me cringing. Reading between the lines, I realized Mrs. Buhari was sending SOS to Nigerians to save her bewitched, servile husband from the clutches of the Aso Rock witches, popularly known as "Aso cabal".

The Buhari I knew before election was not the obtuse person we have today as president. The Buhari I promoted during campaign had no nepotic, despotic or robotic tendencies. The Buhari I voted for was not this pliable. Forgive me if my knowledge of him was superficial.

Aisha Buhari might have pitched the nation a curve ball, but her interview is actually a deafening echo of what we've saying for ages about her husband. When I first raised alarm on the dangers of the influence of numero uno of the cabal, Mamman Daura, on the Buhari administration barely three weeks after Buhari took oath of office, I received all manner of insults and invective. Today a lot of my predictions have come to reality.

But if actually the Mamman Daura cabal is the one running this country, then it appears to be a very unintelligent lot whose mastery does not go beyond the art of nepotism and crafts of plagiarism.

This cabal has kept both the nation and the president under spell, leaving the economy to slide into recession, our currency to crash beyond salvation and impunity to reign supreme. This cabal suffocated a mega political party Nigerians from all regions laboured and united to build.

It always saddens me to realize that our president has been turned into a puppet, managed by some half-witted puppeteers, who are majorly dextrose at swinging his legs to Europe, America and Asia, stretching his hand to perpetuate nepotism or opening his mouth to goof.

 From ministers to the heads of agencies, there is either portfolio misplacement or elevation of incompetence by this cabal right from the outset of the present administration. This very same cabal gave plum appointments to the progeny of the famous Kaduna mafia, some of whom even served the immediate-past administration or openly campaigned for the PDP.

A leading member of the cabal, who is the present Chief of Staff to the president, Abba Kyari, was appointed by former President Goodluck Jonathan as member of the Ribadu-led Petroleum Revenue Task Force in 2012. A year earlier, Kyari had turned down Buhari's offer to serve as the secretary of one of CPC presidential campaign committees -- perhaps because Buhari had little chance of winning.

Take the case of Sokoto ministerial nominee for instance. Any loyal party man will not be happy to see the daughter of the late Kaduna mafia Alhaji Abubakar Alhaji, Aisha Abubakar appointed minister from Sokoto State. Aisha openly campaigned for the PDP governorship candidate in Sokoto State and her brother, Aminu Abubakar Alhaji, who unsuccessfully vied for Tambuwal/Kebbe Federal Constituency ticket on the platform of PDP.

Again, no one who wishes the APC well will be happy to see Zainab Shamsuna Ahmed, the daughter of another Kaduna mafia, Yahaya Hamza, appointed minister from Kaduna State. Zainab headed NEITI under Jonathan and contributed to the PDP during election.

Any card carrying member of the APC will be saddened to see Mohammed Bello, the son of Mamman Daura's friend, Musa Bello, appointed minister from Adamawa State. Mohammed Bello headed the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria under Jonathan but was given the plum FCT ministry by the Aso cabal. I believe if he had gone against PDP, he would have been removed immediately after Jonathan lost election.

But look at how the cabal dumped loyal party members in Enugu like Osita Okechukwu to appoint Geoffrey Enyeama, who had hitherto never met Buhari nor worked for the APC, as minister of Foreign Affairs.

Or, will any APC politician be happy with Senator Ita Enang, a top Jonathan campaigner, as Senior Special Assistant to the president on National Assembly (Senate) or Senator Victor Ndoma-Egba, also a top Jonathan campaigner, as chairman of the almighty Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, while loyal party men like Senator Magnus Abe were kicked to backstage? Senator Abe was even shot by the police during election in Rivers.

Aisha Buhari might have been wondering where were loyal Buhari campaigners like Senator Olorunnimbe Mamora, Faruq Adamu Aliyu, Dele Alake, Barrister Ismail Ahmed, Architect Waziri Bulama, Yusuf Tuga, Yakubu Lame, Dr. Hassan Lawan, Dr. Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, Umaru Dembo, Ubale Hashim, Umar Dangiwa, among others?

