The Nigerian media was in an uproar this week over a watch first lady Aisha Buhari wore during her husband’s inauguration ceremonies last week. She also wear the accessory described as a Cartier Baignoire Folle 18-Carat White Gold Diamond Ladies Watch in her newly unveiled official portrait. Nigeria media have estimated the watch costs roughly $52,000, or more than what President Muhammadu Buhari earns in three months from his official salary.
The timepiece triggered outrage from some Nigerians as the newly elected president has vowed to crackdown on government corruption, including overpaid public officials. Buhari played up his modest background while on the campaign trail, claiming he was a pastoral farmer with 150 cows who could barely afford to pay for his presidential nomination form. More than 50 percent of Nigerians live below the international poverty line of US$1.25 per day, according to the United Nations.
Some have claimed that the watch is merely a knockoff and doesn’t cost more than $129. But critics said the watch is the real deal and is made of white gold and brilliant-cut diamonds. The official portrait of Aisha Buhari was released hours after the inauguration last week attended by U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, among other world leaders.
#IsThisTheChange? First Lady Aisha Buhari wore a 18-Carat White Gold Diamond watch worth N10m http://t.co/K4bnf1Tv27 pic.twitter.com/MTfy5SppSU
— Bishop Ikedi (@BishopIkedi1) June 2, 2015
Buhari defeated incumbent Goodluck Jonathan in April by about 2 million votes, according to Nigeria’s Independent National Electoral Commission. He first ruled Nigeria after a military coup in 1983 before he was forced out of office in 1985. He is a Sunni Muslim from Nigeria’s low-income North.
Buhari’s office did not reply to request for comments about the watch on Monday, local media reported. Nigerians debated whether it was appropriate for Aisha Buhari to wear the watch in her official portrait on social media this week.
@TeamTalkMuzik”Nice watch our first lady Mrs Aisha Buhari you deserves the best as Nigerians first lady..May God guide & bless ur leadership
— charles (@billronaldo2000) June 2, 2015
Buhari’s Wife and Her Very Expensive Wrist Watch. she should be moderate in all ways. If she indeed wore a N10m wrist watch as First Lady.
— self made channels (@selfmadechanne1) June 2, 2015
#IsThisTheChange? First Lady Aisha Buhari wore a 18-Carat White Gold Diamond watch worth N10m http://t.co/K4bnf1Tv27 pic.twitter.com/MTfy5SppSU
— Bishop Ikedi (@BishopIkedi1) June 2, 2015
SHOCKING: “Poor” Nigeria First Lady Aisha Buhari Wears US$50,000 Watch to Inauguration | Nigeria… http://t.co/4h350ZeF1N
— chidinma onyejiuwa (@chidinma1999) June 1, 2015
ibtimes.com
