President Muhammadu Buhari’s absence in public has left Nigerians nursing the thought that their leader taken ill again after his recent extended health vacation to the United Kingdom.
Buhari travelled to London on January 19 for routine medical check but did not return to Nigeria until March 10.
The following six signs are indicative that the 74-year-old has taken ill again.
- Absence at two consecutive FEC meetings
The Federal Executive Council (FEC) weekly meeting is where the president meets with his cabinet to discuss the state of the nation and plans for its future. Buhari was absent at the meeting on Wednesdays April 12 and 26, leaving Vice President Yemi Osinbajo to preside. The meeting is undoubtedly one of the most important meetings of the nation and for Buhari to have missed it twice in succession means something is wrong.
- Cancellation of last week’s FEC meeting
Senior Special Adviser to the president on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, said the meeting of Wednesday, April 19 was cancelled due to Easter break which did not give Aso Rock staff enough time to distribute necessary documents to the ministers prior to the meeting. Many Nigerians don’t believe him. It only points at just one thing: Buhari’s health.
- Continuous absence from the public
In the last two weeks, the president has only been seen once in public during Jumat service at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, on Friday, April 21.
- Expulsion of a journalist from Aso Rock
The recent expulsion of a Punch journalist from Aso Rock by the president’s chief of security officer, Bashir Abubakar, due to the publications of some reports on Buhari’s state of health shows that something is being hidden even though the journalist has been recalled.
- Visit of Bangladesh chief of army staff
One would have expected that Buhari, with his strong campaign against terrorism, would have welcomed the Bangladesh Chief of Army Staff, General Abu Muhammad, who was in Nigeria this week in person. However, it was Osinbajo who received Muhammad on behalf of Buhari.
- Working from home
Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, was given the unenviable task of explaining after Wednesday’s FEC meeting that the president needs rest and has chosen to work from home. The only thing that could account for such a rest poor health.
