President’s supporters to hold rallies in Lagos, Abuja, others

The rallies tagged, “I Support President Buhari” will hold in Abuja on Tuesday and Thursday, in Kaduna and Kano on Wednesday and in Lagos on Thursday.

“As a people, we witnessed the systemic looting and raping of our collective resources and consciousness by a few, with far-reaching psychological damages which has rendered us bitter, bruised, battered and hopeless,” co-convener of the rally, Moses Abdullahi, said in Abuja.

“We have a leader who we all know is different. We know he will not steal our resources, we know he will not sleep until things are made right for us and our children. We know he means well, what then must we do to help get it right faster? We must support President Muhammadu Buhari because with him, it can only get better,” he said.

According to the organizers of the rally, the event is necessary to show support for President Buhari who they say is setting Nigeria on the path of growth.

The rallies come one week after citizens took to the street to protest against the policies of the Buhari administration.

The protests, tagged “I Stand with Nigeria” held across the country and saw citizens demanding transparency and accountability from the government.

President Buhari has been away from Nigeria since Thursday January 19, when he departed for a 10-day medical vacation in London.

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“During the vacation, the President will also undergo routine medical check-ups…While away, the Vice President, Prof Yemi Osinbajo, will perform the functions of the Office of the President,” a statement from presidential spokesman, Femi Adesina read at the time.

The president’s silence during his vacation has however given rise to fears that he is in worse condition than the presidency wants to reveal.

The government has also been forced on numerous occasions to dismiss rumours that the president had died.

“It’s only in this part of the world that you wake up in the morning and you say the president of the country is dead. I will not join that kind of debate at all,” Information Minister, Lai Mohammed said on January 25.

Concerns about Buhari’s health status were heightened when he wrote the Senate, on Sunday, February 5, 2017, to extend his vacation indefinitely.

“President Buhari has extended his leave in order to complete and receive the results of a series of tests recommended by his doctors,” a statement by Adesina read.

However, various government officials have assured Nigerians that the president is hale and hearty.

“The President is hale and hearty. I spoke to him just this afternoon and we had a very long conversation,” Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo said on Monday, February 6.

Hajiya Rakiya, Buhari’s only surviving elder sister also told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that her brother needs the prayers of every Nigerian for him to succeed in the task of addressing the problems facing the nation.

“I just returned from the lesser Hajj, and even while in Saudi Arabia, I was communicating with him every day,” Rakiya popularly called Amadodo said.

Senate President, Bukola Saraki also revealed that he spoke to Buhari on Wednesday, February 8, adding that the president was in good spirits.

Meanwhile, the letter sent by Buhari to the Senate to extend his leave shows that the president will not return to Nigeria till “the doctors are satisfied that certain factors are ruled out.”