President Muhammadu Buhari had again voiced opposition to the BBC Hausa interview granted by his wife Aisha, where she declared that she won’t campaign for her husband in 2019 if he does not shake up his government.

Although, Buhari had in a joint press conference with German Angela, Angela Merkel ‘jokingly’ dissed the wife saying she belongs to his kitchen, the president has expressed opinion that his wife should stay away from politics.

Asked what he meant by “I don’t know which party my wife belongs to, but she belongs to my kitchen and my living room, and the other room, Buhari who spoke with Deutsche Welle presenter Phil Gayle said the function of the wife is to look after him.

“I am sure you have a house. … You know where your kitchen is, you know where your living room is, and I believe your wife looks after all of that, even if she is working.”

“That is your wife’s function?, the reporter asked and the president answered “Yes, to look after me.” 

Asked again if the wife should stay out of politics and the president responded saying “I think so”

He also expressed views on the gender equality bill which has failed to pass the National Assembly. He said it is a good thing to the extent that it is accepted culturally throughout the country.

President Buhari who returned to Nigeria Saturday evening after a three day working visit to Germany also spoke on a couple of other issues.

He said his reason for visiting Germany is to seek German investments in Nigeria.

“We want German investors. As you know, there are about 100 German companies in Nigeria, and German investors have earned a lot of respect from Nigeria because of the quality of the manufactured goods they produce, especially machinery. … Nigerians work very hard to learn as much as possible, and attract German investment in manufacturing, especially.”

“German investors have been in Nigeria long enough, and they have seen so many governments, especially in the last 16 years. There was 16 years of the other party we took over from and eight successive governments, and all this time the German investors have survived it. So, they know a lot of details and they found out about the difference between the previous government and the incoming government.”

On the recent accusation by the Nigerian Bar Association that he is using corruption arrest as a way of intimidating judges, the president said they are all innocent until they are proven guilty.

“Well, we are under a different system. … In 1984 and 1985, I told very curious people like you, then, in the military, what we did. The people arrested were put in prison and they were told they were guilty until they could prove their innocence. This time around, as you can see … they are all innocent until we can prove them guilty. This process is much easier. We have to start from the institution where they work, to their bank accounts, either inside or outside Nigeria, before we can prosecute them, take them to court and get them prosecuted.”