BUHARI’S, WIFE’S COMMENTS TAKEN OUT OF CONTEXT, SAYS OKOROCHA

Imo State Governor Rochas Okorocha yesterday said the interview granted by President Muhammadu Buhari's wife, Aisha, to the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) and the President's reaction were taken out of context.

In the interview, Aisha claimed that Buhari's administration had been hijacked by those who didn't contribute to his electoral victory and that she would not campaign for his re-election in 2019 if the situation does not change.

Fielding questions from reporters during a joint  news conference with Angela Markel of Germany, Buhari replied Aisha by noting that she does not belong to any party but his kitchen.

Speaking with State House correspondents in Abuja on yesterday, Okorocha, who was one of the governors that accompanied Buhari to Germany, said Mrs. Buhari's interview was meant to make peace among party members complaining of being marginalised.

Pointing out that Buhari was smiling while responding to the question, he said  Buhari's reaction was not meant to denigrate his wife or women.

He said: "I have read the interview of the President's wife and I was there when the President made that comment. Both the interview and comment were taken out of context."

The governor added: "I understand when the international community speaks on this matter because of the woman rights that is going on now globally. But I believe Nigerians will understand the situation better than anybody in the world because I do not believe that that was the intention."

"I think it is a joke taken too far outside the chores of Nigeria. If you have been with President Buhari, you will agree with me that it was a kind of joke because even when he was responding, he was smiling.

On Mrs Buhari's call for cabinet reshuffle, Okorocha said there was nothing wrong for the President to take note of the call, especially when many people have been making the same suggestion.

The governor disagreed with a Second Republic lawmaker, Junaid Mohammed, who stated that the President's trip to Germany was for medical reasons.

He said the President did not see any doctor in Germany.

-The Nation