The social media went into overdrive
sunday once got word got out that President Muhammadu Buhari
had written yet
another letter to the National Assembly notifying it that he was extending his
leave in the United Kingdom in order to complete and get the results of the
medical tests recommended by his physicians.
From his well-wishers and “prayer
warriors” to the downright wacky commentators and conspiracy theorists, the
satirists and his critics, several Nigerians had something to say about the
extension of Buhari’s vacation in the UK.
A statement yesterday from the
president’s spokesman Mr. Femi Adesina confirmed the extension of Buhari’s
leave and Nigerians’ worst fears that all may not be well with their president.
It was not helped by the fact that
Adesina’s statement did not indicate when the president would return to the
country, or the number of days by which his stay abroad had been extended.
Adesina said the president had planned
to return to Abuja Sunday evening, but was advised to complete the tests before
returning.
He said the notice has since been
dispatched to the Senate President and Speaker of the House of Representatives.
Adesina said the president expressed
his sincere gratitude to Nigerians for their concerns, prayers and kind wishes.
In addition the president’s second
media aide, Mr. Garba Shehu clarified that Buhari was not in any serious condition
and not in any hospital in London.
While shedding more light on the
president’s decision to extend his vacation, Shehu said the president was
residing at the Nigerian High Commission in London.
He said: “I just spoke to the
president’s personal doctor, and he told me President Buhari is not in any
serious condition to worry about.
“He is not in hospital. He is in the
residence at the Nigerian High Commission.”
He explained that the president was
ready to return home as scheduled but for the arrival of his medial test
results which indicated he needed further tests.
“He and his delegation were ready to
come home today but for the delayed test results which came in today and
necessitated that he delays his return.
“There is nothing to worry about as far
as his condition is concerned,” Shehu said.
Also yesterday, the presidency alerted
Senate President Bukola Saraki that it shall be sending the letter notifying
the National Assembly of the extension of Buhari’s vacation in Britain.
The letter was yet to be received by Saraki, he had been told through a phone
conversation that he might receive the letter either last night or first thing
this morning unfailingly.
Buhari left Nigeria for the UK on
vacation on January 19 and was slated to return yesterday, preparatory to
resumption of work today.
While in the UK, the president was also
to undergo a routine medical check up, the presidency had said before his
departure.
However, while in the UK, speculation
was rife over his health. Some online media outlets went as far as reporting
fake news on the president death while others speculated that he was in a
critical condition.
Many Nigerians at the time had demanded
that the president address the country from wherever he was to reassure the
nation. However, that never happened.
In order to douse fears over his well-being,
the Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed and Buhari’s media aides
issued a number of statements allaying concerns over is health.
These were followed by the release of
photographs to substantiate the claim that the president was alive and well.
The first photograph showed the Ogun
State governor, Ibikunle Amosun and Senator Daisy Danjuma visiting the
president in London. Another showed the president having either lunch or dinner
with Amosun, while the two others showed the president’s wife Aisha sitting and
standing beside him.
Some, however, doubted the authenticity
of the photographs demanding that the president himself should address the
nation.
No comments:
Post a Comment