Shehu: Aisha belongs in the kitchen? Buhari was merely joking
Garba Shehu, presidential spokesman, says President Muhammadu Buhari respects women, citing the appointment of Kemi Adeosun, finance minister, as a demonstration of that.
Reacting to the media frenzy ignited by Buhari’s statement that his wife Aisha belonged in the kitchen, Shehu said that Buhari was only joking.
“My friends, can’t a leader get a sense humour any more? Mr President laughed before that statement was made,” he said.
”He was obviously throwing a banter.
“Politics sometimes should be spiced with humour. Those of us close to him know there is never a dull moment with him.
“Mr President respects the place of women in our society. He believes in the abilities of women.
“One of Nigeria’s most sensitive office today is headed by a woman, Mrs Adeosun. This is an evidence of the confidence he reposes on women.”
In an interview she granted the BBC, Aisha had alleged that the government had been hijacked.
Shealso said that she might not support her husband under the present circumstances if he seeks re-election in 2019.
Buhari was reacting to the statement when he said: “Aisha belongs to my kitchen, living room, and the other room.”
Busy body people has seen something to busy themselves with, this is family matter, they want to use the opportunity to cause division.
All the time we have been warning of such imminent disasters, the backlash commentators always claim that our comments are either sponsored by or from PDP. Now we have a situation where Buhari was not in a Bar where people throw jabs at one another neither was he there on a personal visit or political outing, but as the president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Infact what Buhari said in this podium is almost tantamount to what Nigeria’s Opinion is, the proclaimed lovers and haters of Buhari alike, the aim of the official visit notwithstanding.
Of cause one does not need to guess long to know that there is a family problem, and that is where I am most concerned. Here is Aisha being a woman, doing exactly what women are good at in such situations, and that is talk to whoever is ready to listen. On the other hand every man knows or should know that the best quality a man could ever possess is being able to ignore or rather not respond to every jab, coming from the other side as we can never equal them in this property Mother Nature has given them. As I wish them well, I just hope that the extended families (even though now being taken for granted but one of the greatest gifts God gave Africa) of both sides swing immediately into action to restore cordiality.
But exactly here is where I have problem with Buhari’s media advisers who all along were busy with presenting the Chibok girls which they deem the highlight to be discussed with Berlin to buttress whatever request they were to make. They forgot or rather ignored the ignited family fire which I am sure they should be away of. Even the BBC interview of Aisha I presume should have been known to them prior to it being broadcasted. But behold just as all attention was at the Chibok girls, the bombshell exploded from the family side .Comparable to a student in Bible knowledge exams who prepared very well for questions about Moses, but surprisingly in the exam he was presented with questions about Jesus. An articulated crisis management signs which could mean things as simple as do not comment seems also to be lacking and could have saved the country such embarrassment. Yet here we are in such an embarrassment, and Garba Shehu has the guts to call it a Joke from the President. Simply adding insult to injury. Sorry