President Muhammadu Buhari has responded to a remark by his wife, Aisha, that his government has been hijacked by a cabal.
Mr. Buhari spoke in the German capital, Berlin, when he answered reporters’ questions.
“I don’t know which party my wife belongs to, but she belongs to my kitchen and my living room and the other room,” the Associated Press quoted the president as saying.
“So I claim superior knowledge over her and the rest of the opposition because in the end I have succeeded.
“It’s not easy to satisfy the whole Nigerian opposition parties or to participate in the government.”
Mrs. Buhari had said she might not back her husband’s re-election in 2019 unless he shakes up his cabinet.
In an interview with the BBC, Mrs. Buhari said the president “does not know” most of the top officials he appointed to office.
My wife “belongs to my kitchen”, says Nigerian President @MBuhari after first lady criticises his leadership https://t.co/FP49H1q5qo pic.twitter.com/8fkthOu8hV
— BBC Africa (@BBCAfrica) October 14, 2016
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“He is yet to tell me (if he’ll seek re-election) but I have decided as his wife, that if things continue like this up to 2019, I will not go out and campaign again and ask any woman to vote like I did before. I will never do it again,” she said.
The Nigerian leader is allowed by the constitution to seek re-election for a second term in office.
Should he seek re-election, he is expected to be the candidate to beat for his All Progressives Congress, APC, party; although he could be challenged by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar who lost to him in the 2014 primaries.
Mrs. Buhari also gave indication of something which has caused silent anger amongst some leaders of the APC.
She said some of the president’s appointees did not share the vision of his party and were appointed because of the influence of a “few people.”
“Some people are sitting down in their homes folding their arms only for them to be called to come and head an agency or a ministerial position,” she said.
Asked to name those who had hijacked the government, she refused, saying: “You will know them if you watch television.”
