by Yemi Adebowale | Breaking Times
The Nigerian social media exploded with reactions on Thursday after President Muhammadu Buhari referred to the chancellor of Germany, Angela Merkel, as “President Michelle” of “West Germany”.
Speaking on Channels TV after the meeting of the Lake Chad Basin Commission presidents yesterday, President Buhari referred to “the G7 meeting in West Germany” and“consultations with President Michelle”.
The problem is that West Germany no longer exists.
At the onset of the Cold War, Germany was divided among the Western and Eastern blocs. Germany was de facto divided into two countries and two special territories, the Saarland and divided Berlin.
During this period NATO-aligned West Germany and Warsaw Pact-aligned East Germany were divided by the inner German border. After 1961, West Berlin was physically separated from East Berlin as well as from East Germany by the Berlin Wall.
This situation ended when East Germany was dissolved and its five states joined the ten states of the Federal Republic of Germany along with the reunified city-state of Berlin. With the reunification of West and East Germany, the Federal Republic of Germany, with sixteen states, became known as “Germany”.
Buhari’s gaffe triggered reactions on the social media with many expressing disappointment at the President’s utterance.
President Buhari isn't allowed to call Germany 'West Germany'. No way! He should start living in 2015 & not 1988
— Tosh (@toshyfiesta) June 12, 2015
Buhari referred to Germany as "West Germany" and Chancellor Angela merkel as "President Mitchell'.
OMG! This man is embarrassing Nigerians!
— Maybeks (@Maybeks) June 12, 2015
Prrsident Mohammadu Buhari of Nigeria and President Mitchell of west Germany. #TweetlikeBuhari pic.twitter.com/zY1uawRf4A
— Anabaranze1 💿 (@Anabaranze) June 12, 2015
President Buhari, there is nothing called West Germany anymore, Germany is a united country, the Berlin Wall does not exist anymore!
— Tj (@tunjiadewunmi) June 11, 2015
“President Michelle of West Germany” Buhari Must be really brainless
— Hydra (@briandark) June 11, 2015
Buhari calling West Germany as a country indicates he may not be on point with world current affairs
— Uncle Efe-Vivour | 20:10:2020 (@HL_Blue) June 12, 2015
Present at the meeting were; Idriss Deby Itno (President of the Republic of Chad), Boni Yayi (President of the Republic of Benin), Paul Biya (President of the Republic of Cameroun) among others.
