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| US Republican President, Donald Trump and President Muhammadu Buhari of Nigeria. |
President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,
Muhammadu Buhari, has continued to spark up controversies locally and
internationally with his speeches since he assumed office in May 2015.
Mr. Buhari who became Nigeria's President by defeating
incumbent President, Goodluck Jonathan in 2015 under the platform of the All
Progressives Congress (APC), had massive supports from the Nigerian people before
the election due to his 'Change Mantra', a slogan which has since turned sour
in the mouth of the people.
May
2015 Inaugural speech:
On
the 29th of May, 2016, President Buhari for the first time,
rekindled the hope of the people in the country with his much talked about inaugural
speech, where he said: "
I belong to everybody and I belong to nobody.”
Quoting the President specifically on Friday,
May 29, 2015, 1:39:34 pm,
he said: “Having just a few minutes ago sworn on the Holy Book, I intend to
keep my oath and serve as President to all Nigerians. I belong to everybody and
I belong to nobody.”
However,
months after, the President contradicted himself when he delivered a speech specifically
on the 22nd of June 2015, during
his official state visit to the United States. His speech was to cover security
and counter-terrorism issues in Nigeria and West Africa.
97%
Vs 5% comment:
During the briefing, Dr. Pauline Baker, the
President Emeritus of The Fund for Peace, inquired about security in the Niger
Delta area. The exact wording of her question was: "My question
relates to another area of Nigeria that hasn't gotten a lot of attention during
this trip and that is the Niger Delta. It's a challenge that you are going to
face. I wonder if you would tell us how you intend to approach it with
particular reference to the amnesty, bunkering, and inclusive
development?"
“I think these are political reality,” the President added.
With this, the President unconsciously, divided the country into 97% VS 5% as the Niger Delta militants renewed their pipeline vandalism, while Biafrans increased their agitation for the creation of Biafra republic.
Having created discontent in the South-south and South-east with his 97% vs 5% comment, the President finally had an opportunity to mend the situation with his 'Change begins with me' speech, but failed unfortunately as the speech was alleged to have been plagiarized from US President's speech in 2008.
Just when many were complaining about the nationwide raid on judges homes by the Department of State Services, (DSS), there came the arrival of about 21 out of the 218 kidnapped Chibok girls on the 13th of October 2016.
The freedom of the 21 girls, changed the topic of contention in the country from the nationwide raid on judges homes by the Department of State Services, (DSS) to the freedom of the Chibok girls.
Just as Nigerians were basking with the euphoria of the freedom of the 21 Chibok girls, the President destroyed the moment once again with his 'The Other Room' comment.
While responding to the BBC
interview with his wife, Aisha, where she alleged that his government have been
hijacked, President Buhari made comments that sparked up controversies in the
country.
Recall Aisha, in an interview with the BBC, had said that the president did not know most of the top officials he had appointed.
She said: “The President does not know 45 out of 50, for example, of the people he appointed and I don’t know them either, despite being his wife of 27 years.
“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.”
In the BBC interview, the First Lady refused to name those who had “hijacked the government,” saying: “You will know them if you watch television.”
On whether the President is in charge, she said: “That is left for the people to decide.” Aisha added.
Reacting to Aisha's comments, Buhari who is on a state visit to Germany, said his wife belongs to his kitchen and his living and the other room.
According to him, “I don’t know which party my wife belongs to, but she belongs to my kitchen and my living room and the other room.” Buhari said.
Displeased with the President's comments, Nigerians took to micro blogging site, Twitter, to give their take on Mr. Buhari's 'The Other Room' comment, which has led to a trend of #TheOtherRoom on Twitter for about 14 hours now.
According to him: " My friends, can't a leader get a sense humour anymore? Mr. President laughed before that statement was made.
"He was obviously throwing a banter. Mr. President respects the place of women in our society. He believes in the abilities of women.
" Politics sometimes should be spiced with humour. Those of us around him know there is never a dull moment with him.
"One of Nigeria's most sensitive office today is headed by a woman, Mrs. Adeosun. This is an evidence of the confidence he reposes on women." Shehu tweeted.
Buhari VS Trump:
Similarly, another person that has constantly generated controversies locally and internationally with his speeches is Donald Trump.
The United States Republican Presidential candidate, Donald Trump, is also known for delivering speeches that does not go down well with females. A good chunk of Mr. Trump's comments tend to be directed toward specific women. From actresses to business leaders, Trump has left no stone unturned when it comes to his scorn.
In 2012, the billionaire businessman lashed out at then -Huffington Post editor-in-chief Arianna Huffington for no reason at all it seems.
"Arianna Huffington is unattractive both inside and out," he said in a Twitter post. "I fully understand why her former husband left her for a man - he made a good decision." He said.
On March 3, 2013, Trump made a joke on oral sex when former Playboy playmate Brande Roderick knelt in front of him and asked him whether she could be the next project manager.
Responding, Trump said: “It must be a pretty picture. You dropping to your knee. Because isn’t that a woman’s place in the boardroom – on her knees"?
On August 16, 2015, in an interview with the New York Times, Trump called German supermodel, Heidi Klum 'fat'.
In his exact words, "Heidi Klum. Sadly, she’s no longer a 10.” In response, Klum posted a video on Twitter in which she wore a T-shirt with ‘10’ written on it.
On March 30, 2016, Trump caused mass outage after advocating "some form of punishment" for women who have abortions if the practice is banned (which he said he will do if elected).
According to him, "There has to be some form of punishment," he told MSNBC, referring to women who would seek to defy the ban.
On May 8, 2016, Trump accused Democratic Presidential candidate, Hillary Clinton of being an enabler of her husband's affairs.
In his words: “Bill Clinton was the worst in history and I have to listen to her talking about it?" he said in Eugene, Oregon. “Just remember this: She was an unbelievably nasty, mean enabler.
"And what she did to a lot of those women is disgraceful. So put that in her bonnet and let's see what happens."
October
7, 2016, a video
emerged of Mr. Trump talking about 'grabbing (women) by the p----', adding
that “when you’re a star, they let
you do it”.
According to him, “I moved on her and I failed. I’ll admit it'. “I did try and f--- her. She was married.
“And I moved on her very heavily... I moved on her like a b----, but I couldn’t get there. And she was married." He said.
Meanwhile, with Donald Trump known for offensive comments about women and President Buhari touring on the same path with the comment that his 'wife belongs to his kitchen and his living and the other room', the question on the lips of many Nigerians is if President Buhari is gradually turning to the 'Nigerian Trump'?
Philips Sunday tweets from @PurityPhils.
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