President Muhammadu Buhari travelled to the US for a state visit on Sunday with his son on the official entourage, leading to murmuring that this should not be the case.
There are various sides to the argument. On the Buhari side, some will argue that there is nothing wrong. After all, Buhari could have travelled with his wife at the expense of Nigerian tax payers and no one would have raised an eyebrow. The constitution does not distinguish between the president’s wife and children, they will say.
Some will even add that it is part of the perks of office for the president to travel with his son and that former President Olusegun Obasanjo did it on a regular basis. The cost is so insignificant that it should not be turned into a major issue, many will also say.
But so are many people opposed to the idea. It is a shade of nepotism, they argue, and this was what Buhari fought against as military head of state.
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And considering that the tax payer will pick the bill, this is yet another wasteful spending, they add, especially as Buhari has emphasised the need to cut expenses by voluntarily taking a pay cut.
What is your own view? You can vote and also leave a comment below.
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12 comments
HE SHOULD HAVE TRAVELLED WITH HIS WIFE, OR ATLEAST A MEMBER OF HIS FAMILY….SO IF HE DECIDES TO GO WITH HIS ONLY SON, THEN THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NOTHING WRONG WITH THAT
Why will He travel with any of the family member?. And, if according to you, he can travel with any of them, then what distinguishes him from other corrupt leaders? Or is he afraid the will poison him there?
I WILL APPRECIATE IF YOU CAN TELL ME HOW MUCH IT WILL COST TO TRAVEL WITH THE YOUNG MAN, THEN WE CAN TELL IF PMB CAN OR CAN NOT AFFORD IT, WHETHER A PRESIDENT OR NOT….
Why would he travel with his son. What contribution in economic, security or business terms is the son going to make?
He should not forget that he was only elected President simply because Nigerians believe he is gonna do things differently.
So because he is president, he should ignore his fatherly duties…He is first a father and then a president…..you should ask yourself honestly, if you were in his shoes, and you love you kid, you want him to be good as you are and even better, how else are you suppose to teach him? Bihari is not the first to do this….most world leaders travel with their family….
What is new in Buhari going to US on an approved state visit with his son. In 2000, then President Bill Cliton of US traveled to Nigeria with his daughter Chelsea. Nigerians are so forgetful, no wonder our leaders treat us like morons.
na waooo why will he travel with his son is not fair oooo.Pls you guys should come up with another topic of discussion,Come to think of it i should have been the one to travel with him instead of his son.
I am of the view that PMB, shouldn’t have included his son in an official state visit to another head of state as his son is neither a minister, commissioner or Govt. official of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. His wife would have been proper and adequate.
On holidays abroad with his son, friends and family is proper and unquestionable.
Head of State is not hereditary that one has to train his son to take over after his death either.
The question we should ask is the propriety of it. Again, we should ask if it is practised in other climes, especially in the civilised world. Since I became an adult, I have read and seen it in newspapers, radio and TVs of American presidents travelling with their children. For example, I often read and watch former US President Bill Clinton travelling with his only child, Chelsea and the present President Barack Obama travelling even with his two daughters. So, let critics of President Muhammadu Buhari find something else to discuss!
Obama do travel with his entire family and so do most leaders in the world. There is absolutely nothing wrong with what he did. Please let us learn to criticise positively on issues that are pending that need to be addressed asap and not this one.
IF IT WERE GEJ NOW, ALL THE MEDIA HOUSES, POLITICAL PARTIES, AMERICA AND THE REST WOULD HAVE Complaining by now. WELL THE TIME IS COMING WHEN GOD WILL JUDGE US BY OUR ACTIONS AND IN ACTIONS NIGERIANS.
Fundamentally, there is nothing wrong with him travelling with his dad. Is the son a Nigerian or not? Does he have the same rights as every other persons on the entourage or not?. Flogging this issue beyond proportion is absolutely uncalled for. Let us focus on important matters please. #OneNigeria