Aisha Buhari, wife of the President has urged Nigerians to disregard anyone who asks for any amount of money to enable him or her see her (first lady) or her husband.
“I will like to inform you that in the past regime, whether it is true or false, only God knows. Some people were going round, parading themselves as personal assistants. If you wanted to see the First Lady, you will pay $30,000 or $50,000; and if you are seeing the President, you will pay all that you have gathered in your lifetime” she said.
Mrs. Buhari spoke at a dinner she hosted for women and youths at the Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa on Saturday, insisting that anyone who demands money to facilitates his or her seeing her or her husband was neither working for the President nor the All Progressives Congress (APC).
“This will not happen in our regime. Whoever asks you to give a single penny in the name of coming to see the President or his wife is not our staff. He is not an APC member; it is a lie. Don’t be deceived.”
She stated that there was nothing people did not say about the past administration, stressing that it was not former President Goodluck Jonathan that was not good but the people around him.
The President’s wife said the people that are going to be around her husband have to be very careful because the election ended peacefully.
“We are praying and hoping that people around him should know that it took him 12 years to get to that position and they must know that they are coming to serve the masses, not President Muhammadu Buhari in person.
“It is the people that are around him that will determine the political health of our state.
“I am so delighted to stand before you today as the wife of a former Head of State and today being called the wife of the President. It was such a long journey and we thank God it ended this way; we really thank God.
“I want to thank all Nigerian women and youths for the crucial roles they played towards the success of the last elections. I am very much aware of your steadfastness during the election campaigns up till the elections proper,” she said.
She explained that in line with the philosophy of her husband, the administration would be open to all Nigerians.
While noting the challenges faced by the country in the areas of security, unemployment and corruption, she said the responsibility to solve the problems should not be left for the government alone.