Nigerians query N135m donation by Buhari's wife to displaced persons in Adamawa
Following news reports that wife of General Mohammadu Buhari, the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), donated the sum of N135 million naira to internally displaced persons (IDPs) in some areas in Adamawa State, Nigerians have called on Buhari's wife, Hajia Aishatu Buhari to explain the source of the money, especially in the light of the APC candidate's claims that he was not a rich man.
Reacting to the donation, Omobolanle Olusola, a politician resident of Lagos wondered where Mrs Buhari got the money when a few months ago, her husband claimed he had to borrow the sum of N20 million to enable him purchase the Expression of Interest form for the APC presidential primaries.
'Where did this woman get the money? As far as we know, Madam Buhari is not a business woman. If it is true the husband could not afford N20 million to buy the APC presidential form, how come she could boast of such an amount to donate to charity, Olusola queried?
He said it is either Buhari has been lying to Nigerians about his wealth status or he is not a good family man in which case, he may lack the capacity to manage the whole country successfully.
Also speaking, Alhaja Shekinat Sulaimon, a businesswoman also based in Lagos said the donation may have exposed the lies in Buhari's claims of modesty.
Admitting that the donation may have been done for a good cause, Alhaja Sulaimon worried that the good intention may have been blighted by the belief of Nigerians that Buhari and his family are not rich enough to afford such an amount.
'I am a woman and I have a husband. I do not think it is possible for my husband to go around borrowing money when I can afford more than what will solve his problems. It does not speak well of of the family. Even if Buhari borrowed the money he used to buy his nomination form from his wife, he should not have claimed he borrowed it from a bank as he said. It means he is lying and that is not good for his reputation,' she said.
Another Lagos resident, Malik Abulmalik also took swipes at Buhari for claiming he was poor when in the real sense, he may be swimming in wealth.
'Now I remember this same man claimed he had to call his personal banker to make ready a loan of 27 million naira for just purchase of Nomination form for presidency from his party. But just this morning I am waking up to news that his wife has donated 135 million naira worth of drugs to Internally Displaced Persons in Nigeria. How could she have had this amount of cash and allowed her husband to borrow to run for presidency. Or is it that she knows he is a failure, Malik asked?
Recall that Hajiya Aishatu Buhari was yesterday reported to have distributed drugs and other relief items worth N135 million to the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) at Damare and St Theresa Catholic Church camps in Adamawa State.
Buhari's wife who was accompanied by five APC leaders wives in her entourage including the former Plateau State deputy governor, Mrs Pauline Tallen, Mrs Judith Amaechi, Mrs Mairo Al-Makura, Mrs Toyin Saraki and former women affairs minister Hajiya Hajjo Sani distributed drugs worth over N135million to the displaced persons.
Hajia Aishatu Buhari had expressed deep sympathy for the IDPs saying she was deeply touched by their plight stressing that 'we cannot pretend not to see the situation you people are into'.
At the Damare NYSC camp which is the most populous camp in the state capital, Buhari's wife regrets that thousands of families were displaced by Boko Haram insurgents attributing it to 'lack of good leadership in the country.''
She added that human lives should not be toyed with for political gains. 'I am not here for politics nor for religion but because we're really touched by the condition you found yourselves; we are here to share your grief'.
Mrs Buhari urged Nigerians to embrace the opportunity of change coming to the nation as it is the only way out for the country to salvage itself from its current drift.