An online news portal, Sahara Reporters, had on Thursday
reported that the High Commission spends a minimum of £7,000 for
hospitality on each of Mrs. Buhari’s trips to the UK, with the
President’s wife visiting at least seven times in 2016.
But
in a statement by her Special Assistant on Media, Adebisi
Olumide-Ajayi, the President’s wife said she had never traveled to
London with a large entourage as published in the report.
She said individuals on her delegation had never exceeded her three children, her Aide-De-Camp and her personal physician.
The
President’s wife said the Nigerian High Commission had never catered
for her needs during the trips based on her husband’s position that
public offices must be separated from the private lives of the
occupants.
The statement read, “The Nigerian Commission in London has never offered any favour, either monetarily or materially, to her (the President’s wife) or her so-called entourage on any of her trips to London.
“The
State House in Abuja caters for her meal when necessary, and other
healthy food or variety needed by her children are her personal
responsibility.
“It
is on record that the Nigerian Commission in London does not receive
Aisha Buhari at the airport with any official distinction or privileges
as was accorded other first ladies before her.
“Her drivers are privately arranged without any recourse to the embassy staff.
“She has never complained or raised dust about any of these acts by
the High Commission because of the understanding, as clearly spelled
out and practised by her husband, that public office must be separated
from the private lives of the occupants.
“She
has always been an advocate of good governance where officials of
government are responsive and appealing to their constituents. It
therefore baffles the imagination that
one could believe she would collaborate with any government official,
however highly placed, either at home or abroad, to shortchange the
Nigerian people.”
The
President’s wife said the report which suggested corruption and abuse
of privileges clearly negates the fundamental principle upon which the
present administration thrives.
She
challenged the authors of the report or any member of staff of the High
Commission to provide concrete evidence to contradict her position as
it concerns her trips to London.
She
said they should come up with the true position of things as it
concerns her London trips, if not for her reputation and that of her
family, then for the sake of good Nigerians who deserve to know the
truth at all times.
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