I’VE never met Mrs Aisha Buhari. Our paths did not cross when I was campaigning for her husband in 2014 and 2015. And I’ve never attended any function at which she has spoken and have only glimpsed her in the flesh once – from a great distance when the new President was being sworn in at Eagle Square last May 29 (she was in the glass VIP box, I was in an ordinary seat on the other side of the stadium).

Last week, on the eve of our 56th Independence Day “celebrations” (what is there to celebrate?!), I compared Nigeria’s lack of progress with the daily progress that takes place in other parts of the world – Europe, America and Japan, for example.

While we Nigerians are still struggling, in the 21st century, to provide ourselves with basic amenities like round-the-clock electricity and spectacularly failing to deal with simple challenges like running free and fair elections, other nations in Asia and the Western World are relentlessly moving onwards and upwards.

On September 8, 2016, at the launch of his “Change Begins With Me” initiative – a new public enlightenment campaign – President Buhari made a speech. unknown to Mr President, entire paragraphs in this important speech had been lifted by one of his aides from President Barack Obama’s 2008 victory speech.

Nigerians are famed for suffering and smiling. We’re also pretty good at laughing while we are suffering; and I’m sure that many of you would have heard the following absolutely hilarious jokes by now. But for those who haven’t, let me repeat them.