Fake PAs collected $30,000 to $50,000 for access to President, First Lady
…Bars bad people from hubby

Wife of the President, Hajia Aisha Buhari, has described ex- President Goodluck Jonathan as a good man who was surrounded by bad people, warn­ing that such people should steer clear of her husband.

She alleged that during the last administration, people were said to have paid as much as $30,000 to $50,000 to book appointments to see the former First Lady, Mrs. Patience Jonathan while a higher sum was paid to see her husband.

Hajia Buhari warned extortionists who delight in fixing appointments for the President or First Lady, saying they will not halace under the Buhari administration.


She gave the warning on Saturday when she hosted All Progressives Congress’ (APC) women and youths to an elaborate reception at the old Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

The event was tagged, “Apprecia­tion Dinner” to thank APC stakehold­ers for working for her husband’s victory in the March 28 presidential election.

She noted that it took Buhari 12 years to get to this position today and those coming around him must be ready to serve the masses and not the person of Buhari, adding, “it is the people that are around him that will determine the political health of our state”.

According to Hajia Buhari, “there was nothing that people did not say about the past administration. It is not Jonathan that is not good, but the people around him.

“So, the people that are going to be around General Buhari have to be very careful because this election ended peacefully. We are praying and hoping that people around him should know that it took him 12 years to get to that position and they must know that they are coming to serve the masses, not General Buhari in person.

“It is the people that are around him that will determine the political health of our state”.

The First Lady thanked the women for their contributions in making Buhari’s election a reality, explained that she didn’t come out in previous election campaigns not because her husband prevented her, but those around him didn’t invite to.

She said this time around, she was specifically requested by the APC National Leader, Bola Ahmed Tinubu to join in the campaign, attesting that it did make a huge difference.

“I simply cannot thank you enough for the love, contributions and sacrifices during this journey. Many have lost their lives and many found themselves in difficult situations, particularly victims of insurgency.

“It is with heavy heart that I recall their sufferings during this period. Yet, many of them were determined to cast their votes in anticipation of a change in their lives.

“I will like to inform you that in the past regime, whether it is true or false, only God knows, some people were going round and parading them­selves as Personal Assistants (PAs). If you wanted to see the First Lady, you will pay $30,000, $50,000 and if you are seeing the President, you will pay all that you have gathered in your lifetime.

“This will not happen in our regime. Whoever ask you to give a single penny in the name of coming to see the President or his wife is not our staff. He is not an APC member, it is a lie. Don’t be deceived”.

Hajia Buhari also faulted claims that made the rounds ahead of the elections on the gender-sensitivity of her husband, saying they were mere fabrications.

Describing Buhari as the pillar of her success despite the generation gap between them, she said it was the President who encouraged her to go to school.

She said: “Many people did not know why I was not appearing for the last three campaigns. I appeared only this time and I think it made a lot of difference. A lot of people said my husband earned four million votes as a result of my campaign.

“We were not sure but with the popularity of my husband, we thought then that he needed female support to cancel all sorts of gender problems people have been attaching to him like that he kept me under a purdah.

Earlier, former governor of Rivers State, Rotimi Amaechi, who was the chairman of the event, thanked Mrs. Buhari and other women for mak­ing his job as the Director-General of the Buhari/Osinbajo Presidential Campaign Organisation easier.

He recalled that before the President’s wife joined the campaign, they were asking for her and shortly after she joined, attention shifted to whether Buhari had certificate or not.

He said, “before you (Mrs. Buhari) joined us, they were asking for his wife. When we presented his wife, they were asking for his certificate.

“When we presented certificate, they said he was sick in London. Our President is strong and healthy. He visited 35 states during the election.

“Thank you for your reply when they asked if women will want to go and give food to their husbands in prison. You made our jobs easier. I wish all women who took part in the campaign God’s blessing,” he said.

Those who attended the dinner in­clude wife of the Vice President, Mrs. Dolapo Osinbajo; wife of the Senate President, Mrs. Toyin Saraki; wife of the Speaker of the House of Repre­sentatives, Mrs. Gimbia Dogara; wife of the National Chairman, Mrs. Vic­toria Odigie-Oyegun; wives of APC state governors, APC female deputy governors; wives of former APC governors, Tinubu, was represented by Senator Babafemi Ojudu