Buhari Would Remain In London To Rest -Presidency

AISHA ABUBAKAR

The senior special adviser to President Mohammadu Buhari, Mr. Femi Adesina has said that the President would still need to stay back in the United Kingdom to have enough rest.

Adesina stated this Tuesday while chatting with State House correspondents in Abuja after releasing a press statement allaying the anxiety of Nigerians about the president’s health.

In the statement, President Buhari, who is in London thanked millions of Nigerians who have been sending good wishes and praying for his health and well-being in mosques and churches throughout the country.

According to Adesina,  “the President is immensely grateful for the prayers, show of love and concern.”

“President Buhari wishes to reassure Nigerians that there is no cause for worry.

“During his normal annual checkup, tests showed he needed a longer period of rest, necessitating the President staying longer than originally planned,” Adesina said.

President Buhari began his vacation on 19 January, choosing London, where he also planned to conduct some routine medical checks.  He was billed to return to work on 6 February.

On 5 February, he notified the Nigerian Senate that he needed more time based on the advice of his doctors that he await the results of some tests.

In his absence, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has been acting for him.

However, during the question and answer with the journalists, Adesina blatantly refused to speak on the specific ailment the president is fighting – the question millions of Nigerians have been asking.

Here is the transcript.

Any possibility that the president will speak to Nigerians soon?

What he has just done is to speak to Nigerians.

What is wrong with the president?

Don’t you know that the Hippocratic Oath even forbids a doctor from speaking about the condition of his patient except the patient authorises it? It is only the patient himself who can speak about what he is going through. This is the person going through these series of tests and rest and he says no cause to worry. Let us believe that.

Why have they been harassing journalists who have been trying to reach the president in UK?

I do not consider that as harassment. Presidents are not hijacked and interviewed. Those things are scheduled. So I do not consider that as harassment.

Will he remain in the UK for months?

What we have just said is what I will want us to believe. The president said he needs to rest further. The same president that communicated that to us, when it is time for him to come, he will also communicate to us.

Has the president has lost his voice as rumoured?

Those people need to prove it. He spoke with President Trump. Did Trump say he did not speak with Nigerian President. Anybody can allege anything. My message to Nigerians is that let us learn to believe our leaders. This is a man we elected into office and he says no cause to worry, let us believe him.