VP Insists Buhari Is Fine

Nigeria’s vice president, Yemi Osinbajo, firmly maintains that President Muhammadu Buhari is in fact “hale and hearty”. This comes amidst conflicting reports and speculation regarding the 74-year-old president’s current state of health. On Monday, reports arose about Buhari’s extended stay in London being due to health concerns.

According to Buhari’s spokesperson, Femi Adesina, the president had to “extend his leave in order to complete and receive the results of a series of tests recommended by his doctors”. Despite his positive outlook on the president’s health, VP Osinbajo did not comment on the nature of the medical tests that Buhari had been undergoing in the UK.

Yesterday morning Adesina appeared on the Channel Television’s Sunrise Daily, saying that the president may very well be back sooner than the public expects and is “fit”. However, after being questioned further on this, he changed his tune, saying: “I am not in direct contact with the President”.

Speculation is growing and the people of Nigeria are demanding to be informed on the actual state of their president. Opposing party, People’s Democratic Party (PDP), added fuel to the fire,  saying: “[Buhari] should tell [the public] the true state of his health”.

Abu Ibrahim, senator for Katsina South (Funtua), encouraged Nigerians to refrain from unnecessary speculation and alarm, as Buhari, “is not sick but exhausted by the weight of the problems the country is going through”.
Like Adesina, Osibanjo concluded his comments by saying that, despite the rumours, Nigerians need not be concerned and “should expect [Buhari] very soon”.