Amidst concerns raised on the state of the President Muhammadu Buhari’s health after he suddenly extended his vacation, Acting President Yemi Osinbajo on Monday said he spoke with him but declined to comment on the true state of the President’s health.
On Sunday, while Nigerians awaited the President’s return,the presidency announced in a terse statement that President Buhari, who was expected in the country on Sunday evening has written the national assembly, asking for an extension of his holiday. The statement did not specify how many more days or weeks the president required, leaving room for uncertainty and speculation on how long he will be away.
There have been mounting speculations over the true state of health of the president with the presidency forced to deny twice that he was dead.
Concerns about the President’s health had further heightened when the leadership of the National Assembly last week visited Acting President Yemi Osinbajo at the presidential villa three times also giving rise to speculations that the discussions were about the president state of health. There have also been rumours that the acting president was under pressure to resign. But this has been denied by the presidency.
Addressing newsmen at the State House Abuja, Osinbajo said he spoke with Buhari same day (Monday) and gave him briefing on all the happenings including the protests in the country.
“The President is hale and hearty,I spoke to the President just this afternoon and we had a warm conversation, he was interested in knowing about the budget process and how far we have gone and the meeting today with the private sector and the economic recovery growth plan and I informed him about the protest march and feedback about what people are saying about the economy. He is in good shape .
“Just like he said in his letter to the National Assembly he needs to go for a cycle of test and once he sees the test results and gets medical advice, we expect him very soon” he said.
Osinbajo like who also responded in the same line with the statement issued on Sunday by Presidential Spokesman, Femi Adesina, said the health status of the President was something only he could discuss after he has done the tests.
“I think that the health status of Mr President is an issue that only Mr President would discuss at the appropriate time. Again he is running test and all of that. Before you will be able to determine your health status you must be able to say this is my health status. I will do the test my doctors have advised me to do and will wait for the outcome of the test and know my status” he said.
Osinabajo also said he was not under any form of pressure to resign as has been widely speculated especially in the social media.
“I am absolutely under no pressure to resign. I was voted for by the people of this nation,myself and Mr President and so the people of this nation have not asked us to resign . I am absolutely not under any pressure whatsoever. The truth is that they have been no pressure from any source asking me to resign”.
Elizabeth Archibong
