Marriage Ceremonies Of The Daughters Of PMB Vs GEJ: The Difference By Lawrence Ibe

Do you know that President Buhari’s daughter got married last Friday (28/10/2016) in Daura, but the President stayed back in Abuja to attend to issues of national importance? He later joined them in the night to meet with guests and flew back to Abuja early Saturday morning to continue his work.

Do you also remember two years ago (12/04/2014) when former President Jonathan’s adopted daughter got married? A huge jamboree of an extravagant wedding was staged while billions of Naira were expended. Customized gold plated iPhones were given as gifts to everyone privileged to be in the reception hall. The best of foreign wines were served. Abundance of food was in offer and the best of entertainers were hired to keep guests entertained while they dined and wined. In return, the bride was “dashed” over 80 exotic brand new cars, including houses by those her father bragged to have made wealthy.

The worst of it all was that state functions nationwide were suspended, all government activities were put on hold because Goodluck Ebele Jonathan’s daughter was wedding; all roads led to Bayelsa. That weekend was madness because the entire administration of governance in Nigeria was suspended because the President’s daughter was getting married. People were falling over themselves to show favour to the President’s daughter in an anticipation that their goodwill would be reciprocated by GEJ.

Now the case is different. The contrast is that, here we have another sitting President whose daughter got married and you did not even know about it because it wasn’t made a state function. It was a very modest wedding and simply family affair. This is what leadership is: a leader not using his political position to attract wordly gains to himself. I can also tell you that some people wanted to make this wedding a state affair, a lavish, expensive and glamorous wedding; but President Buhari rejected that proposal and only insisted it must be modest and a family affair devoid of waste and ostentation.

This post is not meant to praise anyone but to sample an attitude every political office holder must emulate. A life of modesty, simplicity and not abusing ones political office for self aggrandizement. This time around, all roads did not lead to Daura.

If this is not change, what is it?