President Muhammadu Buhari

Ademola Adegbamigbe

On Monday, President Muhammadu Buhari hosted the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Mohammed Bello, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja. He and others drawn from the Christian community in Abuja paid Christmas homage to the president.

That day, the President made an innocuous statement to the effect that feeding well and sleeping for longer hours are the secrets of his good look after he recovered from illness. In actual fact, the President now looks well in his well appointed flowing gown.

In the words of the President: “I have explained to the public that as a General I used to give orders, now I take orders. The doctors told me to feed my stomach and sleep for longer hours; that is why I am looking much better.”

He added: “2017 has been a tumultuous year. I thought I was 74, but I was told I was 75. I have never been so sick, even the 30 months civil war when I was stumbling under farm of yams or cassava but this sickness I don’t know… I came out better because all those who saw me before and when I came back said I look much better,” he said.

The Presdient said that though 2017 has been a tough year in history, he said he shared the pains of the people and prayed that 2018 should be a better year even now that many Nigerians had taken to the farm as a means of livelihood.

He went further: “I thank you very much for coming and making all the sacrifice because today is a crowded day for me from early in the morning until maybe the following morning with the family and friends and neighbours and one thing I learnt to respect is good neighbourliness both at individual and national level…

“When I was elected my first trip was to Chad, Niger, Cameroun and Benin Republic; if you are in good terms with your neighbours then you can make some savings for development, but if you start fighting your neighbours then I am afraid the resources you have you will lose it in trying to be very clever. So, I try to be very close to my neighbours both individually and nationally.

“I thank you very much for being very good neighbours, including the one on my left (referring to Senator Philip Aduda),” he said.

However, critics have gone to town singling out the long sleeping hours to attack the President.

According to Taiwo Adisa, a journalist, “Buhari at 74/75 said his Doctors have told him to feed his stomach and sleep long hours. He said he has learnt to obey his Doctors. So what time is left to think policy, and execute strategic development. Is it not becoming clear that whoever waits on him for goodies or “human side” waits on goddot? Na question I ask.”

Bright Bayo Oladeji, another critic, argued “that is why the cabal is busy milking us dry. The next bus stop for Buhari is Daura. His presence in power is a big minus for our economy.”

As Madunagu Emeka put it, “This is pathetic. Sleep long hours on a world constantly flying on its feet? This is really sad. He should resign and go to Daura to sleep long hours.

To Afolabi Akamoh, having spoken thus, there is no need for the President tp contest in 2019. He should retire to Daura.”

However, others are of the belief that since a system is in place to carry on government policies, the president can obey his doctors since he delegates authority. In other words, there are people to carry on his tasks till he fully recovers.