The president's wife and party supporters will also be incensed to see appointees of the past government still heading a number of agencies and departments. The cabal should know that party men are piqued that the 12 agencies of the Federal Ministry of Water Resources are still headed by the appointees of the past government as well as a minister, Engr Sulaiman Adamu, appointed not for his political contributions to the success of Buhari but close family ties.

 Now take a cursory look at the reappointment of Umaru Ibrahim as managing director of NDIC. Ibrahim was appointed in December 2010 by Jonathan but was reappointed by Buhari to serve another five years as if there were no competent persons within the party fold. One still wonders why the Director-General of PenCom, Mrs Chinelo Anohu-Amazu, is retained despite the fact that her appointment was initially done in violation of law. Does Buhari think his party is happy that Malam Sani Sidi, a protege of former Vice President Namadi Sambo, is still the head of National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA?

Whoever wishes the president and APC well must feel strongly about this. As someone who stood by her husband during election, Aisha Buhari has rights to complain when some forces took over her husband or when things go wrong in the party. I still believe she loves her husband more than those that are insulting or mocking her. She is still the highest authority on the president's mental and socio-physical state.

One basic fact a lot of fanatical supporters of Buhari forget is that he rode on a saddle of political party to power. The fortunes of the party are diminishing and those who laboured to build the party and ensured the emergence of Buhari as candidate are relegated, while political ambulance chasers take the centre stage. APC's growth is inorganic, and so needs some therapies to strengthen it's fragility.

There is concern about the political future of Buhari and APC. As it stands today, barring any miracle, Buhari could either be the first incumbent Nigerian president to lose a party ticket at the primaries or the second president to lose re-election in Niger[truncated by WhatsApp]

Nigerians are a special breed.

ON AISHA

Dr.  Doyin Odebowale writes:

I have read so much on Aisha since yesterday. Nigerians are a special breed. Suddenly, this woman is not wanted in America! Buhari did not marry a child again. Her gold, diamond and platinum bracelets are not topics for discussion. We are moving out of recession indeed!

Many of the hypocrites on Facebook beat their wives. Many are so useless that they establish pepper soup joints for some useless dogs called women while their children cannot feed at home. Many don't care about how their children school fees are paid.

Aisha is the CEO of a thriving company. One of Buhari's daughters is a lawyer. His girls are graduates. I have read posts from some of my friends who, surprisingly, failed to see the statement credited to Buhari as a joke. I have followed some of them on Facebook. I know most of them will not tolerate any dissenting view from their wives.

Aisha is not in purdah. She is not confined to the kitchen, literally. I doubt if she still cooks. I would have expected the new supporters of Aisha to ask Buhari about the location of the kitchen. Is it Aso Villa where there exists a culinary complex? Look at Aisha and tell us if she belongs to the category of oppressed women. The fact that she granted the controversial interview bears eloquent testimony to Buhari's character. She just returned from the US. That trip generated another kind of controversy. That seems not important now.

Many of these hypocrites are not proud of their wives. Many of them pretend to love women but will work against them. Politicians abuse women sexually. They are play things. They only allow them when their unscrupulous godfathers impose them and direct political slaves to vote. Academics talk of "conference materials". These are people's wives, daughters, sisters, cousins, who belong to everybody while pretending to be in some dubious relationships. Lucky is she whose husband can proudly assert that she has a place in his bedroom. She is not sharing this space with any woman to our knowledge. Buhari's religion allows him to marry four women.

If the president attempted to douse tension generated by the wife's interview, and we fail to appreciate his joke, then our sense of humour appears morbid. Nigerians did not elect Aisha. She has no official role in the constitution. She cannot decide on who gets appointed into the government. If she complains that she does not know those in government, it means Buhari cannot be accused of nepotism. If she is pained that she is not involved in governance, that is a big plus for him. She was not on the ballot during the last election. She should not pick ministers and heads of agencies for us.

