A British newspaper, Mail Online, on Sunday took to sarcasm, making a mockery of President Muhammadu Buhari’s anti-corruption credentials ahead of his visit to London this week for a world anti-corruption summit to be hosted by UK’s Prime Minister, David Cameron.
The paper apparently incensed by the 250 million Pounds coming to Nigeria from Britain said Buhari lives large, owns five homes and has a child studying in £26,000-a-year English school.
It wrote that Buhari sends his daughter to a £26,000-a-year English school and that in April, the opposition PDP party unearthed a ticket stub showing Hanan, 16, had flown first-class from London to Nigeria, despite her father’s ban on officials using premium travel.
But the report has drawn the wrath of some Nigerians who alleged a hatchet job. “It is a hatchet job, a cheap propaganda by UK Mail Online. We know our Buhari is upright and all the allegations are baseless’, said Abdul Maikano, a self-acclaimed activist. He simply echoed the sentiments of some Nigerians on social media who condemned the report as a cheap attempt to tarnish the image of President Buhari.
The report added Buhari had spent £150,000 on educating his daughter Zahra, a Surrey University student.
The paper obviously erred when it reported that Buhari had partially admitted to owning more than £1million in the bank, five houses and two plots of land. However, Buhari never admitted to having £1million in his account.
Mail Online added: “The presence of Nigeria’s president at David Cameron’s anti-corruption summit this week may surprise many in his nation – which receives vast amounts of UK aid.
“Self-proclaimed ‘People’s President’ Muhammadu Buhari began a war on corruption after taking power last year, but critics allege it is a political witch-hunt.
“The Government is giving nearly £250million in the coming year to oil-rich Nigeria..
“Supporters say 49 arrests of members of the previous regime show the anti-corruption war is genuine, but opponents say it is politically driven.
“Nigeria has the highest-paid government officials in the world but is one of the largest beneficiaries of UK foreign aid.
“The president of its senate, Bukola Saraki, is due to face trial on corruption charges after it emerged he has a £6million London property in his wife’s name.
“The Nigerian Embassy did not comment”, Mail Online added.
