President Muhammadu Buhari who travelled on a 10-day trip to London to treat an ear infection might extend his trip .
According to the reports by an online medium, Buhari needs to undergo treatment for “a terrible cough that has persisted longer than the ear infection.”
The President who had in the last few weeks cancelled his official visits to both Lagos and Rivers states, where he was represented by Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo.
It was also reported that an anonymous source confirmed that President Buhari would be staying at the “Abuja House,” the official residence of the Nigerian High Commissioner to the United Kingdom during the trip
Reacting to the various reactions on his treatment, President Buhari said there is no big deal in having an ear-related infection.
He said while giving a parting shot to Nigerians on Monday as he departed the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja for London, “Is there anybody that doesn’t fall sick?”
Mr. Femi Adesina, Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, had on Sunday, announce that Buhari would be proceeding on a 10-day vacation from Monday during which he would see an Ear, Nose and Throat specialist in London.
Adesina insisted in an interview with journalists that the President was not ill.
He said although the President had an ear infection, that had not in any way stopped him from performing his duties as the President of the country.
The presidential aide said, “The buzz going round the town is that the President is ill, but ‘ill’ will be a misnomer, it should not be the right word to use.
“Nigerian physicians have looked at it and now they have said ‘you are going to UK, when you get there, let specialists look at the ear.’
“They have treated it locally so it is not a question of whether the President is ill. If he is ill, it presupposes that there are certain things that he cannot do.
“But till the very last minute that he is travelling, the President performed the duties and functions of his office as the President. So illness is not the issue.”
Adesina, however, said as a human being, Buhari was entitled to a vacation.
He said with the latest vacation, the President would have rested for only 15 days since he assumed office.
He urged Nigerians to pray for Buhari so that God would take care of him and the country.
“As a human being, yes he can rest. He has been President for one full year, you know that in February he took five days’ leave, he is taking another 10 days now. That means 15 days’ leave in one year.
“You and I take more than that. So, it is natural that the President, as a human being, is taking 10 days’ rest but he is not ill.
“We need to underscore that. Rather than going into a frenzy I will urge Nigerians to just show goodwill and patriotism, they should pray for him and wish him well.
“Things about health, life and death are in the hands of God, but I believe that all is well with our President and God will take care of him and take care of the country,” the presidential spokesman said.