Why Buhari Assigns New Aides To First Lady, Aisha Amid Aso Rock Brouhaha

Amidst domestic crisis which engulfed the Presidential villa, President Muhammadu Buhari has appointed new Special Assistants and Personal Assistant to his wife, Aisha.

The First Lady who has been away from the villa had few days ago returned home to a controversial video of an incident which happened in the villa during Buhari’s first tenure.

She was to later on briefed the press on the earlier doubted viral video and later granted another controversial interview to the BBC Hausa revealing alot of secret happenings at the villa.

Explaining the viral video, the First Lady revealed that Fatimah, the daughter of Buhari’s nephew, Mamman Daura shot the recorded video and also confirmed to the press that the video was shot while her security aides looked haplessly behind her.

Dependable sources at the villa told the BIGPEN Online that the presidency though had queried Fatimah for the development, is also upset that the First Lady is not better managed by aides around her in recent times.

It was not clear however if the appointments are tied to the recent events, but Director of Information to the First Lady, Suleiman Haruna announced the appointment of the new aides to the First Lady on Wednesday.

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The list of the appointments which take immediate effect is reproduced below:

1) Dr. Mairo Almakura – Special Assistant on African First Ladies Peace Mission (AFLPM)

2) Muhammed Albishir – Special Assistant on Organization of African First Ladies for Development (OAFLAD)

3) Wole Aboderin – Special Assistant on Non-Governmental Organizations

4) Barr. Aiyu Abdullahi – Special Assistant on Media and Publicity

5) Zainab Kazeem – Special Assistant on Domestic and Social Events

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6) Funke Adesiyan – Personal Assistant on Domestic and Social Events

Meanwhile, Aisha has apologised to her children, immediate family members and Nigerians over the embarrassment that an online videos had caused.

She spoke during a solidarity visit by governors’ wives from the 36 states to the Presidential Villa on Wednesday.

According to the statement by Haruna, the First Lady extended her apology to her children, her immediate family members and all well-meaning Nigerians over the embarrassment that the videos had caused”.

She also expressed appreciation to the President for approving a new set of aides to assist her in carrying out her various responsibilities.

Earlier, First Lady of Borno state, Falmata Umara Zulum, representing Northern First Ladies Forum and Betsy Obaseki, representing Southern First Ladies Forum spoke during the occasion.

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Zulum said they were at the Villa to welcome her back after a long absence, and expressed their unalloyed loyalty and support to her initiatives, especially through the Future Assured Programme, which she said has made her a role model even to other African women.

On her part, Obaseki said they received news of the First Lady’s return with great excitement, praying God to continue to protect her.

She used the opportunity to thank the President for approving additional special assistants for her, saying this is an indication of the regard he has for her work.

The event was attended by wife of the Vice President, Dolapo Osinbajo; wife of the Senate President, Maryam Ahmed Lawan; and wife of the Speaker, House of Representatives, Salamatu Gbajabiamila, as well as wives of governors and legislators.