Nigerians Very Supportive Of My Anti-Corruption War, Says ‘My Wife Belongs To The Kitchen’ President

MAY 29: Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari (R) takes his oath of office with his wife Aisha Buhari, the new first lady of Nigeria (L) during his inauguration ceremony in Abuja, Nigeria on 29 May 2015. (Photo by Henry Chukwuedo/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images)

President Muhammadu Buhari, who is entangled in a bitter fight with his wife, tried to focus on something else at the end of his visit to Germany, declaring that his administration is greatly encouraged by the support from Nigerians in the fight against corruption, as well as initiatives aimed at stimulating the economy.

President Buhari who lashed out at his wife, Aisha, after she said she might support him in 2019 if things continued to tumble, was speaking in an interactive session in Berlin with representatives of the Nigerian Community in Germany, according to a presidential statement.

The fight with his wife had taken attention away from his German trip, after he said he was superior to her and her place belonged to the kitchen and bedroom and she was not entitled to air political views, especially, he added, because she does bot belong to any political party.

Mrs. Buhari has told the BBC that her husband’s government had been hijacked and the President does not even know most people he has appointed. The media assault pushed President Buhari to offer a response. But his response that her place is in the kitchen and bedroom triggered outrage.

However, speaking to Nigerians in Germany, President Buhari said his administration will reciprocate the gesture by strengthening critical institutions needed for sustainable development and prosperity.

”We are working hard to empower our institutions especially our educational institutions.

”If you educate a person that is the best you can do for him but if not you make him susceptible to religious, ethnic, negative thinking and action.

“Nigerians are virtually supporting us in our fight against corruption, security and the economy. He referred to “Rolls Royces,” recently discovered in the homes of certain government officials as a clear reference of the rot in society and the fact that the war against corruption in the country is working.

“There are things that are happening, which if such had happened before there would have been major riot, like the removal of subsidy on fuel,’’ he said.

President Buhari told Nigerians in the Diaspora that it was regrettable that over the years oil marketers had colluded with banks to defraud Nigeria of much needed revenue from the commodity.

“One third of the activities of the oil marketers are fraudulent, you can see how some of us Nigerians are wicked.

“They just take the money, stamp some papers without bringing the product and this fraudulent activity was between bankers and businessmen,’’ he said.

The President therefore declared that his administration will continue to “to be very hard on corruption’’,in addition to encouraging more Nigerians to pay their tax.

“If you work hard and get your money we will try and see how much tax you can pay us, but to take money from government and get away with it no more,’’ the said.

The President used the occasion of his interaction  with Nigerians to underscore the importance of his three-day visit to Germany, the largest economy in Europe, noting that he was upbeat on improved trade ties between both countries because of new investment incentives offered by Nigeria.