CNN Mocks Nigeria Over Buhari’s Prolonged Absence

Cable News Network (CNN) over the weekend mocked Nigeria over President Muhammadu Buhari’s prolonged absence from the country.

Nigeria has relatively enjoyed a good rapport with the global media outfit under the Buhari administration. Information and culture minister, Alhaji Lai Mohammed had earlier in the year announced a collaboration with CNN to boost Nigeria’s tourism.

The minister’s announcement came after a visit by one of CNN’s most popular broadcasters, Richard Quest, on whose show the information minister appeared to slip when he named Senegal as the place to find the best jollof rice, one of the most popular meals in Nigeria that has regularly been at the centre of supremacy banter between Nigeria and other countries.

The news organisation subsequently put up a defence of the minister, claiming the question was not put to the minister clearly enough, to the relief of many Nigerians.

A snapshot from the weekend broadcast of a CNN foreign affairs show, “The Global Public Square (GPS)”, anchored by Fareed Zakaria may, however, hint at a turn of events.

A question on the Quiz and Trivia segment of the show read, “The head of state from which country has not set foot in his homeland in over two months?”

The options were given as Saudi Arabia, Cuba, Nigeria and Syria.

Nigeria’s President Buhari has been out of the country for nearly 3 months, seeking medical treatment in the United Kingdom and was not seen in public for many weeks until recently when he hosted some state governors and party chieftains.

Many Nigerians see the humour in the CNN question for what it is but many others see it as an insult but one for which they can only blame President Buhari who some say should have resigned in the best interest of the country.