In a statement on Monday, February 6, 2017, Ali described as "wicked and callous" for anybody to wish a sitting president death because they want to ascend to power.

The Kaduna state born politician said President Buhari has worked to ensure that the country was returned to the path of sanity, peace, economic recovery and sustainable development.

He noted that President Buhari was neither a robot nor immune to sickness.

The statement reads:

“Presidents the world over are not robots or extra-humans but ordinary and normal human beings and no president is immune to falling ill.

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“They fall ill; have attacks or any assorted aches or pains. Our duty as citizens is to wish them well or quick recovery as the case may be”.

“But within 12 hours when he left for the United Kingdom, some politically-minded Nigerians took to the social media to spread a dangerous rumour that the president has passed on. Such is callous and wicked.

“Anybody who wishes Buhari out of power should wait for 2019 to test his or her popularity instead of sitting within the comfort of their homes and issue obituary on someone who is hale and hearty but only on vacation and also to check his health.

“There is no doubt that governing Nigeria at this particularly time is quite a herculean task especially after the 16 years of the locust occasioned by the PDP misrule.

“The president, despite his old age, has worked assiduously to ensure that the country is retrieved from the brinks and returned to the path of sanity, peace, economic recovery and sustainable development. Indeed Buhari is laying the foundation for a new Nigeria.

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“It is evident that corruption is fighting back on all fronts but a courageous and ever focused leader like Buhari cannot be deterred by evil whispers as he is more committed to leap-frog Nigeria to a high pedestal and deliver her from the bondage of self-infatuated cabal who are determined to ruin the effort of this administration.

“I, therefore, urge the entire country to remain patient and law abiding and continue to pray for our dear president instead of wishing him dead which may metamorphose into another crisis entirely”, he stated.

Meanwhile, Acting President Yemi Osinbajo has promised not to disclose the health status of President Buhari.

In a chat with State House correspondents shortly after a behind-closed-door session with the national chairman of the APC, John Odigie Oyegun, Osinbajo said he had spoken with the President earlier, but maintained sealed lips on Buhari's health condition.

Osinbajo said only President Buhari will declare the state of his health at the appropriate time.