PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari’s Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu, said, on Sunday night, that his boss’ illness is not serious to call for concern.
Shehu insisted the president is not in hospital, but in his residence at the Nigerian High Commission in London, United Kingdom.
“I just spoke to the president’s personal doctor, and he told me President Buhari is not in any serious condition as to worry about. He is not in hospital. He is in his residence at the Nigerian High Commission,” said Shehu.
But, Chairman of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, in Anambra State, Chief Damian Okeke-Ogene has said if the extension of Buhari’s return from medical leave will make him return in good health, so be it.
Okeke-Ogene, however, said “Nigerians want to hear from him,” to dispel “rumours making the round about his health.”
He said although Nigerians wanted the president to return to face several challenges facing the country, ranging from the recession, ethnic religious crisis, herdsmen attacks, IPOB killings and passage of budget, among others, he stressed that good health still remains the ultimate.
Chief Okeke-Ogene insisted the president’s aides should “come out to tell Nigerians the true health situation of the president’s health, to douse the tension,” because, according to him, “Nigerians really need the President to tackle most of the problems facing the country right now.
“It is my personal opinion, and not the stand of the National President of the Ohanaeze Ndigbo; that the president should speak to Nigerians, based on the rumours of his health condition. The president’s aides are not helping matters. They should come out to tell Nigerians the true situation. But, my opinion is that, if the extension of his return will bring him back in good health, it is better and I wish him happy healthy return.”
From Ebonyi, Senior Technical Assistant to Governor David Umahi on Media, Chief Chris GNG Ngwuta described extension of the president’s vacation as “a deliberate attempt by Buhari and the All Progressives Congress, APC to insult the sensibilities of Nigerians.
“Buhari and his APC party are taking Nigerians for a ride. It is not just bad that Nigeria has been further plunged into retrogression since assumption of office, but, they have added another trick, to insult us and lead us into believing in their lies.
“What responsible and responsive government would leave the masses, in this condition of speculation and helplessness as we are witnessing in Nigeria today? The extension of President Buhari’s medical vacation leaves so many questions and we are not happy. While we are not praying for our president to die, we have the right to know his present state of health, to stop further speculation.”
