A tweet by SIGNAL on Saturday of Nigeria’s President Muhammadu Buhari wearing a pair of flashy 1953 Horsebit Leather Loafer Gucci shoes has left many Nigerians questioning President Buhari’s “man of the people” image. The said range of shoes according to the Gucci online store cost $640 which if converted at $1 to N345 cost N223,905.
FLASH | In serious economic recession, President Buhari spotted in @Gucci shoes worth $640 (N223,905) at $1 to N345 pic.twitter.com/JN7EZdCvDZ
— SIGNAL (@thesignalng) July 9, 2016
In March 2015, Buhari was elected as Nigeria’s new president after a campaign premised on a strong anti-corruption stance. Buhari underlined his humble credentials by raising money from ordinary voters. He was even said to have borrowed to buy his presidential nomination form on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Buhari’s frugal, austere, man of the people image was first diluted when his wife, Aisha Buhari, was pictured wearing an expensive-looking watch at her husband’s inauguration. The wristwatch, a Cartier Baignoire Folle 18-carat white gold diamond timepiece was estimated to have cost around $50,000 – more than £30,000 or about 17 million Nigerian naira. Report of the development sparked public outrage, making international news headlines.
Hundreds of tweets mentioning Buhari’s name and “shoes” have been posted within the past 24 hours. Many have criticized the President’s flashy image, maintaining that media handlers of President Buhari scammed Nigerians in the run up to the March 2015 elections to believe that he was a “N50 sachet milo-drinking President”. According to this school of thought, the issue is not whether he can afford it or not, or whether the shoes are too expensive or cheap for the President but the image that was packaged and propagated about President Buhari as a poor pastoral farmer who had nothing but 150 cows.
Others have risen in stout defence of the President saying he can wear a $1,000 pair of shoes if he likes as a former Head of State and current President of the world’s largest black democracy.
Reports indicate that more than 50 percent of Nigerians live below the international poverty line of $1.25 per day, according to the United Nations.
A tweet from Bashir Ahmad, President Buhari’s Personal Assistant on New Media on Sunday disclosed that President Buhari has been wearing the same brand of shoes even during the presidential campaigns, long before he became President.
Though it doesn’t worth any reply. This was from campaign’s days. If they like they can write on it too.
???? @da_taf pic.twitter.com/lugAZCOmbZ
— Bashir Ahmad (@BashirAhmaad) July 10, 2016
Below are some reactions of Nigerians
So a president can’t wear expensive shit??? Da fuck https://t.co/Ui9EzDMQBW
— kamal (@Kendrick_Kamal) July 10, 2016
Man cannot enjoy his money again? https://t.co/mOByXqOrzV
— Najeeb YL (@Najeeb_Y_L) July 10, 2016
Gucci?! Lol
Versace nko?
Louboutin dey dere!
Wait till I rock my Yezuus!
Get ready guys!
Ain’t seen nothing! ! https://t.co/bDomzeXREF— SaVinNiGeriA (@iyani_wura) July 9, 2016
Pls leave our modest president alone o… https://t.co/0e8zp13L2H
— Olusegun Adekoya (@OlusegunAdekoy2) July 9, 2016
Nigerians have been scammed ???????????? https://t.co/qJKth4ZmQV
— Kc (@AguataBlood) July 9, 2016
Ka lo fi Naira MasterCard fo Gucci store ni London ???????????????????????????????????????? https://t.co/LR98VXmjGg
— YEEZUS (@nyphemmi) July 9, 2016
This beat Notorious B.I.G. “Gucci down to the socks”
This “Gucci down to the shoes” https://t.co/swIDIcChvv— Uche Ambrose (@UcheUcheif) July 9, 2016
@benmurraybruce Hello Sir, It appears our President is not practising #BuyNaijaToGrowTheNaira https://t.co/GP3zqnXQto
— Bowser (@basediah) July 9, 2016
Haters will not allow our Spartan, Milo sachet drinking president flourish in his Gucci shoe made in Kano. ???? https://t.co/kmuYNd0v1l
— bα̲̅bα̲̅tunde (@babsacademy) July 9, 2016
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