US based news platform Sahara Reporters yesterday Thursday 5th of January 2016, published
a story on its website alleging that, Aisha Buhari,wife of the Nigerian President and other important
Nigerians frequently uses revenue generated from the Nigerian High Commission
in the UK, to pay the hotel bills of Mrs Buhari’s entourage during her visits to the UK.
Twenty-four hours later,the first lady through her media aide Adebisi Olumide Ajayi has debunked the story in its entirety stating Aisha Buhari's side of the issue which was made public in a press release that reads.
"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.”
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