The Presidency has insinuated that a remark earlier in the day by President Muhammadu Buhari that the First Lady, Aisha, belongs in his kitchen, living room and ‘the other room’ was after all ‘a banter.’
President Muhammadu Buhari had responded to a BBC interview given by his wife, Aisha, in which she said she may not campaign for him in 2019 because many strange people, who were not part of election campaign, have taken over the government.
Chukling, President Buhari responded: “I don’t know which party my wife belongs to, but she belongs to my kitchen and my living room and the other room.”
His comments to reporters in Germany prompted German Chancellor Angela Merkel, standing at his side, to give him a short glare and then laugh.
In an interview with the BBC Hausa-language service broadcast Friday, Aisha Buhari said her husband did not know many top government appointees, and she accused them of not sharing the vision of his All Progressives Congress party. She did not name names.
Aisha comments and Buhari’s reaction have drawn comments on social media by several Nigerians.
While many praised Aisha for encouraging free speech in the country, several criticised the President for the remarks considered to be denigrating of women.
However in a series of tweets, Buhari’s Senior Special Assistant on Media, Mallam Garba Shehu later tried to downplay the row, saying his boss “was obviously throwing a banter”.
Using his twitter handle @GarSheu, he tweeted “Mr. President respects the place of women in our society. He believes in the abilities of women
“Politics sometimes should be spiced with humour. Those of us close to him know there is never a dull moment with him.
“He was obviously throwing a banter
“My friends, can’t a leader get a sense of humour anymore? Mr. President laughed before the statement was made.”
