Demanding for Buhari's Health Status is Disrespectful, He is a Private Citizen - Presidential Aide Slams Critics

Demanding for Buhari's Health Status is Disrespectful, He is a Private Citizen - Presidential Aide Slams Critics

While speaking on a Channels Television programme, Politics Today, on Monday in Abuja, the Personal Assistant to the President on Social Media, Lauretta Onochie, described the call on President Buhari to disclose his health status and resume or resign as "disrespectful and insensitive".

TORI News had reported on Monday that Nigerian singer and social crusader, Charles Oputa a.k.a Charly Boy, and the convener of Concerned Nigerians, Adeyanju Deji, staged a massive peace protest tagged, "Our Mumu Don Do", in the federal capital Abuja.

The activists who said that President Muhamamdu Buhari, has so far, surpassed 90-days on medical vacation in London, were calling on him to return and resume his duties or resign and stop spending tax payers money while paying for his medical bills. The group also called for the disclosure of the President's health status.

In a swift reaction while condemning the demand by the group of youths and activists in Abuja, the Presidential Aide, said President Buhari's absence had not affected governance in Nigeria because he handed over to his vice, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, in accordance with the law.

She said; "It is very insensitive of anyone to begin to call on someone who is unwell to resume. Governance is going on, the role of the President is that of coordination; governance is a collective duty. When he (Buhari) was leaving, power was fully transferred to the Vice President and today, we have an Acting President.

"I have no idea why anybody would disrespect another by asking for the details of their health status. As we speak, we have an Acting President; President Buhari seems to be a private citizen at the moment; it is very disrespectful for anyone to ask for his health status," she added.

Onochie argued that President Buhari has violated any constitutional provision and that the Presidency is under no pressure, adding that the President can only disclose his health status if he wishes do so.

"The President has acted constitutionally; he has not broken any law, any rule or any constitutional provisions in our nation. The prerogative to tell Nigerians lies only on President Buhari; it is disrespectful and intrusive, it is not right, it is not appropriate," she said.

The co-convener of the group, Deji Adeyanju, who also appeared on on the programme, argued that Section 144 of the Constitution had recommended the setting up of a medical panel to address the controversy surrounding the President's health status.

He said, "What our group is saying is that the President needs to come back home and resume and work on the mandate that he promised the people and again, we are saying that Section 144 is the only thing that can help to solve the problem."

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