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On Wednesday, news filled the social media space in Nigeria that President Muhammadu Buhari’s health had been threatened. The online reports said the president, who is currently in London on vacation and medical check up, was rushed to Kings Hospital on life support machine following a serious illness.
The reports were followed by another one which said Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, who is currently acting for Buhari, was being pressured to resign by some northern leaders including governors.
While the Presidency, through Minister of Information, Lai Mohammed, has dismissed both reports as “fake news” and a fabrication of “those who felt threatened by the emerging order”.
“The source/sources of the fabricated messages are already being investigated and the authors should prepare to face the consequences of their actions,’’ the minister said.
But who are these “rumour mongers threatened by the emerging order”?
Fingers are being pointed in two different directions. A particular governor in the South West is also being mentioned.
Who are the suspects?
The President Buhari’s Special Adviser on Political Matters in the Vice President’s office, Senator Obafemi Ojudu, on Thursday morning, pointed fingers at the direction of those currently standing trial for corruption.
Speaking via telephone on Ray Power FM’s Political Platform on Thursday morning, Ojudu, said that rumours about Buhari’s health were being spread by those facing corruption charges.
He said: “I just suspected mischief makers. there are people who do not wish the government well. When you are fighting corruption, corruption actually fights back, and these are the measures they are taking. All manners of fake stories you find on the internet against the government. They use fake photographs and attribute fake quotations to people.
“I see it coming from the angle of people who are being asked to answer questions as regards to what they have done with the nation’s resources. They are the ones who want the government to collapse. They want the country to collapse so that they can be released to go and enjoy their loot”.
“There is a particular governor in the South West for example who keeps on spreading fake stories and attributing all kinds of fake things to the president.
“You know those undergoing trial. You know those whose properties that are products of corruption have been impounded.
“You know those who have been making all kinds of fake allegations against the president and members of his family. You know them. They set up groups who are employed and paid and asked to go on social media to dish out falsehood. They are all there and they register in all kinds of names”
Most of the politicians currently undergoing trial for various corruption allegations are either past aides, ministers and family members of ex-President Goodluck Jonathan, or chieftains of Jonathan’s Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Why PDP suspects APC
However, another group of suspects are within President Buhari’s ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Chairman of PDP caretaker committee, Senator Ahmed Makarfi, said on Wednesday.
Hitting back at claims that the rumours were instigated by the PDP, Makarfi said the rumours were being peddled by elements within APC who are laying the groundwork for 2019.
The PDP chair, who spoke to journalists in Kaduna, said: “The All Progressive Congress (APC) should point its search light inward and investigate itself as to the source of the rumour. PDP, I said have nothing to gain from anything.
“Those who are peddling the rumour know themselves and they are in APC. Some of them are already positioning themselves for power in 2019. APC should investigate itself.”
But Ojudu disagrees. He said: “It is not from within APC. If they have any evidence it was some faction or group within the party that is responsible, they should come out with it”.
The APC has also replied Makarfi in a statement by its national publicity secretary, Malam Bolaji Abdullahi.
Abdullahi said: “I understand that Senator Makarfi leads only a rump of PDP. But even this limited leadership imposes a responsibility on him not to make some statements without basis. I, therefore, will not comment on the imputations of his statement until he is able to show that there is any merit to it,” he said.
Buhari’s health and 2019 Presidency
Meanwhile, analysts posited that those interested in the Presidency in 2019 are the prime suspects as they may be planning to create the impression that Buhari would be unfit to continue with the top Aso Rock seat.
To make the 2019 suspicion stronger, another report accused Senate President Bukola Saraki of leading the governors’ pressure on the Vice President.
Saraki has however slammed the report, saying: “I feel it should be known that those behind this baseless, empty and unintelligent mischief are those who do not love this country.
“Such suggestions as contained in the speculation can only bring ill-will, disunity and crisis to the country and i therefore advise the sponsors to desist immediately. More importantly, these trouble makers should refrain from linking Senator Saraki’s name to their evil plot”.
Buhari’s health is matter of national security
The Musa Yar Adua-Jonathan episode began to replay in the minds of many Nigerians as soon as two developments broke out. The first was the visit of the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, to Buhari during the week in London.
The president’s health is a matter of national security. so, why did the head of nigeria’s security, visit Buhari amid concerns about his health.
But Ojudu argues: “Can’t the IG travel on assignment? And he came out with a statement that he went on the invitation of London Metropolitan Police that he had a working arrangement with. So if the IG travels, that means what? People just add one plus one and arrive at 10. So if any top government official travels to the UK or America now, that must have something to do with the health of the president?
What happens to Osinbajo?
The second worrying development was reports of pressures on Osinbajo to step down and plans of an emergency meeting of governors in Abuja on Thursday.
But Ojudu allayed fears. He said in a statement: “I have read many ridiculous stories saying the Vice President Prof. Yemi Osinbajo is being held hostage by some governors who are trying to compel him to resign. “I have equally received several calls regarding this. The story is simply not true. It is a fabrication. Don’t be a purveyor of fake news .
“The Vice President is behind his desk carrying out his task. The Federal Executive Council presided over by him has just ended and he has been busy receiving visitors and holding meetings.”