Nigerians have taken to twitter to express their views about a video of President Muhammadu Buhari refusing to extend a hand to shake Senator Oluremi Tinubu’s hand.
In the video which is about 18 seconds long, Buhari is seen alighting from his official Mercedes Benz at the International Conference Centre, Abuja after which he is welcomed by the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Isa Pantami.
The President subsequently shakes hands with the Governor of Nasarawa State, Abdullahi Sule, who is standing next to Mrs. Tinubu, who is the Chairman, Senate Committee on Communications.
See Video below:
Did President Buhari acknowledge Senator Remi Tinubu in this video or not? #ekohotblog #EmeryOut #FridayThoughts #alayejorjorjor pic.twitter.com/UOhFrH8esG
— EkoHotBlog (@ekohotblog) November 29, 2019
Some twitter users opined that what the President did was not wrong, while others said the action was evidence that the President believes that women only belong to the “kitchen and the other room,” a claim he had once made while talking about his wife, Aisha.
This was however countered by some Nigerians who pointed out that the President shook hands with German Chancellor, Angela Merkel when they met sometime ago.
Others argue that the Minister of Communications, Isa Pantami, failed to introduce Senator Tinubu properly to President Buhari, hence his failure to shake her hands.
See reactions below:
For real?! That's Remi Tinubu? I can't believe that! She is a Senator and allowed herself to be slighted by a Minister? For real? She couldn't call the President?
Wallahi I cannot do politics! Naaaaaaaah! https://t.co/OLLrLn2X1i— Aisha Yesufu (@AishaYesufu) November 28, 2019
When the Minister slighted the woman & introduced the person after her a more attentive leader would have taken time to talk to the lady & make her feel at ease but then Buhari @MBuhari is the one who went to his first inauguration sat down and had to be told to go greet people! https://t.co/ClTftYL0X8
— Aisha Yesufu (@AishaYesufu) November 28, 2019
Why is she bending like they pour cold water on her
— That farmer boy (@Farmexecutive) November 28, 2019
https://twitter.com/demolaskid/status/1200087635450044422
But za woman is za wife of za NATIONAL LEADER of za Party! C'mon, she's got self recognition. But …
— OrdinaryPeople (@Ordinary_Peep) November 29, 2019
Tactical disapproval or at home only? pic.twitter.com/IMEIYitWBW
— Thomas C. Ijere, PhD (@chucksijere) November 28, 2019
I WILL DEFEND BUHARI ON NOT SHAKING MUSLIM WOMEN – IT IS ABOUT RELIGION
I am not a Buhari supporter and actually believe he is one of Nigeria’s problems. APC and PDP are the same.
However, my understanding is that a man cannot offer to shake a Muslim woman and Mrs. Tinubu is a Muslim woman and that maybe the reason she did not offer her hand. Buhari has a lot of problems but we should be frank and honest in our criticisms. I have heard of situations where Muslim husbands slapped men for offering to shake their wives. I think the explanation for this behavior is to be found in the same religion that both of them practice. None of the women in attached pictures is a woman. I am open to facts. Can we show pictures of Buhari shaking Moslem women? If found it could change my explanation for his behavior. The president acknowledged her presence.
There is a picture of a lady who appears to be a Moslem standing in between Lai Mohammed and Governor Ibikunle of Ogun. Buhari is seen holding to the lady’s cloth instead of shaking her. It appears the lady did not even offer her arm. Unfortunately, I am not allowed to post links here. So I think this behavior has its roots in religion and I do not think Mrs. Tinubu is offended as she is a Muslim and did not even offer the president her arm.
Aishat Buhari does shake men and I think she has the right to deviate from her religious beliefs. The critical thing here is that Buhari has never been pictured shaking a Muslim woman.