Buhari's wife maintains that she stands by criticism of her husband's government

PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari's wife Aisha has stood by her criticism of her husband's government saying that she did so because of a sense of injustice and the need to correct many of the wrongs in society.

In 2016, Hadjia Aisha Buhari lashed out against certain elements in her husband's government saying they were making him derail from many of his election promises. Her widely publicised comments, Hadjia Buhari lamented the fact that many people who did not share her husband's vision and who did not campaign with him have managed to hijack the government.

Speaking yesterday at the 2017 Vanguard Awards where she was honoured as Vanguard Personality of the Year 2017, Hadjia Buhari said the interview was not meant to be confrontational or a sign of disrespect. Hadjia Buhari said she was brought up to stand by the truth and that was how she has been living her life.

She said Nigerians elected her husband based on the trust and confidence they have in him and she felt the administration must serve Nigeria to the best of its ability. According to Hadjia Buhari, of the reasons adduced for honouring her was the interview she granted which some people saw as criticism of a government that she is part of.

Hadjia Buhari said: “I need to state that my position was a result of my sense of justice and not confrontation or disrespect. I was brought up to stand by the truth and this is how I have always been.

“As we are all aware, Nigerians elected this administration based on the trust and confidence they have on my husband, I, therefore, feel that we are here to serve Nigeria to the best of our ability. Let me use this opportunity to state that I support my husband in this call to service and will continue to do so."

In a 2016 interview with the BBC, Hadjia Buhari warned her husband that she might not back him at the 2019 election unless he shakes up his government. She has claimed that the president did not know most of the top officials he appointed.

“The president does not know 45 out of 50, for example, of the people he appointed and I don’t know them either, despite being his wife of 27 years. Some people are sitting down in their homes folding their arms only for them to be called to come and head an agency or a ministerial position.

“He is yet to tell me whether he would contest again but I have decided, as his wife, that if things continue like this up to 2019, I will not go out and campaign again and ask any woman to vote like I did before. I will never do it again,” Hadjia Buhari had said.