Former Nigerian President, Muhammadu Buhari, recently caused a stir when he stated that his cows are easier to control than Nigerian citizens. Speaking at a pre-inauguration dinner and gala in Abuja, he commended the outcome of the election that saw Bola Tinubu become the 16th president of Nigeria.
Buhari congratulated Nigerians for realizing the power in their votes and highlighted that their ballots counted. However, he went on to deliver a controversial statement, stating that, “I am looking forward to tomorrow [Monday] to fly to my base and go back to my cows and sheep, which are much easier to control than fellow Nigerians.”
This statement has attracted criticism from all quarters, with many Nigerians taking to social media to voice their dissatisfaction with his comparison. The former President has faced previous criticism for allegedly prioritizing his cattle over the needs of Nigerians.
The event was attended by presidents Cyril Ramaphosa of South Africa, Nana Akufo-Addo of Ghana, and Julius Maado Bio of Sierra Leone. The comments made by Buhari have sparked a debate around the suitability of Buhari to hold public office once again.
It remains to be seen how Buhari will react to the criticism that has arisen as a result of his comments. However, this has once again highlighted the need for Nigerian politicians to be more aware of the sensitive nature of their statements and to avoid making statements that could be seen as divisive or offensive.
