Yesterday was Jakarta Governor Basuki “Ahok” Tjahaja Purnama’s 49th birthday. People all over the city and the internet sent their birthday greeting to the governor but one notable person who did not wish Ahok a “Happy Birthday” was his former boss, President Joko Widodo.
That’s according to Ahok himself, who told Kompas that he had not received any birthday greeting directly from the president, saying Jokowi’s busy schedule probably didn’t give him the opportunity.
“He hasn’t had time, there’s hasn’t been any communication from him yet,” Ahok said at City Hall this morning.
However, Ahok did say that Jokowi had sent him a bouquet of flowers, which, according to him, is meant to represent his birthday greetings.
“Pak Jokowi just loves flowers,” Ahok said, presumably while staring off into the distance sadly.
When Jokowi was the governor of Jakarta and Ahok was his number two, they made for quite the dynamic duo. Jokowi could be the soft, kind face of the government while Ahok laid down the law and made his boss’ wishes a reality.
But it seems like the special connection to two once had has been lost. It’s too bad, because it seems like Jokowi could certainly use more friends right now.
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