Is this not part of the change we crave? Hypocrisy is not a virtue.

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*German Women rise against Nigerian Leader*

*German Women rise against Nigerian Leader*

In a press conference with the German leader in Berlin, President Buhari in what might be perhaps his most stupid political blunder yesterday in Germany, in answering a reporters question on the role of his wife in his government, has this to say..." _my wife belongs in my Kitchen and in my living room and other room_"

... what a statement!  That was politically incorrect.

The ill adviced President totally forgot that he is standing next to  a woman who is a world leader.
Here in Germany as in the rest of Europe, the issue of  women's right is a delicate one as women have come a long way fighting inequality in both society and at work place. Without warning, a visibly angry Mrs Merkel  (the German Chancellor) quickly ended the press conference to save the President further embarrassment.
The emancipation of women in Europe is a civil rights issue, that is why feminist groups in Germany immediately reacted to his outing as a hate speech and demanded his exit from their territory. A German opposition leader called for his immediate expulsion from Germany, while a renowned German newspaper in its editorial, has this to say about our President.
_ He is simply a dumb leader, hailed as the Messiah of Africa's most populous democracy  after winning election in 2015 His agenda of fighting corruption which was given a blessing by the West, especially former colonial master, England is very unpopular in his country as citizens are more concerned about the economic hardship and joblessness to his fight for financial recovery_.

It went ahead to say,...

 - when it comes to world issues, the former general has little knowledge of events of the moment and hardly articulates.The more you listen to him, the dumber you become_ -;

 Hard words, but written with some elements of sincerity.
Germany has a woman as head of state. Germany also has a mother with eight children as defence minister, (comnander of a powerful millitary force) something unthinkable in most parts of the world especially, Africa. The notion here is that, girls can be everything including being President .

MUHAMMDU BUHARI'S CONTRIBUTION TO AISHA'S CAREER

MUHAMMDU BUHARI'S CONTRIBUTION TO AISHA'S CAREER

Aisha Buhari was born Aisha Halilu, on 17th February 1971, in Adamawa state. She did her primary and secondary school education in the same state.

When Aisha married Muhammadu Buhari on 2nd December 1989, she only had a secondary school leaving certificate at the time.

Based on his pragmatic outlook to life and a zeal to empower women, especially his wife, Muhamamdu Buhari continuously sponsored Aisha's education up to masters degree level.

Furthermore, he encouraged her to pursue business, so that she could be independent and make contribution to society.

These are some of Aisha's achievements while living with Muhamamdu Buhari his wife:

1. Bachelor of Arts degree in Public Administration from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria.

2. Master's degree in International Affairs and Strategic Studies from the Nigerian Defence Academy, Kaduna.

3. Diploma in Beauty Therapy from the Carlton Institute of Beauty Therapy, Windsor, United Kingdom.

4. Post-graduate diploma in Cosmetology and Beauty from Academy Esthetique Beauty Institute of France.

5. Member of the United Kingdom Vocational Training and Charitable Trust.

6. Member International Health and Beauty Council.

7. Founder/Managing Director of Hanzy Spa and Principal of Hanzy Beauty Institute.

8. Resource Person to the National Basic Technical Education (NBTE).

9. Published a book titled "Essentials of Beauty Therapy: A Complete Guide for Beauty Specialists”.

10. Patron of various charity organisations at home and abroad.

Regardless of the joke he cracked in Germany, that his wife belongs to his kitchen, living room and the other room, this man, Muhammadu Buhari, has done everything conceivable to assist his wife attain fulfilment, independence, and thus becoming a proud contributor to human society.

Muhammadu Buhari has remained a faithful husband and a great father to Aisha's 5 children.

Ask yourself this sincere question; how many men out there on the planet are this good to their wives?

Fellow compatriots, I solicit for your fervent prayers for our President.

May God bless Nigeria and Nigerians. Amen.

Dr. Idris Ahmed.
www.cupstv.com.
15/10/2016.