The Nigerian Governors Wives Forum (NGWF) has confirmed that the viral video showing its members celebrating Aisha Buhari’s birthday in Dubai is real.
The forum, however, says that although the celebration was held in Dubai, it was a coincidence as that was not the main reason its members traveled to the UAE city.
The NGWF’s position was contained in a statement by the wife of the Ekiti state governor and chair of the forum, Bisi Fayemi, on Wednesday.
Ms. Fayemi, who appeared in the video, stated that the Nigerian First Lady’s birthday coincided with an official trip involving some governors’ wives.
Many Nigerians have criticized the video showing Ms. Fayemi holding a cake as she leads the other women to present a cake to Ms. Buhari during the latter’s 51st birthday in Dubai.
Ms. Buhari, the first lady of Nigeria, spends a lot of time in Dubai, sometimes in the Middle Eastern city for several weeks, allegedly on taxpayer funding.
Although her office is not recognized by the Nigerian constitution, the federal government allocates funds for the operation of the First Lady’s office, including her entourage of aides.
Governors’ wives also traveled for the trip at a time when millions of Nigerians are unable to get gasoline for their vehicles and generators, with many spending hours at gas stations.
The fuel situation adds to the worsening economic situation in a country where about half the population lives below the poverty line and millions of people are unemployed.
In their statement on Wednesday, the governors’ wives made no apologies for their trip and celebration in Dubai, saying both were necessary.
“For the avoidance of doubt and in the interest of the public, the wives of the Nigerian Governors were in the entourage of the First Lady of Nigeria who was on an official trip to the UAE,” Ms. Fayemi wrote in the statement.
“The trip coincided with HE Aisha Buhari’s birthday. On the morning of her birthday, which was February 17, the Governors’ Wives delegation made a private visit to present a cake and flowers. After the brief presentation, she proceeded to attend the meetings scheduled for the day”.
Ms Fayemi said the governors’ wives were “dismayed to see images of the visit interpreted to mean that the governors’ wives left Nigeria for the sole purpose of celebrating HE’s birthday.”
Read the full statement below:
PRESS RELEASE
We were struck by a social media post shared on March 1, 2022 suggesting that some wives of Nigerian governors were in Dubai to surprise Nigerian First Lady Dr. Aisha Buhari on the occasion of her 17th birthday. February 2022. .
For the avoidance of doubt and in the interest of the public, the wives of the Nigerian governors were part of the entourage of the First Lady of Nigeria, who was on an official trip to the United Arab Emirates.
The trip included visits to Dubai Expo 2020, and tours of the Dubai e-learning hub, Dubai Youth Hub, and meetings with foundations and agencies in the UAE that are interested in investing in education, health, and technology in Africa, with a priority for women and youth.
The trip coincided with HE Aisha Buhari’s birthday. On the morning of her birthday, which was February 17, the Governors’ Wives delegation made a private visit to present a cake and flowers. After the brief presentation, she proceeded to attend the meetings scheduled for the day.
We were therefore dismayed to see images of the visit interpreted to mean that the governors’ wives left Nigeria for the sole purpose of celebrating HE’s birthday.
This is not true and we find this assumption scandalous. We are all dedicated to supporting our spouses, as well as our First Lady, and we would never be a part of anything that would embarrass them and ourselves.
Our key learnings from our visit to the various agencies in Dubai and the reports we received point to the need for Nigeria to increase investments in education, science and technology and provide more opportunities for young people, which are the key to the future. We will continue to address these issues in our own work and advocate for greater engagement in these areas from our leaders.
HE Erelu Bisi Fayemi Chairman of the Nigerian Governors’ Wives Forum.