Only President Muhammadu Buhari can inform Nigerians about the true state of his health, the Presidency said on Tuesday as they announced that the he will be away fro longer than anticipated.
Speaking to newsmen at the Presidential Villa, Presidential Spokesman, Femi Adesina, said also said only the President can tell when he is expected back in the country.
The Presidential spokesman was responding to queries on an earlier released statement stating that the president’s annual checkup, tests showed he needed a longer period of rest, necessitating his
staying longer than originally planned.
Asked to confirmed reports that the President might be out for several months, Adesina said, “What we have just said is what I will want us to believe. The President said he needs to rest further. The same President that communicated that to us, when it is time for him to come, he will also communicate to us”.
On when Buhari is expected back, the Presidential Spokesman reiterated what he wrote in the statement, “The President wants Nigerians to know that he appreciates their prayers, he appreciates their concerns and their goodwill. He has added that there is really no cause to worry.
“He is the one who owns the body and there is nobody who will know his body more than him and he says no cause to worry.
“It makes sense to say that maybe from the results of the tests, further rests had been recommended. The statement did not say how long the rest will last.
“I speak for somebody, I do not speak for myself. So it is what he tells me to say that I say and the statement transmitted to me is that the President needs to rest for some further time”.
On the possibility of the President speaking to Nigerians?, Adesina replied, “What he has just done is to speak to Nigerians”.
Asked what exactly is wrong with the President, Adesina replied, “Don’t you know that the Hippocratic Oath even forbids a doctor from speaking about the condition of his patient except the patient authorises it? It is only the patient himself who can speak about what he is going through. This is the person going through these series of tests and rest and he says no cause to worry, let us believe that”.
On reports that the President has lost his voice, Adesina said, “Those people need to prove it. He spoke with President Trump. Did Trump say he did not speak with Nigerian President. Anybody can allege anything.
“My message to Nigerians is that let us learn to believe our leaders.
This is a man we elected into office and he says no cause to worry, let us believe him”.
Earlier, a statement released by Adesina said the President had reassured Nigerians that there was no cause for worry, the presidency said in a statement on Tuesday.
According to the statement signed by Presidential Spokesman, Femi Adesina, during his checkups it turned out that the President needed a longer period of rest than envisaged.
“During his normal annual checkup, tests showed he needed a longer period of rest, necessitating the President staying longer than originally planned” Adesina said.
The President who left the country about 32 days ago on a 10 vacation had written to indefinitely extend his stay in London in his doctor’s advice, raising concerns over the state of his health.
The presidency have continued to assure the Nigerian public that the President is “hale and hearty” and there was no cause for alarm.
