BREAKING NEWS: Buhari makes public appearance, attends Juma’at Service

In what appears to have proved wrong many of Nigerians including a chieftain of All Progressives Congress (APC) Chief Bisi Akande spreading messages of apprehensions and anxieties over his state of health, President Muhammadu Buhari, joined by the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mallam Abubakar Malami (SAN), the National Security Adviser, Major General Mohammed Babagana Monguno (Rtd), and other officials of the government, attended the Jumat Service in the Presidential Villa Mosque, on Friday.

This came less than 48 hours after which the news went round from traditional and social media over the President’s absence at the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting for the third time since his return from medical vacation in the United Kingdom had further hiked tension even on the part of people who had been on the positive side against the “wailing wailers’ concocted stories.”

But with Friday appearance, which was this time in photos and video, no Nigeria would be in doubt that the President’s health, as said by his wife, Aisha, is truly as bad as being perceived.

Despite the President’s absence from public functions, the Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, the Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, Maikanti Baru, and the Central Bank Governor, Mr. Godwin Emefiele, all said they held meetings separately with him this week.

President Buhari’s absence at the weekly FEC meeting last week had fuelled speculation about his health with 13 activists, including, Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Femi Falana, calling on him to proceed on a medical leave to attend to his health.

The Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, and other government officials, including the President’s wife, Aisha Buhari, however, assured Nigerians that that there was no cause for alarm over his health.

They also said he was carrying out his responsibilities as President, while also following his doctor’s orders that he should have enough time to rest.

The DEFENDER’s respondents have persistently asked Nigerians to show understanding by appreciating that a selfless President who has staked his life to serve by helping them fight corruption, insecurity and fix the nation’s economy, rather than being subjected to mockery in his unexpected health challenge period, should be supported with prayers and told good and encouraging words.

A social media contributor had even warned that Nigerians carried the risk of going to lose a helper for life if they missed the Buhari opportunity by their unexplainable distrust without proofs.

“It appears not yet clear to Nigerians that the President they have this time is different from the leaders they had had in the past.  They are now better come term with the fact that the President they have knows what he is doing and that he chooses to do his own thing as he considers it necessary so long it does not cause a setback to the progress of Nigeria.  When he says black, Nigerians who doubt his black are only going to be on their own for a long time,” a respondent said.