President Muhammadu Buhari was absent at the Jumat prayer held at the Presidential Villa on Friday, fuelling anxiety about the 74-year-old is critically unwell.
At the prayer on Friday were Governors Ibikunle Amosun, Abdulaziz Yari and Abdullahi Ganduje of Ogun, Zamfara and Kano states respectively.
Buhari was last seen in public during the prayer last week in the company of Niger State Governor, Abubakar Bello; Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malawi (SAN); National Security Adviser, Babagana Monguno; Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS), Lawal Daura, and acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ibrahim Magu.
He did not attend the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting on Wednesday, opting instead to work from home.
Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, said in a statement on Thursday that doctors have advised Buhari to rest.
“Despite his lack of visibility, Nigerians should rest assured that President Buhari has not abdicated his role as Commander-in-Chief of Nigeria. He receives daily briefings on the activities of government and confers regularly with his Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo.
“His private residence, in which he has been spending the majority of his time recently, also has a fully equipped office.
“God is the giver of life and health. We are grateful that He has seen our President through the worst period of his convalescence in London.
“We are thankful that the President has passed a number of benchmarks already. We pray that God continues to see him through this period of recuperation,” the statement said.
