[Mhiz Rebecca]

Despite the huge sum of money earmarked
in the constitution on annual basis for the welfare of
President Muhammadu Buhari and his family, his wife,
Aisha has said that the provision of healthy food for
her children was her personal responsibility.
She said that the State House, Abuja caters for her
welfare only when it is necessary.
The Lady of the first family in the country stated that
she has not been accorded the official privileges given
to her predecessors, saying that it followed the
principles spelt out and practiced by her husband, that
public office must be separated from the private lives
of the occupants
Mrs. Buhari’s claims, contained in a rejoined by her
media aide, Adebisi Ajayi on Friday were consequent
upon accusation of abuse of privileges at Nigerian
High Commission in London leveled against her by
Sahara Reporters, an online media apparently in her
trip o United Kingdom recently.
Washing her hand off the acts, Aisha explained that
her entourage during the trip was not large as
projected by the media.
She added that she was never offered money by the
embassy and could have asked for such, also
stressing that her drivers who came to pick her were
arranged without the input of the embassy.
Mrs. Buhari therefore challenged the online reporters
to show evidence of their report to disproof her
claims.
The rejoinder read thus: “The attention of the Wife of
the President, Hajia Aisha Buhari has been drawn to a
report in Sahara Reporters where, she was amongst
other things accused of abuse of privileges at Nigerian
High Commission in London.
“It is not in her interest to join issues with anyone or
defend others mentioned in the report, it is however
paramount to put the record in proper perspectives as
its concern her trips to UK vis-à-vis the Nigerian High
Commission in London.
“Aisha Buhari has never traveled to London with a
large entourage as was carried in the report. The
highest number of people on a trip involves her three
kids, ADC, and her personal physician.
“The Nigerian Commission in London has never
offered any favor either monetarily or materially to her
or her so called entourage on any of her trips to
London.
“The state house in Abuja caters for her meal when
necessary, and other healthy food or variety needed by
her children are her personal responsibility.
“It is on record that the Nigerian Commission in
London does not receive Aisha Buhari at the airport
with any official distinction or privileges as was
accorded other first ladies before her
“Her drivers are privately arranged without any
recourse to the embassy for staff.
“She has never complained or raised dust about any
of these acts by the High Commission because of the
understanding, as clearly spelt out and practiced by
her husband, that public office must be separated
from the private lives of the occupants.
“She has always been an advocate of good
governance where officials of government are
responsive and appealing to their constituents, it
therefore baffles the imagination that one could
believe she would corroborate with any government
official however highly placed either at home or abroad
to shortchange the Nigerian people.
“These records are not hidden for a non-mischievous
reporter who really intends to inform the people and
not to disparage the family of the President just to
add weight to a report.
“Aisha Buhari would have ignored this, like all of such
baseless accusations, but the angle to which the
report was presented has a corruption and abuse of
privileges connotation which negates the fundamental
principle upon which this administration thrives.
“Consequently, Sahara reporter or any of the embassy
staff is hereby challenged to provide any concrete
evidence either in hard or soft copy to contradict
Aisha’s Buhari’s position as it concerns her trips to
London.
“Sahara reporter should take the challenge and come
out with the true version in relation to Aisha Buhari if
not for her reputation and that of her family, but for
the sake of good Nigerians who deserve to know the
truth at all times.”