President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, on Wednesday, presided over the Federal Executive Council, FEC, amidst rumour that he has fallen ill, and absent from important state functions for days.
At the meeting, the president also inaugurated two members of the Nigeria Law Reforms Commission, NLRC, Professor Dakas CJ Dakas, who will serve as Chairman of the commission, and Dr Uchenna Eugene, Commissioner.
The magazine had earlier reported that the president also had in audience, Governor Charles Soludo of Anambra state in Aso Rock Presidential Villa.
During the visit, Prof Soludo who is seeking re-election on the platform of the All Progressive Grand Alliance APGA wore the President Tinubu’s trademark dollar-inscripted cap, which according to political analysts suggests that he’s supporting Tinubu’s re-election.
Governor Soludo’s visit, analyst insist was purposely used by the Presidency to dispel rumour surrounding President Tinubu’s illness.
The news of Tinubu’s alleged illness was first reported by the International Centre for Investigative Reporting, ICIR, purporting that President Tinubu is currently sick and in critical condition.
Quoting sources, ICIR claimed that the president’s illness has deteriorated, so much so, that his medical team was planning to fly him abroad for urgent medical treatment.
According to information gathered by The ICIR, the President had reportedly been bedridden for several days, resulting in his absence from key state functions. In his stead, Vice President Kashim Shettima has represented the Presidency at some official engagements.
The medium also quoted an Aso Rock insider as saying that several of Tinubu’s scheduled activities had been cancelled since the beginning of the week.
According to the ICIR, it is also believed that the remainder of his weekly agenda has been cleared to allow his medical team to monitor his condition closely.
Reacting, the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, had told ICIR that the rumour had no basis as the president si hail and hearty, and has been performing his state function.
“He was in his office yesterday (August 5). I was with him. I went to see him. He came to work,” Onanuga said.
According to the ICIR, Tinubu was last seen publicly on Friday, August 1, where he attended the opening of the Progressive Media Summit, themed ‘Unveiling the Critical Role of New Media in National Development.’
He appeared healthy during the event where he encouraged young Nigerians in the digital media space to leverage their platforms for national progress.
Days earlier, on July 29, the president led the reception for the Super Falcons upon their return to Nigeria after a remarkable victory at the WAFCON Championship in Morocco. The president stood for an extended period, personally congratulating the team before announcing generous rewards for both players and their coaches. The rewards stirred public debate and criticism from some quarters.
His absence at a similar reception for the victorious D’Tigress team on August 3 raised questions, especially as Vice President Shettima stood in for him at the event.
The medium stressed that despite the president’s absence, the presidency has continued issuing official statements. One such release on August 6 announced Tinubu’s directive for the rollout of free healthcare for low-income retirees and an increase in pensions. The release included a photograph of the President with the Director General of the National Pension Commission (PenCom), Omolola Oloworaran, though it did not specify when the meeting occurred.
The ICIR investigation revealed that the meeting had taken place days earlier before it was sent out as a press release at the President’s private residence, not his office. Onanuga later confirmed this.
On the same day, another press release conveyed Tinubu’s condolences to Ghana following a tragic air crash that claimed the lives of the Defence Minister Edward Omane Boamah, Environment Minister Ibrahim Murtala Muhammed, and several others.
Instructively, President Tinubu, since his inauguration on May 29, 2023, sources say has been struggling with unknown health issues, which on some occasions had forced him to travel abroad for medical attention.
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