Wife of President Muhammadu Buhari, Aisha Buhari, despite criticisms that trailed the use of the official presidential jet by her daughter, Hanan, for private use — has shared a video of her daughters, waving at a crowd from the presidential jet.
Nigerians from various quarters had criticised the president’s daughter, Hanan for using one of the aircraft in the presidential fleet to a private ceremony in Bauchi.
The video, seen by many as a defiant response from the first lady, was posted on Mrs Buhari’s verified Twitter handle as well as her Facebook page on Monday.
In the 55-second video, the president’s daughter is seen greeting locals and appreciating cultural sites in what appears to be the North-east state. She was dressed in the same clothing she travelled to Bauchi in, as seen in earlier photos.
Mrs Buhari added multiple hashtags to the video, writing #HananBuhari, #richculture, #heritage, #nigerianairforce and #PAF. PAF is the acronym for Presidential Airfleet.
It would be recalled that Hanan Buhari flew in the jet to Bauchi on a “study tour” of Bauchi Emirate as part of her fieldwork for her ongoing Master’s program in Photography at a UK university.
But the presidency, through a spokesperson, Garba Shehu, defended the action, saying Hanan, like any other member of the president’s immediate family, is entitled to the use of the presidential jet.
The major opposition party, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), disagreed, saying the presidency was arrogant in its defense of the “indefensible annexation of our national assets and resources for illegal private use.”
Legal expert, Femi Falana also noted that it is illegal and has no legal backup.
“For the daughter of the president to use presidential jet on a private tour is an abuse.
Amid the condemnations, some groups have risen to the defense of the president and his family.
Despite the Presidency confirming Hanan Buhari traveled for her personal programme, the Buhari Media Organisation on Sunday claimed she was on an “official trip”.
“President Muhammadu Buhari’s daughter, Hanan, did not fly a Presidential jet on a private visit to Bauchi. Rather, she was on an official assignment to represent her father, the President, at an event in the town,” a statement signed by its chairman, Niyi Akinsiju, claimed.
The group also said “Even if the opposition party did not fully admit it, members of the First Family are not barred from travelling in a Presidential jet, especially to an official function”.
VIDEO:
https://twitter.com/aishambuhari/status/1216637784808722434