Much Ado about Buhari’s health

Last week, the state of the president’s health came into question again. He had suddenly requested for an indefinite extension on his vacation on medical ground. President Muhammadu Buhari was due back to work February 6 after a 10-day vacation. Now it’s clear he is in fact on a medical leave, despite several denials.
The week turned out full of interesting episodes as it were. After the Presidency put out the statement on the indefinite extension of Mr. President’s leave, rumours and conspiracy theories kicked into another
gear following a rumour he had died in London two weeks ago. For many Nigerians, there was definitely some hidden agenda. To some, Mr. President had passed on but the kitchen cabinet was on a game of
secrecy, trying to hatch some devious scheme to hold on to power. Others maintained Mr. President was alive and recuperating from an undisclosed ailment. Like many things today on social media, the hashtag #ISpokeWithPresidentBuhari began in earnest after, firstly, Acting President Yemi Osinbajo told us he spoke with the president who he
described as “hale and hearty.” Then Senate President Bukola Saraki and House Speaker Yakubu Dogara. Traditional rulers did not want to be
left out, so they came to hear for themselves. The Oba of Lagos, Rilwan Akiolu, and the Emir of Kano, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi visited the acting president to hear for themselves.
Not to be outdone, the Jagaban, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu went one step further and released a photo of him with a smiling Commander-in-Chief
who has been missing from the front-lines while hunger and blackout ravaged Nigerians.
Popular amongst what they wanted Nigerians to believe was the fact that the President was not sick. While many Nigerians still find that hard to take, another drama ensued at the Council Chambers Wednesday during the prayer session. As is the tradition, Mr. Osinbajo appointed two cabinet members to pray, one each from the two main religions. The Muslim minister prayed for the country but was passive on our leaders before ending. Health Minister Prof. Isaac Adewole did the Christian.
“We pray for our leaders that you heal them.” He went on to cast and bind and send demons back to the bottomless pit. I could tell he was trying not to mention Mr. President directly. I can bet that the
last has not been heard about the prayer episode. Don’t be surprised to read stories of FEC binding and casting on behalf of the president and some other cabinet members that had taken ill.
It’s supposed to be a normal prayer but when you are busy trying to convince Nigerians that their President is hale and hearty and in the same voice ask God to heal him, you raise questions, right?
“We thank you for the way and manner you have been leading this country. For our leadership, it shall be well with them in the name of Jesus. We come against every contrary spirit; every pronouncement of the evil one will come to nothing.
“We pronounce that our leadership will be hale and hearty in the name of Jesus. “Every other person from the acting president to every member
of the cabinet we also pronounce divine healing.” The minister prayed before decreeing healing for the president and casting the demons into the hottest part of hell.
While the prayer was going on I couldn’t help taking a peek at SGF Babachir Lawal, aka BD. His eyes were wide open with what I think was a scowl on his face. I won’t put it pass BD to “straighten out” the
Prof after journalists were excused from the meeting. But while the prayer was quite interesting, Information Minister Lai Mohammed during
the briefing afterwards said there was nothing wrong with the President and considering the fact that presidential spokesman Femi Adesina had also said nothing was wrong but he needed prayers, it was
confusing. In any case, I believe the President may be fine now but saying there was nothing wrong and we are casting out devils doesn’t add up.
I am hoping that by the time you are reading this, Mr. President should be back in the country or be preparing to return so that we can forge
ahead as a country and try to fix the economy. I rest it here.
Whatever happened through the week, I just know that we saw some real acting action from Osinbajo this time around. I am a little afraid to say it, but it was a bit too obvious that he was holding back on some sensitive actions so as not to pass as trying to overthrow his boss (my opinion). Like I said in my last piece, I haven’t seen such a hard worker in a while, yet I am left wondering why things don’t move.
Well, the Acting President as you know finally sent the Acting Chief Justice of Nigeria’s name to the Senate for confirmation, something most Nigerians were shouting about. He also met with anti-graft
agencies as well as heads of police and DSS, amongst others. The task force on rising cost of food was also a laudable move and that will be
only if the recommendation of moving food via rail starts immediately.
Speaking of working hard, did you realise Osinbajo’s already grey hair is turning even whiter? This time the hustle was real with the crown of a diverse complicated Nigeria, probably too heavy. I couldn’t help notice that he was fast becoming almost all grey.
So I sat listening to our Professor Acting President when he gave the labour union leaders the lecture of their lives. When they came in they looked different, smiling even, I really cannot say what they
expected when they were invited to meet with Osinbajo while they were protesting.
However, when the Professor took them through the classroom to learn (an extended version) how Nigeria got to this point through corruption, the looting of public funds and how the government was
working at fixing things, I couldn’t help notice that some of them were battling with sleep. Their faces were not as bright as when they arrived, even they would agree to that. For me, it was one length of a
speech.
And so as the President prepares to return to the country, his personal security arrangement is being revamped. After he was inaugurated in May 2015, the President had opted to have soldiers as
his bodyguards instead of the DSS as is the practice. This meant the DSS operatives were moved to the outer courts as far as the gate. At the time, it was gathered that the President was not comfortable with
them following the role they played during the election. But it was in fact, a tussle war between the Chief Security Officer to the President
and his Aide’ de Camp.
So I noticed there was a gradual takeover by the DSS from the outer post one at a time and last week the last table where the military bodyguards occupied was removed. I learnt most of them have been posted out of town to different states. I reckon they are of better use there with the deteriorating security situation across parts of the country, especially in Southern Kaduna.
Like they say, it is one Presidency, one Nigeria and we are working for a common good right?