By Uche Amunike
Nigeria’s First Lady, Aisha Buhari has received serious tongue lashing from Nigerians over a Facebook post she made, celebrating her daughter-in-law, Zahra Buhari for graduating with a first Class Honors in Architectural Science, from a university abroad.
She posted: ‘Congratulations to Mrs. Zahra B. Buhari on your graduation with First Class Honors in Architectural Science. Wishing you all the best!’
Nigerians have described the post as insensitive, considering that university students in Nigeria have been in an unresolved strike in the past seven months because the Academic Staff Union of Universities and the Nigerian government have not been able to reach a common ground on how to resolve the conflict that led to the strike.
Efforts were made to reach the First Lady to get her response to the reactions proved abortive as her spokesperson, Aliyu Abdullahi could not be reached over the phone, as at the time this report was filed.
Even though the name of the university was not indicated in First Lady, Aisha Buhari’s post, the numerous pictures posted clearly showed that the entire Aisha Buhari’s family, alongside her in-laws were abroad to celebrate the graduand, Zahra Buhari who is married to Aisha Buhari’s only son, Yusuf Buhari. Zahra is the daughter of Nasiru Ado Bayero who is an elite prince of Kano, the commercial hub of the northern part of Nigeria. Recall that Mr Bayero was recently installed as the traditional monarch of Bichi Emirate Council, which is one of the four new emirate councils in the city.
Nigerians across social media have expressed their pain at the fact that President Buhari’s nonchalance towards the crisis rocking the Nigerian educational sector might be adduced by the fact that his children all attended foreign universities.
Records have shown that at least, five of the president’s children attended foreign universities. Nana-Hadiza attended University of Buckingham; Safinatu attended the University of Plymouth; Halima attended the University of Leicester, Yusuf and Zahra Buhari attended the University of Surrey, all in the United Kingdom. This explains the ‘President’s seemingly lacklustre approach to resolving the crisis.’
This was why over 20,000 Nigerians went to social media to lambast First Lady, Aisha Buhari for her congratulatory post celebrating her daughter-in-law.
Below are some of the reactions posted on Aisha Buhari’s official Facebook page in response to her offending post:
Popular Activist, Deji Adeyanju posted: ‘Even ASUU strike couldn’t stop Aisha Buhari from posting this? You can’t shame the shameless. The way the Buharis scammed Nigerians in 2015 should be studied.’
On his part, @PoojaMedia posted: ‘ASUU on strike for over 9 months & Aisha Buhari still posted their daughter’s graduation in the UK. The height of taking citizens for granted. So insensitive. Na wa.’
@IfedilapoOsun also posted: ‘ASUU on strike for over 9 months & Aisha Buhari still posted their daughter’s graduation in the UK.’
The strike been ongoing for an entire seven months yet, unable to be resolved. ASUU was ordered by the National Industrial Court, to suspend the strike action, but it is not clear if the order will be obeyed.
